G21 · Permission: 〜ても いい

Before you start

The sentences only use words you already know from hiragana, katakana and the beginner level.

This lesson assumes what you saw in the earlier ones. If something feels shaky, go back to it:

• G01build sentences with は and です
• G02ask and answer
• G03say what something is not
• G04say whose something is
• G05point at things and ask what they are
• G06say «also»
• G07say what you do
• G08say no and talk about the past
• G09say where you go
• G10say where you do something
• G11describe things and say they aren't
• G12describe with な-adjectives and before a noun
• G13say what there is and where
• G14ask and say where something is
• G15talk about what was
• G16ask politely
• G17say what is happening now
• G18say what you want to do
• G19say what you do first
• G20invite and suggest plans

What you learn

〜ても いいですか

• も〜ても: even if, permission

The て-form + も + いいです gives permission: ここで たべても いいです (you can eat here). With か it asks for it: たべても いいですか (may I eat?). To answer: はい、いいです.

• ここで たべても いいですか。koko de tabete mo ii desu ka.May I eat here?
• テレビを みても いいですか。terebi o mite mo ii desu ka.May I watch TV?
• ここに かいても いいです。koko ni kaite mo ii desu.You may write here.
• みずを のんでも いいですか。mizu o nonde mo ii desu ka.May I drink some water?
• いま でんわを しても いいですか。ima denwa o shite mo ii desu ka.May I make a phone call now?
• えいごを はなしても いいです。eigo o hanashite mo ii desu.You may speak English.

Practice

A short text written only with the kana and grammar you already know. Read it and answer.