Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 9: 4/13

～てもいい (Verb)It's okay to, It's alright to, Can/may

Structure

Verb［て］+ も + いい

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Expression

  • Word Type

    Adjective

  • Register

    Standard

About Verb + てもいい

Verb + てもいい is a construction in Japanese used to express that something is 'okay', or 'alright'. It can also be used as a question to ask if you 'can', or 'may' do something.

This phrase is also regularly used without the も, but is considered a bit more direct/casual. It is best to remove the も only when talking to people that you know well.

This expression is simply a construction that literally means て (verb) も (also) いい (is good).

Caution

As this grammar point uses the て form of verbs, it is important to remember that some verbs will use で instead of て.

Related

Examples

--:--

    これを見(み)てもいい？

    Is it alright if I look at this?

    質問(しつもん)をしてもいい？

    May I ask a question?

    暑(あつ)いです。水(みず)を飲(の)んでもいいですか。

    It's hot. Is it alright to drink some water?

    あそこで遊(あそ)んでもいいです。

    You may play over there.

    あそこでスポーツをしてもいいですか。

    May I play sports over there?

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