N586/133

てもいい

V-て + もいいい-adjective い-adjective くてもいいな-adjective だ/で + もいいNoun + でもいい

Meanings

  • It's okay to do something
  • You may do something
  • It's permissible to do something
  • ~ is also fine to do

About this pattern

Explanation

This grammar expresses permission or allowance. It is used when you want to say that it is acceptable or permissible to do something, or that a certain situation is fine. The てもいい form follows the conjugation of the word before もいい: for verbs use the て-form, for i-adjectives use the く-form plus てもいい, for na-adjectives use で plus もいい, and for nouns simply use でもいい. It is common in casual conversation, and can be used to ask for permission (with a rising intonation) or to give permission. It carries a soft nuance of “it’s okay if…” rather than a strict rule.

Learn in context

Example sentences

この本を借りてもいいですか。

May I borrow this book?

今日は早く帰ってもいい。

It’s okay to go home early today.

この問題は難しくてもいい。

It’s alright if this problem is difficult.

静かでもいいです。

It’s fine if it’s quiet.

学生でもいいです。

Being a student is fine.