Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 6: 2/16

～て (Casual Request)Please do for me (Casual request)

Structure

Verb［て］。

Details

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About Verb[て]

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.

Caution

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).

  • 駅(えき)まで走(はし)っていって...
    I ran to the station and…

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.
  • 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.

Examples

--:--

    「頼(たの)むよ。落(お)ち着(つ)いて。」

    'I beg you! (Please) calm down!'

    「こしょうを取(と)って。」

    '(Please) pass me the pepper.'

    「誰(だれ)か助(たす)けて！」

    '(Please) somebody help me!'

    母親(ははおや)：「部屋(へや)を片付(かたづ)けてね。」
    子供(こども)：「うん。」

    Mother: '(Please) tidy up your room, okay?'
    Child: 'Okay.'

    「このポスターを貼(は)っておいて。」

    '(Please) put up this poster.'

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      Verb[て] – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

      • ekhill

        ekhill

        So the double “te” at the end of this example is really throwing me off…why is it not just “soko de sukoshi mate” (sorry, writing on a computer without kana)? Why is the extra “te” needed?

      • Pushindawood

        Pushindawood

        Hey! 待ってて is a contraction of 待っていて. It is used when we request another person to wait until the speaker comes back. Think of it as saying “wait and be/stay” rather than just “wait.” Cheers!

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