Meaning & usage
The て form links two clauses so the first action or state leads into the second, often translated as and, then, because, or after. Verbs take forms like 食べて or 来て, i-adjectives change い to くて as in おいしくて, and nouns and na-adjectives add で as in 教師で. The exact link depends on context, so a te-form clause can show sequence, cause, or background, and tense is shown only by the final verb.
Example sentences 7
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あのフランス人は日本にきてわずか数ヶ月です。
It is only a few months since that Frenchman came to Japan.
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教師になって１５年になる。
I have been a teacher for 15 years.
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こっちに来て座りなさい。
Come and sit over here.
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昼食をすませて、私達はスケートをしに行った。
Having finished lunch, we went skating.
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料理がおいしくてつい食べ過ぎた。
The food was so good that I ate too much.
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彼はベンチに座って足を組んだ。
He sat on the bench and crossed his legs.
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年月を経て物事がどう変わっていくか見るのは面白そうだ。
It would be fun to see how things change over the years.
