Meaning & usage
てもいい expresses permission, meaning it is okay to do something or asking if you may do it. It attaches to the te-form of a verb, as in 食べてもいい or 行ってもいい, with もよい as a slightly more formal equivalent of もいい. In polite requests it is common with ですか, as in 入ってもいいですか, to ask whether an action is allowed.
Example sentences 6
-
何かを食べてもいいんですか。
May I eat something?
-
これ食べてもいい？
Can I eat this?
-
ここにいてもいいですか？
Can I stay here?
-
このりんご食べてもいい？
May I eat this apple?
-
しばらくここにいてもいいですか。
Would you mind my staying here for some time?
-
大人しくしているうちはここにいてもよい。
You can stay here as long as you keep quiet.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 11 past exam questions.
And 7 more tests.
