The て-form: How to Conjugate It (Complete Rules + Examples)
Why the て-form matters so much
If you learn one conjugation well, make it this one. The て-form by itself just connects ideas ("do X and…"), but it's the launchpad for an enormous family of patterns: 〜てください (please do), 〜ている (is doing / state), 〜てから (after doing), 〜てもいい (may), 〜てしまう (end up), and many more. Get the て-form solid and all of those become easy.
Group 3 — the two irregulars (learn these first)
There are only two, and they're everywhere:
| Verb | て-form |
|---|---|
| する (to do) | して |
| 来る (くる, to come) | 来て (きて) |
Group 2 — ru-verbs (the easy group)
For Group 2 verbs (ichidan / "ru-verbs"), just drop る and add て:
| Verb | て-form |
|---|---|
| 食べる (to eat) | 食べて |
| 見る (to see) | 見て |
| 寝る (to sleep) | 寝て |
Group 1 — u-verbs (the song)
Group 1 verbs (godan / "u-verbs") change based on their last syllable. This is the part worth memorising — many learners use a little song to lock it in:
| Ending | Changes to | Example |
|---|---|---|
| う・つ・る | って | 買う → 買って · 待つ → 待って · 帰る → 帰って |
| む・ぶ・ぬ | んで | 飲む → 飲んで · 遊ぶ → 遊んで · 死ぬ → 死んで |
| く | いて | 書く → 書いて |
| ぐ | いで | 泳ぐ → 泳いで |
| す | して | 話す → 話して |
The one exception: 行く (to go) is a Group 1 verb but becomes 行って (not 行いて).
Examples
朝ごはんを食べて、学校へ行きます。
あさごはんを たべて、がっこうへ いきます。
I eat breakfast and go to school.
Plain て-form just connects two actions in sequence.
ちょっと待ってください。
ちょっと まって ください。
Please wait a moment.
待つ → 待って (う・つ・る group) + ください.
本を読んでいます。
ほんを よんで います。
I'm reading a book.
読む → 読んで (む・ぶ・ぬ group) + いる.
音楽を聞いて、リラックスします。
おんがくを きいて、リラックスします。
I listen to music and relax.
聞く → 聞いて (く group).
How to study it
Don't try to memorise every verb's て-form — memorise the rules by ending, then drill until they're reflexive. The fastest route:
- Nail the two irregulars (して, 来て).
- Internalise "Group 2 = drop る + て."
- Drill the Group 1 endings (the song) until you don't have to think.
- Remember the lone exception: 行く → 行って.
Common mistakes
- 行く → 行いて (✗). It's the famous exception: 行って.
- Treating ru-looking Group 1 verbs as Group 2. 帰る (かえる) and 入る (はいる) look like ru-verbs but are Group 1 → 帰って, 入って. These have to be learned individually.
- Mixing んで and いて. む・ぶ・ぬ → んで; く → いて. Keep the two groups apart.
Quick recap
- Group 3: する→して, 来る→来て.
- Group 2: drop る, add て.
- Group 1: う/つ/る→って, む/ぶ/ぬ→んで, く→いて, ぐ→いで, す→して.
- Exception: 行く→行って.
Your turn
Form the て-form of each verb.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
What is the て-form used for?
By itself it connects actions ('do X and…'), but it's mainly the base for many patterns: 〜てください (please), 〜ている (is doing), 〜てから (after), 〜てもいい (may), 〜てしまう (end up), and more.
What's the te-form of 行く?
行って. It's the well-known exception: 行く is a Group 1 verb but takes って rather than the expected いて.
How do I know if a verb is Group 1 or Group 2?
Most verbs ending in -eru or -iru are Group 2 (drop る + て). But some like 帰る (かえる) and 入る (はいる) are Group 1 despite looking like ru-verbs, so a few must be memorised.
Is the た-form (past) related?
Yes — the plain past た-form follows the exact same sound changes as the て-form (買って → 買った, 読んで → 読んだ). Learn one and the other comes almost free.