〜てもいい

N5

〜てもいい

-te mo ii

May / OK to

N5

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Explanation

〜てもいい expresses permission. It means “it is okay to …” or “you may …”. It is made with the verb’s て-form + も + いい. Key points: • Verb て-form + もいい • Means permission or allowance • Polite form: 〜てもいいです • Often used to ask or give permission For example, “ここに座ってもいいです” means “You may sit here.” If you want to ask for permission, you can say “座ってもいいですか” (Is it okay to sit?). This pattern is very common in daily life for rules and polite requests. It is soft and friendly. Remember: て-form + も + いい. You can think of it as “even if you do it, it’s good,” which becomes “it’s okay to do it.” Practice with simple verbs: 行ってもいいです, 食べてもいいです, 見てもいいです.

Structure

Pattern
Verb (て-form) + もいい (です)
Verb (て-form)Action you want permission for
Examples: 座って, 食べて, 見て
もいいPermission phrase
Examples: もいい
ですPolite ending (optional)
Examples: です

Examples

Example 1
ここに座ってもいいです。
Koko ni suwatte mo ii desu.
You may sit here.
Breakdown
ここhere
location marker
座ってsit (te-form)
もいいmay
ですpolite ending
Note: Giving permission
Example 2
写真を撮ってもいいですか。
Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka.
May I take a photo?
Breakdown
写真photo
object marker
撮ってtake (te-form)
もいいmay
ですpolite ending
question marker
Note: Asking permission
Example 3
このペンを使ってもいいです。
Kono pen o tsukatte mo ii desu.
You may use this pen.
Breakdown
このthis
ペンpen
object marker
使ってuse (te-form)
もいいmay
ですpolite ending
Note: Permission with object
Example 4
今入ってもいいですか。
Ima haitte mo ii desu ka.
May I come in now?
Breakdown
now
入ってenter (te-form)
もいいmay
ですpolite ending
question marker
Note: Polite request

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