How to Connect Actions in Japanese | Using V1-て、V2 (Do A and then B)

level1 (N5)

Video

Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.

How to Connect Actions in Japanese | Using V1-て、V2 (Do A and then B)
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

ExampleMeaning
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

Just drop る and add て.

Verbて-form
食たべる (to eat)食べて
開あける (to open)開けて
起おきる (to wake up)起きて
見みる (to see)見て

For u-verbs

EndingChange to…Examples
う / つ / るって立たつ (to stand up) → 立って
帰かえる (to return) → 帰って
む / ぶ / ぬんで飲のむ (to drink) → 飲んで
遊あそぶ (to play) → 遊んで
く*いて書かく (to write) → 書いて
聞きく (to hear) → 聞いて
ぐいで泳およぐ (to swim) → 泳いで
すして話はなす (to speak) → 話して

* one exception (u-verbs ending with く)

Verbて-form
行いく (to go)行って

Irregular Verbs

Verbて-form
する (to do)して
くる (to come)きて

3. Important: V2 Sets the Tense (てform doesn’t have tense)

The te-form itself doesn’t have tense. It only shows a connection or relationship between actions (like “and,” “then,” or “so”).

In Japanese, the tense of a sentence is decided by the final verb (or adjective) at the end of the sentence, not by the te-form.

Example:

SentenceTense
図書館としょかんに行いって、本ほんを読よみます。
I go to the library and read books.		The te-form 行って has no tense. The final verb 読みます is present tense, so the whole sentence is present.
図書館に行って、本を読みました。
I went to the library and read a book.		The past tense 読みました decides that the whole sentence is in the past.

4. Common Examples

V1V2SentenceEnglish
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た電気をつけて、カーテンを開けました。I turned on the light and opened the curtains.

5. Practice: Build Your Own Sentences

Try using this pattern to describe your day.

Example:

  • 朝あさご飯はんを食たべて、仕事しごとに行いきます。 = I’ll eat breakfast and go to work.
  • 図書館としょかんに行いって、勉強べんきょうします。 = I’m going to the library to study.
  • 友ともだちと映画えいがを見みて、買かい物ものをしました。 = I went to see a movie with my friends and did some shopping.
  • 昨日きのうの夜よるは、音楽おんがくを聞きいて、寝ねました。 = Last night, I listened to music and went to sleep.

6. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Q
Can 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。

Q
Can 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。

Q
Can 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”).

Q
Do 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.


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    Japanese native and language educator with about 10 years of experience teaching and developing courses and materials.
    She studied and taught in 5 different countries. Her most recent teaching role was at University of Pennsylvania in the U.S.
    Other than teaching all levels of Japanese in various settings from personal tutoring to college courses, she also has experience writing articles about Japanese language and culture and teaching English.
    Education: M.A. in Japanese pedagogy, Purdue University. B.A from the school of Japanese language and culture, Tsukuba University.