In casual speech,
てください is often shortened to
て. This usually comes across as being a friendly way to say ‘please do (A)’, but may sound like a very soft order, so is best used with friends/toward people of lower status.
This nuance of
て is usually able to be identified by appearing at the end of a sentence.
-
午後(ごご)からお客(きゃく)さんが来(く)るから部屋(へや)を片付(かたづ)けて。
We have guests coming over during the afternoon so please clean up your room. (Said by a parent to a child)
-
ペン貸(か)して。
Can you please lend me a pen?
Sometimes, other forms of
て may appear at the end of a sentence. This happens most often when the speaker has not actually finished speaking, but is thinking about what they want to say next. In these cases, the pronunciation of
て will usually be extended (to highlight that the person is thinking).
When emphasizing an apology,
て may also be used. For this nuance to be conveyed,
て will be attached to the ‘reason’ that the person is apologizing, and may be either positive or negative.
-
約束(やくそく)を守(まも)れなくてすみません。
I am sorry that I wasn't able to keep my promise.
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タケシのジャケットに水(みず)をこぼしちゃってごめん。
Takeshi, I am sorry that I spilled water on your jacket.