JLPT N4 grammar
て-form favours — Meaning & Examples
〜てあげる (do for someone), 〜てくれる (someone does for me — gratitude), 〜てもらう (have someone do for me). Same direction rules as the base verbs.
もらう + the て-form Favours
もらう = to receive. The SUBJECT is the receiver (usually you).
Pattern: [receiver]は [giver]に/から [thing]を もらう
わたしは友達にプレゼントをもらった。(watashi wa tomodachi ni purezento o moratta.)
= I received a present from my friend.
Humble: いただく (receiving from a superior)
先生に本をいただきました。(sensei ni hon o itadakimashita.) = I received a book from the teacher.
Now the powerful part — doing FAVOURS with the て-form:
Attach these verbs to the て-form of another verb to mean "do an action for someone."
・〜てあげる = do something FOR someone (careful — can sound condescending)
友達に日本語を教えてあげた。(tomodachi ni nihongo o oshiete ageta.) = I taught my friend Japanese (did them the favour).
・〜てくれる = someone does something for ME (gratitude)
友達が手伝ってくれた。(tomodachi ga tetsudatte kureta.) = My friend helped me (thank you!).
・〜てもらう = I get / have someone do something for me
友達に手伝ってもらった。(tomodachi ni tetsudatte moratta.) = I had my friend help me.
The same direction rules apply — くれる always points at you. 🎁
Practise て-form favours in the free app
This point is part of the “Giving & Receiving — あげる・くれる・もらう” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N4 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N4 grammar points
From the same lesson: Giving & Receiving — あげる・くれる・もらう
Frequently asked questions
What does て-form favours mean?
〜てあげる (do for someone), 〜てくれる (someone does for me — gratitude), 〜てもらう (have someone do for me). Same direction rules as the base verbs.
Is て-form favours on the JLPT N4 test?
て-form favours is taught in the JLPT N4 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Giving & Receiving — あげる・くれる・もらう”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise て-form favours?
Open the “Giving & Receiving — あげる・くれる・もらう” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N4 mock exams, with no ads.