Structure
Verb[て]+ も + いい
Details
Part of Speech
Expression
Word Type
Adjective
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Standard
About Verb + てもいい
Verb + てもいい is a construction in Japanese used to express that something is 'okay', or 'alright'. It can also be used as a question to ask if you 'can', or 'may' do something.
This phrase is also regularly used without the も, but is considered a bit more direct/casual. It is best to remove the も only when talking to people that you know well.
This expression is simply a construction that literally means て (verb) も (also) いい (is good).
Caution
As this grammar point uses the て form of verbs, it is important to remember that some verbs will use で instead of て.
Synonyms
てもいい
It is alright/fine/okay even if, Can/may, ~ is also okay
Not studied yet
ても
Even if, Even though
Not studied yet
てもかまわない
It doesn't matter if, I don't mind
Not studied yet
Verb + て
And, Then (Linking events)
Not studied yet
といってもいい
You could say, You might say
Not studied yet
でよければ
If it is alright, If you don't mind, If you would like, If possible
Not studied yet
Examples
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これを見てもいい?
Is it alright if I look at this?
質問をしてもいい?
May I ask a question?
暑いです。水を飲んでもいいですか。
It's hot. Is it alright to drink some water?
あそこで遊んでもいいです。
You may play over there.
あそこ でスポーツをしてもいいですか。
May I play sports over there?
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How to use verb +「ても」
Maggie Sensei
More Examples
WikiBooks
TE-form verb + MO II DESU KA
NHK Easy Japanese
May / Can I do ~? Can I use?
Japanese Ammo
Offline
みんなの日本語 I
Page 98 [CH 15]
Genki I 2nd Edition
Page 152
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Verb + てもいい – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (21 in total)
Unlocked
The first example is:
これを見てもいい?
Which it says means “is it alright if I look at this?”. However, because the subject isn’t stated, could it also mean “can you look at this?” (as in asking for feedback on something or showing something off), or would that be strange?ljoekelsoey
In such a case you would say これを見てもらってもいい?which is far more natural.
“Can i get you to look at this please?”Unlocked
Thanks! Looks like that’s all the way up in N4, so it might have been a while before I reached it normally.
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