Prerequisite
Let’s learn what Verb てForm is and how it is used in a sentence.
Click here if you don’t know about Japanese verb groups:
- Irregular Verb,
- Ichidan Verb (Group 2 or Weak Verb) and
- Godan Verb (Group 1 or Strong Verb).
How to change Dictionary Form into てForm
Irregular verb
- する → して
- くる → きて
Ichidan Verb (Group 2 or Weak Verb)
Change る at the end of an Ichidan verb to て
(Ex) たべる → たべて
Godan Verb (Group 1 or Strong Verb)
Change the last symbol of a Godan verb following the rule below.
- う、つ、る → って
- ぬ、ぶ、む → んで
- く → いて
- ぐ → いで
- す → して
Example
- read: よむ → よんで
- swim: およぐ → およいで
- meet: あう → あって
Exception: いく
いく, which belongs to Godan Verb (Group 1 or Strong Verb),
does not follow the rule above.
てform of いく is always いって.
Exercise
- Learn Basic 30 Japanese verbs if you have not.
- Complete the test in Quizlet below. Choose ‘test’ at the bottom right of Quizlet to start a test.

せんせい
You can say many different things using sentence patterns with Verb てForm.