Activities: What is the te-form in Japanese?

Let’s review how to make the regular te-form of verbs and adjectives, including the negative te-form! Fill the blanks to complete the table below. If there is more than one answer, write both.

Complete each sentence by choosing the correct or better answer. If both are equally acceptable, choose both.

1. Meaning	Attendant circumstances
   Vocabulary	おしゃべりする (transcribed oshaberi suru, meaning “to chat”)

   学習室ではおしゃべり       、まじめに勉強しましょう。
   Gakushūshitsu de wa oshaberi ... , majimeni benkyō shimashō.
   In the study hall, focus on your study without chatting to each other.

   Select your answer

   しなくて [shinakute]しないで [shinaide]

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2. Meaning	Cause / reason of actions
   Vocabulary	思い出す (transcribed omoidasu, meaning “to remember”), 困る (transcribed komaru, meaning “to feel awkward; be in trouble”)

   昔の同級生にばったり会ったが、名前を      困った。
   Mukashi no dōkyūsei ni battari atta ga, namae o ... komatta.
   I ran into my former classmate, but I couldn’t remember their name and felt awkward.

   Select your answer

   思い出せなくて [omoidasenakute]思い出せないで [omoidasenaide]

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3. Meaning	Method / manner of actions
   Vocabulary	使う (transcribed tsukau, meaning “to use”)

   うちの祖父は箸を      すしを食べます。
   Uchi no sofu wa hashi o ... sushi o tabemasu.
   Our grandfather eats sushi without using chopsticks.

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   使わなくて [tsukawanakute]使わないで [tsukawanaide]

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4. Meaning	Parallel actions / states
   Vocabulary	甘い (transcribed amai, meaning “sweet”), しっとりしている (transcribed shittori shite iru, meaning “to be moist”)

   このケーキはあまり      、しっとりしている。
   Kono kēki wa amari ... , shittori shite iru.
   This cake is not very sweet, and it’s moist.

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   甘くなくて [amaku nakute]甘くないで [amaku naide]

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5. Meaning	Continuation of actions
   Vocabulary	歌を歌う (transcribed uta o utau, meaning “to sing a song”)

   妹は朝から晩まで同じ歌を       。
   Imōto wa asa kara ban made onaji uta o ... .
   My younger sister is singing the same song from morning till night.

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   歌ってみる [utatte miru]甘くないで [amaku naide]歌ってくる [utatte kuru]

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6. Meaning	An attempt/try (to see what it’s like)
   Vocabulary	納豆 (transcribed nattō, meaning “fermented soy beans (traditional Japanese food)”)

   日本に行ったとき、初めて納豆を       。
   Nihon ni itta toki, hajimete nattō o ... .
   When I went to Japan, I ate fermented soybeans for the first time to see what it was like.

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   食べていた [tabete ita]食べてきた [tabete kita]食べてみた [tabete mita]

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7. Meaning	Doing or receiving favors
   Vocabulary	落ち込む (transcribed ochikomu, meaning “to feel down”), 励ます (transcribed hagemasu, meaning “to cheer up”)

   落ち込んでいるとき、親友が      。
   Ochikonde iru toki, shinyū ga ... .
   When I was feeling down, my best friend cheered me up.

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   励ましてくれました [hagemashite kuremashita]励ましてください [hagemashite kudasai]励ましていました [hagemashite imashita]

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