Verb + て
Meanings
- link actions in sequence
- and then
- one action follows another
- cause or reason linked to result
About this pattern
Explanation
The て form connects clauses to show that one action happens after another, or to link actions together in a chain. It can also indicate a continuing state (with ～ている) or a conditional-like sequence where the second clause depends on the first. In everyday speech, it’s used to list actions, explain what happened, or describe ongoing situations. It is a fundamental way to connect events smoothly in narration or description.
Learn in context
Example sentences
I eat breakfast and then go to school.
It's raining, so I will take an umbrella.
He is reading a book.
After leaving school, I met a friend.
After doing my homework, I watch TV.
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More N5 patterns
to be; is; equals; identifies as
View detailsto be; is; am; used to state something politely
View detailsAs for... (highlights sentence topic); Topic marker used to indicate what the sentence is about; Marks the topic of the sentence, sometimes with contrast
View detailsalso; too; as well; even; either; neither
View detailsthis (near the speaker); this thing; this one
View detailsthat; that thing (near the listener); the thing referred to earlier
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