てもいい (temoii) Meaning Japanese Grammar - It's Fine Even If
Anna Baffa Volpe
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Anna Baffa Volpe
4 min reading time
The expression てもいい (temoii) means it's fine even if, it's ok even if, it's also okay.
てもいい is used when authorisation is given to perform an action or when we ask for permission to perform an action.
In this post we are going to learn more about the meaning of てもいい, how it is formed, and when てもいい is used through real example sentences.
How てもいい is formed
てもいい is used with nouns, adjectives and verbs.
It's formed by:
- て form of the verb
- particle も that means also
- いい adjective that means
good,ok
Literally: even if you do this way, it's ok
Example with the Ichidan Verb 決める decide:
あなたが決めてもいいよ。
You can decide.
In informal and colloquial context the particle も is often omitted.
Example with the Godan Verb 使う use:
電話を使ってもいい。
You can use the phone.
With the noun we use the て form of the copula だ which becomes で.
カレーライスでもいい。
It's ok even if curry rice.
In the case of い Adjective, it is used the adverbial form, obtained by removing the い and then replacing it with く.
少し高くてもいい。
I don't mind if it's a little expensive.
As for the noun, it is used で: the て form of the copula だ + もいい.
複雑でもいいよ。
It's ok even if it is complicated.
てもいい to give permission
てもいい is commonly used when we give permission, authorisation to others to do something.
あなたはもう家に帰ってもいいですよ。
You can go home now.
このコピー機は学生が使ってもいいですよ。
Students can use this copy machine.
この部屋でお弁当を食べてもいいです。
You can have lunch in this room.
The verb have lunch is translated as お弁当を食べる eat the bentō, the lunch-box
てもいい to ask for permission
This form is also used to ask for permission, the authorisation to perform an action.
- てもいい? you can use the same form in an interrogative tone or
- てもいいですか question obtained with the copula です and the interrogative particle か
A
レポートはあしたでもいいですか。
Can I do the report tomorrow?
B
はい、あしたでもいいです。
Yes, tomorrow is fine.
今日の午後泳ぎに行ってもいいですか。
Can I go swimming this afternoon?
Examples of てもいい
ちょっと全然関係ないこと聞いてもいい？
Can I ask you something completely unrelated?
いい天気だから窓をあけてもいいですか。
It's a beautiful day, can I open the window?
使いたければ僕の机を使ってもいいよ。
You can use my desk if you want.
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