Activities: How to give and request permission in Japanese?
Exercise 1: Creating sentences
Let’s start practicing making the basic sentences using 〜てもいい and なくてもいい! For each basic form, complete two sentences:
using 〜てもいい
using なくてもいい
When there are two words given, use the appropriate one for each.
食べる[taberu](to eat):
おなかが空いているなら、そのおにぎりをよ。
Onaka ga suite iru nara, sono onigiri o ... yo.
If you are hungry, you can eat those rice balls.おなかがいっぱいなら、そのおにぎりは よ。
Onaka ga ippai nara, sono onigiri wa ... yo.
If you are full, you don’t have to eat those rice balls.
狭い[semai](small in size), 広い [hiroi](spacious)
アパートは家賃が安ければ、です。
Apāto wa yachin ga yasukereba, ... desu.
As for the apartment, it’s alright if it’s small as long as the rent is low.アパートは家賃が安ければ、です。
Apāto wa yachin ga yasukereba, ... desu.
As for the apartment, it’s alright if it’s not spacious as long as the rent is low.
下手だ [heta da](is/am/are poor at), 上手だ[jōzu da](is/am/are good at)
日本語がですから、参加してください。
Nihongo ga ... desu kara, sanka shite kudasai.
It’s OK if you are poor at Japanese, so please join us.日本語がですから、参加してください。
Nihongo ga ... desu kara, sanka shite kudasai.
It’s OK if you are not good at Japanese, so please join us.
来週[raishū](next week), 今週[konshū](this week)
今週忙しいなら、よ。
Konshū isogashii nara, ... yo.
If you are busy this week, it can be next week.金曜日まで忙しいなら、 よ。
Kinyōbi made isogashii nara, ... yo.
If you are busy until Friday, it doesn’t have to be this week.
Exercise 2: Multiple choice
Complete each sentence by choosing the correct answer among the options.
Base word: つけて[tsukeru](to turn on)
暑ければ、エアコンを もかまいませんよ。
Atsukereba, eakon o ... mo kamaimasen yo.
If it’s hot, it’s alright to turn on the air conditioner.Base word: 見せる[miseru](to show)
パスポートはもいいです。
Pasupōto wa ... mo ii desu.
You don’t have to show your passport.Base word: 払う[harau](to pay)
朝食込みですから、お金を必要はありません。
Chōshoku komi desu kara, okane o ... hitsuyō wa arimasen.
Since the breakfast is included (in the bill), there is no need to pay (the money).Base word: ジーンズだ[jiinzu da](to be wearing jeans)
カジュアルな店だから、 もだいじょうぶだよ。
Kajuaru na mise da kara, ... mo daijōbu da yo.
Because it’s a casual restaurant, it’s alright to wear jeans.Base word: あやまる[ayamaru](to apologize)
悪いのはあっちなんだから、ことはないよ。
Warui no wa acchi nanda kara, ... koto wa nai yo.
Because the fault is on them, there is no need for you to apologize.Base word: 冷たい[tsumetai](cold)
ジュースください。もいいですから。
Jūsu kudasai. ... mo ii desu kara.
The juice, please. It doesn’t have to be cold.Base word: 説明する[setsumei suru](to explain)
やさしい問題だから、 までもないでしょう？
Yasashii mondai da kara, ... made mo nai deshō?
They are easy questions, so there is no need for me to explain them, right?Base word: 遊びに行[asobi ni iku](to go to play)
やさしい問題だから、 までもないでしょう？
Yasashii mondai da kara, ... made mo nai deshō?
They are easy questions, so there is no need for me to explain them, right?Base word: 完ぺきだ[kanpeki da](to be perfect)
作文はなくてもいいですから、明日までに出してください。
Sakubun wa ... nakute mo ii desukara, ashsita made ni dashite kudasai.
The composition doesn’t have to be perfect. So please turn it in by tomorrow.
Exercise 3: How would you respond?
Read each scenario and choose the most appropriate response to the given question among the possible responses. You can use each answer only once.
Possible responses: (you will need to fill in the 〜 part) | |
|---|---|
うん、〜てもいいよ。 Un, … te mo ii yo Yeah, I don’t mind …ing | いいえ、〜てはいけません。 Iie, … te wa ikemasen No, you may not… |
ええ、どうぞ。 Ē, dōzo Sure, please go ahead. | すみません、〜はちょっと・・・。 Sumimasen, … wa chotto … I’m sorry, … is a little bit … |
はい、かしこまりました。 Hai, kashikomarimashita Yes, certainly. → Very polite way to literally say, “I understood.” | |
You are working as a lifeguard at the kiddy pool section of a resort hotel. One of the children asks if they can go to swim in the adult pool. It’s against the rules, so you tell them firmly.
Useful vocabularyあっちの
atch noi
that … over there
プール
pūru
pool
泳ぐ
oyogu
to swim
Child: あっちのプールで泳いでもいい？
Atchi no pūru de oyoide mo ii desu ka.
May I swim in that pool over there?You: 。
Today, you are working at the hotel lounge. At this place, customers can have free refills for coffee. One of the customers asks you if they can have a refill and you comply.
Useful vocabularyコーヒー
kōhii
coffee
おかわり
okawari
refill
お願いする
onegai suru
to ask for
Customer: あっちのプールで泳いでもいい？
Kōhii no okawari, onegai shite mo ii desu ka.
May I ask for a refill (of coffee)?You: 。
It’s your day off, and you are volunteering at a jogging event. When you are sitting at the registration desk, one of the participants asks you if they can borrow a ballpoint pen on the desk. You politely agree.
Useful vocabularyその
sono
coffee
ボールペン
bārupen
ballpoint pen
借りる
kariru
to borrow
Participant: そのボールペン、借りてもいいですか。
Sono bārupen, karite mo ii desu ka.
May I borrow that ballpoint pen?You: 。
You are still working at the jogging event. A photographer from a local newspaper asks you if they can take your picture. You don’t want your picture taken, so you politely decline.
Useful vocabulary写真
shashin
photo
撮る
toru
to take (pictures)
Photographer: 写真を撮ってもいいですか。
Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka.
May I take your picture?You: ・・・
After the jogging event is over, some of the fellow volunteers decide to go to a cafe together to have lunch. They ask you to join them, and you agree.
Useful vocabularyいっしょに
issho ni
with us
お昼
ohiru
lunch
食べに行く
tabe ni iku
to go to eat
Your friend: いっしょにお昼食べに行かない？
Issho ni ohiru tabe ni ikanai?
Why don’t you join us for lunch?
(lit. Won’t you go to have lunch with us?)You: 。
