泳（およ）ぐ → 泳（およ）いで

食（た）べる → 食（た）べて

呼（よ）ぶ →呼（よ）んで

する → して

洗（あら）う → 洗（あら）って

返（かえ）す → 返（かえ）して

歩（ある）く → 歩（ある）いて

待（ま）つ → 待（ま）って

読（よ）む → 読（よ）んで

行（い）く →行（い）って

覚（おぼ）える → 覚（おぼ）えて

聞（き）く → 聞（き）いて

Making requests, linking sentences, & more

Expressing a sequence of verbs with the te-form

Origin of て form and why it has strange conjugations

<div class='writeup-body'>In Japanese, て is a very important conjunction particle that can be used with many different structures. When it is partnered with a verb, it has special conjugation rules, depending on whether it is being added to a る-Verb or a う-Verb. In the case of う-Verbs, it also depends on what the preceding kana is. The most common translation in any situation is just 'and' or 'then', due to (B) being highlighted as something that happens/happened after (A).<ul class='writeup-examples--holder'><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>山（やま）を登（のぼ）って休（やす）む。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>To climb a mountain, then rest. (To climb a mountain, and rest)</div></li><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>食（た）べて寝（ね）る。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>To eat, then sleep. (To eat, and sleep)</div></li></ul>In these examples, we can see that て basically means '(A) て (B)' = '(A) happened, then (B)'. However, this is only when it is linked to another verb. Sometimes the て form appears as で. This is a change that happened throughout the course of history, in order to make sentences flow more smoothly. Despite this, there is no difference in meaning between て and で as a vocal change.<ul class='writeup-examples--holder'><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>本（ほん）を読（よ）んで返（かえ）す。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>To read a book, then return it. (て appearing as で)</div></li> <li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>遊（あそ）んで帰（かえ）る。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>To play, then go home. (て appearing as で)</div></li> </ul>The easiest way to identify whether to use て or で is by looking at the preceding kana. If the plain (dictionary) form of the verb finishes in ぐ, ぬ, ぶ, or む, then で will be used. る-Verbs never use で.<div class='writeup-caution'><div class='caution-header'>Caution</div>There are several irregular verbs when it comes to て form conjugation. Let's look at an example of each one.<ul class='writeup-examples--holder'><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>学校（がっこう）に行（い）って勉強（べんきょう）をする。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>I go to school, then study. (行（い）く's conjugation with て)</div></li><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>ダイエットをして痩（や）せる。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>To go on a diet, then lose weight. (する's conjugation with て)</div></li><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>公園（こうえん）に来（き）て遊（あそ）ぶ。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>To come to the park, then play. (来（く）る's conjugation with て)</div></li><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>答（こた）えを問（と）うて書（か）く。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>To enquire about the answer, then write it down. (問（と）う's conjugation with て)</div></li><li class='writeup-example'><div class='writeup-example--japanese'>許可（きょか）を請（こ）うて実行（じっこう）する。</div><div class='writeup-example--english'>To get permission, then act out. (請（こ）う's conjugation with て)</div></li></ul>Apart from these 5 verbs, the rules for て form conjugation are 100% consistent.</div></div>

Grammar Info

～て (Conjunction)

And, Then (Linking events)