JLPT N5 grammar · The TE-Form Core
~てもいいですか: meaning, usage and examples
~てもいいですか means: may I [Verb]? (asking for permission).
How to form it
＜Verb-ても＞ + いいですか
Examples
赤いペンを使ってもいいですか。
May I use a red pen?
このエアコンをつけてもいいですか。
May I turn on this air conditioner?
ここに座ってもいいですか。
May I sit here?
窓を開けてもいいですか。
May I open the window?
When to use it
Politely asks for permission to do something: 'May I...?'
Nuance
A positive answer is いいですよ or ええ、どうぞ. A negative answer is 〜てはいけません or ちょっと…
Compare
〜てもいい (no か) grants permission: してもいい = you can do it. Adding か makes it a question.
Tip: Very common in daily life: 窓を開けてもいいですか (May I open the window?). Master this early.
More on this in The Japanese te-form.
More in The TE-Form Core
- Verb Group [dictionary-form] Version: Verb groups by dictionary form: Group 1 (-u verbs, including some -iru/-eru verbs such as 帰る and 走る), Group 2 (-iru/-eru verbs such as 食べる and 見る), Group 3 (irregular: する and 来る)
- Verb Group [masu-form] Version: Masu form: Group 1 verbs change the final -u to -i + ます (飲む → 飲みます); Group 2 verbs drop る + ます (食べる → 食べます, 見る → 見ます); する → します, 来る → 来ます
- Plain style [Verb]: (Conjugation for verbs, plain form)
- Polite style [Verb]: (Conjugation for verbs, polite form)
- Verb て形 (Te form): Verb te-form (used for requests, joining actions, etc.)
- ~て: (used to join two or more sentences/actions together)
- ~てください / 〜ないでください: please do... / please don't do...
- ~ています: (1. an action in progress) (2. a resulting condition/state)
- ~てはいけません: must not... (strong prohibition)
Frequently asked questions
What does ~てもいいですか mean?
May I [Verb]? (asking for permission). Example: 赤いペンを使ってもいいですか。 (May I use a red pen?)
How do you form ~てもいいですか?
＜Verb-ても＞ + いいですか. Very common in daily life: 窓を開けてもいいですか (May I open the window?). Master this early.