Chapter 5: Asking for Permission
1. When you want to ask for permission (e.g., "May I do
such-and-such?), use the following pattern!
V-TE+mo ii desu ka?
For instance:
May I eat this cake?
Kono keeki, tabete mo ii desu ka?
Let's Practice!
How would you say:
-
May I use this computer?
-
May I drink this wine?
-
May I read this newspaper?
-
May I use this telephone?
-
May I play tennis?
2. The combination of a verbal gerund form and mo
carries
the meaning of "even if."
Thus, V-TE+mo ii desu ka literally means, "Would it be
ok even if I do such-and-such?," which, in turn, seeks for
permission of one's action.
As you see above, you can drop the object marker -o when
you use this pattern. In fact, dropping -o sounds more natural.
Compare the following:
- Kono keeki-o tabete mo ii desu ka? (less natural)
- Kono keeki, tabete mo ii desu ka? (more natural!)
3. To respond, you can use the following:
- If your answer is "yes" Hai/Ee, doozo. (Yes, please.)
Or, Hai/Ee, ....V-TE+mo ii desu yo.
(Yes, you may do such-and-such.)
- If your answer is "no" Uu..n, chotto.....
(Well,......).
Go to this drill!
