The て-form

The て-form is the key to dozens of structures. Group 2 (-eru/-iru verbs like たべる, みる): replace る with て → たべて, みて. Group 1: the ending changes according to the last syllable: かう → かって, のむ → のんで, かく → かいて, およぐ → およいで, はなす → はなして. Irregular: する → して, くる → きて, and 行く → 行って.

• たべる → たべてtaberu → tabeteto eat (group 2)
• のむ → のんでnomu → nondeto drink (む → んで)
• 行く → 行ってiku → itteto go (exception to く → いて)

The て-form is the most useful form in Japanese: it's used to make requests (～てください), describe what you're doing right now (～ています), ask for permission (～てもいいですか), link actions… It has no meaning on its own: it's a linking form.

To form it, you need to know which group the verb belongs to. There are three.

Group 2 (ichidan): verbs whose ます-form ends in “e” or “i” + ます, and whose dictionary form ends in る: 食べます (たべる), 見ます (みる). These are the easiest.

Group 3: the two irregular verbs する (to do) and くる (to come).

Group 1 (godan): all the others: 書きます (かく), 飲みます (のむ), 行きます (いく)… These are the ones whose て-form changes according to the last syllable.

For group 1, everything depends on the last syllable of the dictionary form. The rule is often memorised as a song: う・つ・る → って, む・ぶ・ぬ → んで, く → いて, ぐ → いで, す → して.

行く (to go) ends in く but becomes 行って, not 行いて. It's the only group 1 exception to remember for N5.

• 駅へ 行って、電車に のります。eki e itte, densha ni norimasuI go to the station and take the train.
• 手を あらって、ごはんを 食べます。te o aratte, gohan o tabemasuI wash my hands and eat.