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. It will allow us to list multiple qualities/traits of something.
For
い-Adjectives, we will need to change the last い to く (the form used for conjugation), and then simply add
て.
For nouns and
な-Adjectives, we will need to add
で to the base form (not
な or
だ).
-
このパソコンは新（あたら）しくて早（はや）い。
This computer is new and fast.
-
あの自転車（じてんしゃ）は便利（べんり）で軽（かる）い。
That bicycle is useful and light.
-
音楽（おんがく）を作（つく）るのは仕事（しごと）で趣味（しゅみ）だ。
Making music is both work, and my hobby.
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.
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.
-
あの人（ひと）は綺麗（きれい）で優（やさ）しい。
That person is beautiful and nice.
-
大雨（おおあめ）でバスが止（と）まりました。
The bus stopped with rain. (With rain as the reason)
-
私（わたし）はご飯（はん）を急（いそ）いで食（た）べる。
I eat food in a hurry.
As with all other conjugations of いい, remember that it will be よくて, and not いくて.