Decide who will perform the action. A request asks another person to act; a permission question asks whether an action is allowed.
Name the actor
窓を開けてください asks the listener to open the window. 窓を開けてもいいですか asks permission to open it, usually with the speaker as the actor in a simple scene. Both contain 開けて, so the te form alone does not tell you the intention.
A useful permission pattern is te form + もいいですか. A useful request pattern is te form + ください. More indirect requests, such as 開けてもらえますか, are common too, but the questions here specify which construction to produce.
Avoid an accidental change in meaning
写真を撮ってください asks someone to take a photo. 写真を撮ってもいいですか asks whether taking a photo is allowed. In a real setting, the missing subject is recovered from context. State the actor when the situation could be misunderstood.
Examples to read before you practise
Japanese | Reading / English |
|---|---|
窓を開けてください。 | Please open the window. |
窓を開けてもいいですか。 | May I open the window? |
ここに座ってもいいですか。 | May I sit here? |
Try six questions
Use the interactive practice below. Type only the requested expression. Kanji and kana alternatives are accepted where listed in the answer key. Completing a question records a result; opening the answer key does not.
開ける + ください → verb form only
開ける + permission → complete 開けて（ ）ですか
座る → te form for a permission question
撮る → te form for a request
May I read? 読んで（ ）ですか。
Ask someone to read, using ください: 読んで（ ）。
Answer key and explanations
開けて / あけて — A request uses the te form.
もいい — Add もいい after the te form.
座って / すわって — 座る is 五段: 座って.
撮って / とって — 撮る gives 撮って.
もいい — This ending asks permission.
ください — This ending requests the listener’s action.
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The answers below are for self-study and do not record a score. Mixed practice uses topics you have practised.
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