JLPT N5 · Permission and obligation

〜てもいいです

Grants permission or asks for it

Meaning

Gives permission or, in question form, asks for permission to act.

Formation

  1. Put the verb in the te-form and add もいいです.
  2. Add か for a question: 〜てもいいですか.

When to use it

Permission
The speaker says that an action is allowed.
Requesting permission
With か or rising intonation, asks whether the action is allowed.

Example

このパソコン使っつかっいいです

May I use this computer?

Important notes

  • いい applies to the whole pattern and means acceptability here, not simply the adjective 'good'.

Common mistakes

  • Do not confuse it with 〜てはいけない, which prohibits the action.

Similar grammar

All N5 grammarOpen in the app