Video
Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel
Introduction
Want to say:
- “I got up and ate breakfast”?
- “I went to the library and studied”?
- “I watched a movie and then did some shopping”?
In Japanese, we use the V1-て、V2 structure to connect two or more actions that happen in sequence. It’s one of the most useful grammar patterns for everyday conversation!
In this guide, you’ll learn:
✔ How to use the て-form to connect actions
✔ When and why to use this pattern
✔ Common examples and variations
✔ How to build longer sentences like a native
1. What Is V1-て、V2?
This pattern lets you connect two verbs (V1 and V2). The first verb goes into the て-form, and the second stays in its normal form (present or past).
Basic Formula:
V1 (て-form) ＋ V2
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 七時（しちじ）に起（お）きて、あさごはんを食（た）べます。 | I get up at seven, and then have breakfast. |
| 図書館（としょかん）に行（い）って、本（ほん）を借（か）ります。 | I go to the library and borrow a book. |
| きのう、海（うみ）に行（い）って、泳（およ）ぎました。 | I went to the beach and swam yesterday. |
2. How to Make the て-form
This grammar uses the same て-form that we learned in V-てください. Here’s a quick recap:
For ru-verbs
Drop る + add て
- たべる(to eat) → たべて
- おきる(to wake up) → おきて
For u-verbs
| Ending | Change to | Example |
|---|---|---|
| う / つ / る | って | 座（すわ）る → 座って |
| む / ぶ / ぬ | んで | 飲（の）む → 飲んで |
| く* | いて | 書（か）く → 書いて |
| ぐ | いで | 泳（およ）ぐ → 泳いで |
| す | して | 話（はな）す → 話して |
* one exception: 行（い）く → 行って
Irregular Verbs
- する → して
- くる → きて
3. Important: V2 Sets the Tense
Even if V1 is in て-form, the tense of the sentence depends on V2.
| Sentence | Tense |
|---|---|
| 図書館に行って、本を読みます。 | Present / Future |
| 図書館に行って、本を読みました。 | Past |
So just change V2 to match the time you want to describe!
4. Common Examples
| V1 | V2 | Sentence | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 朝（あさ）起（お）きる | コーヒーを飲（の）む | 朝起きて、コーヒーを飲みます。 | I wake up in the morning and drink coffee. |
| 新聞（しんぶん）を読（よ）む | テレビを見（み）る | 新聞を読んで、テレビを見ます。 | I read the newspaper and watch TV. |
| カフェに行（い）く | 飲（の）み物（もの）を買（か）う | カフェに行って、飲み物を買います。 | I go to a cafe and buy a drink. |
| 電気（でんき）をつける | カーテンを開（あ）ける | 電気をつけて、カーテンを開けます。 | I turn on the light and open the curtains. |
5. Practice: Build Your Own Sentences
Try using this pattern to describe your day:
- 朝ご飯を食べて、学校に行きます。
- 図書館に行って、勉強します。
- 映画を見て、買い物をしました。
- 音楽を聞いて、寝ました。
6. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
- QCan I connect more than two actions?
- A
Yes! Just keep adding て-form verbs:
→ 起きて、顔を洗って、朝ご飯を食べます。
- QCan I use this with different verb tenses?
- A
Only V2 controls the overall tense. All previous verbs stay in て-form, even in past-tense sentences.
→ 学校に行って、先生に会いました。
- QCan this be used for simultaneous actions?
- A
Not exactly. V1-て、V2 shows sequence, not simultaneous actions. For simultaneous actions, use different grammar (like ながら for “while doing”).
- QDo I always need the comma?
- A
No — the comma is optional and mainly used in writing for readability.
Conclusion
Now you can connect actions in Japanese like a pro!
✅ Use て-form to join verbs in order
✅ Let the second verb decide the sentence tense
✅ Describe your routine, weekend, or day with natural flow
🎯 Try writing a few sentences using this pattern to describe your daily routine or your last weekend!
Want to improve your Japanese with real conversations?
Our native Japanese instructors at gokigen japanese can help you perfect your pronunciation and learn real-life usage.
Whether you’re completely new to Japanese or looking to refine your skills, book a one-on-one session.
