Permission: ～てもいいです
Verb-て + も いいです（か）
Verb-て + も いいです = you may. As a question: ～ても いいですか (may I…?). Answer: どうぞ.
In short
～てもいいです = “you may…”, “you're allowed to…”. As a question, it's the polite way to ask for permission: しゃしんを とっても いいですか (may I take a photo?).
- しゃしんを とっても いいですか。shashin o tottemo ii desu kaMay I take a photo?
- ここに すわっても いいですよ。koko ni suwattemo ii desu yoYou can sit here.
- まどを あけても いいですか。mado o aketemo ii desu kaMay I open the window?
The basics
て-form + も いいです = “it's fine even if…”, so “you may, it's allowed”. As a question, ～ても いいですか asks for permission: “may I…?”.
- ここで しゃしんを とっても いいですか。koko de shashin o tottemo ii desu kaMay I take a photo here?
- まどを あけても いいですよ。mado o aketemo ii desu yoYou can open the window.
Answering
To say yes: ええ、いいですよ or どうぞ. To say no politely, avoid a bare いいえ: すみません、ちょっと… or the prohibition form (next lesson).
| Answer | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ええ、どうぞ。 | Yes, go ahead. |
| はい、いいですよ。 | Yes, of course. |
| すみません、ちょっと… | Sorry, that's not possible… (polite refusal) |
With an adjective or a noun
The same structure works with an adjective: やすくても いいです (it can be cheap, cheap is fine), あしたでも いいです (tomorrow is fine too).
- ペンでも いいですか。pen demo ii desu kaIs a pen OK too?
Common mistakes
- Forgetting も: “入って いいですか” is heard, but the full form is 入っても いいですか.
- Answering with a curt いいえ: it's blunt, you'd rather say すみません、ちょっと….
- Mixing it up with ～てください: one asks for permission, the other asks someone to act.
5 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N5 point is on the Yamanote Line (The て-form) of the Tokyo subway.