G22 · Prohibition: 〜ては いけません

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
• G21ask for and give permission

What you learn

〜ては いけません

• は〜ては: prohibition
• いけませんmust not

The て-form + は + いけません forbids: ここで たべては いけません (no eating here). Compare G21: たべても いいです gives permission; たべては いけません denies it. Watch the particle: も or は.

• ここで たべては いけません。koko de tabete wa ikemasen.No eating here.
• テレビを みては いけません。terebi o mite wa ikemasen.You must not watch TV.
• えいごを はなしては いけません。eigo o hanashite wa ikemasen.You must not speak English.
• いま ねては いけません。ima nete wa ikemasen.You must not sleep now.
• ここに かいては いけません。koko ni kaite wa ikemasen.You must not write here.
• コーヒーを のんでは いけません。koohii o nonde wa ikemasen.You must not drink coffee.

Practice

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