Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 10: 4/12

～て (Qualities and States)

And..., Both and (Conjunctive)

Structure

［い］Adjective［い］ + く + て
［な］Adjective + で + Phrase
Noun + で + Phrase

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Particle

  • Word Type

    Conjunctive Particle

  • Register

    Standard

  • 品詞

    助詞

  • 単語の種類

    接続助詞

  • 使用域

    一般

About Adjective + て + B

The て form of an い-Adjective, or で form of a noun (or な-Adjective) is exactly the same as the て form of a verb, in that it carries the meaning of 'and', and is used for linking.
Building on from the adjective +て, noun + で grammar point, instead of linking adjectives, adjective + て + (B) is used for linking an adjective to an entire phrase. With this construction, the phrase is simply added after て (with い-Adjectives), or で (with nouns and な-Adjectives), without any extra consideration for the phrase following it (this means that the (B) phrase will behave as if it was its own sentence).
  • 田中(たなか)さんの犬(いぬ)は太(ふと)くて人(ひと)と遊(あそ)ぶのが好(す)きです。
    Tanaka-san's dog is fat, and likes playing with people.
  • マサミは綺麗(きれい)で水泳(すいえい)が趣味(しゅみ)です。
    Masami is beautiful, and swimming is her hobby.
  • トミーは漫画家(まんがか)でたまに学校(がっこう)で国語(こくご)を教(おし)えている。
    Tommy is a cartoonist, and occasionally teaches the national language at school.
As with adjective +て, noun + で, it should be noted that て and で are different structures here. て is the same conjunction particle that is used with verbs (meaning that い-Adjectives are similar to verbs), while で is actually a form of だ that is used for conjugation. It is the same で as the one that is used in the formal version of だ, である. Which we will learn later.
Caution
Like other て forms (ている 1, ている 2, and ている 3), the て (or で) form of other words can have several possible meanings. These meanings are as follows.
Linking - Like 'and' in English.
Reasons - Like 'with (A)', or 'because of (A)' in English.
Manner - Like 'to do (B) in an (A) way' in English.
  • このスマホは新(あたら)しくて速(はや)い。
    This phone is new and fast. (Linking)
  • このアイスクリームは甘(あま)くて美味(おい)しい。
    This ice cream is delicious because it is sweet. (Reasons)
  • 声(こえ)を出(だ)して話(はな)してください。
    Please project when you speak. (Manner)
Caution
As with all other conjugations of いい, remember that it will be よくて, and not いくて.

Examples

  • りさは背(せ)が高(たか)くてかわいいです。

    Risa is tall and cute.

  • 静(しず)かで平和(へいわ)なところに住(す)みたい。

    I want to live in a quiet and peaceful place.

  • ほろさんは親切(しんせつ)で優(やさ)しい。

    Holo is kind and gentle.

  • 「ルフィさんは明(あか)るくていい人(ひと)ですよね。」
    「そうですよ。」

    'Luffy is a bright and good-natured person, isn't he?'
    'That's right.'

  • 新田(にった)さんは悲(かな)しくて寂(さび)しかったんです。

    Nitta was (used to be) sad and lonely.

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Adjective + て + B – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (10 in total)

  • Terilian

    Terilian

    months later revising stuff and back here again

    grafik748×615 57.9 KB
  • Daru

    Daru

    You answered your own question: it depends in the context!

    Remember that while it is 3 separate uses, the basic meaning stays the same. So really, its as if the 3 are happening at the same time, yet context define which of the three is happening. So even the same exact sentence can come off differently depending on the context.

  • dollicia

    dollicia

    Hi everyone

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