JLPT N5 grammar

〜て・で(te-form)meaning and usage

Meaning

The verb て・で form links actions or situations. It can express sequence, addition, cause, or the means of the following action; context determines the relationship.

This point is also listed at N3.

How to form it

  • verb (te-form)clause
  • い-adjective (-く form)てclause
  • な-adjective (stem)/nounでclause

How it is used

The て-form links actions or situations: sequence, addition, cause or means, depending on context; the tense comes from the end of the sentence. A causal 「て」 cannot be followed by a request or order; use 「から」 for that.

Examples

  1. 先週、腐った牛乳を飲んで、お腹を壊しました。

    Last week, I drank spoiled milk, so I got an upset stomach.

  2. 朝起きて、シャワーを浴びます。

    I get up in the morning and take a shower.

  3. 毎日歩いて学校へ行きます。

    I walk to school every day.

About the example 飲んで is the て・で form of 飲む. Here it links drinking spoiled milk to the resulting upset stomach.