〜てもいい

〜てもいい is a て-form extension that expresses may / it's okay to. The て-form is one of the most productive patterns in Japanese — by combining it with various helper verbs and expressions, you can express a wide range of meanings from ongoing actions to requests to sequential events.

This is a foundational pattern that you will use from day one of your Japanese studies.

When to Use#

• When asking for permission to do something
• When granting permission or saying it's okay

When NOT to Use#

• When the meaning is closer to "must not / may not" — use 〜てはいけない instead
• In very formal writing where a more sophisticated expression would be expected

Example Sentences#

• 今、休憩してもいいですよ。 — You may take a break now.
• 会議室を使ってもいいです。 — You may use the meeting room.
• これを着てみてもいいですか。 — Can I try this on?

Practice#

Try reading these sentences aloud, then check the translation and vocabulary:

Common Mistakes#

1. Confusing 〜てもいい with 〜てはいけない — While both are related, 〜てもいい expresses "may / it's okay to" whereas 〜てはいけない expresses "must not / may not." Pay attention to the specific nuance each pattern conveys.
2. Incorrect て-form conjugation — Make sure you correctly form the て-form of the preceding verb before attaching this pattern. Group 1 verbs have sound changes (く→いて, ぐ→いで, す→して, etc.).

Related Patterns#

• 〜て (te-form (connecting)) — Next step
• 〜ても (even if / even though) — Next step
• 〜てはいけない (must not / may not) — Compare