Japanese Grammar: Expressing Permission 「…てもいい (May)」
Before starting the exercise for expressing permission 「...てもいい (May)」, please clarify any doubts you may have about the grammatical rules by referring to your grammar guidebook or dictionary. The Instantaneous Composition Method requires you to compose sentences with the target sentence pattern(s) over and over in order to use them almost effortlessly. You should already have the necessary knowledge.
Instantaneous Composition Exercise for Expressing Permission 「...てもいい (May)」
This is not a translation exercise. This is the Instantaneous Composition Exercise. As if a reflexive action, try to create an equivalent Japanese sentence shortly after reading an English script. Try not to think for more than three seconds.
Natural Speed with Pauses
English and Hidden Japanese Scripts
May (I) take a photo?
写真をとってもいいですか？
May (I) sit (here)? => Yes, go ahead.
座ってもいいですか？ => はい、どうぞ。
May (I) drink this green tea? => Sure.
このお茶を飲んでもいいですか？ => もちろん。
May (I) ask (you) a question? => (I’m) sorry. (Explanatory) (I’m) busy now.
質問してもいいですか？ => すみません、今忙しいんです。
May (I) go home? => Sorry, not now.
家に帰ってもいいですか？ => すみません、今はだめです。
(You) may take a rest.
休んでもいいですよ。
(You) may eat (it) all.
全部食べてもいいですよ。
(You) may take off (your) jacket.
上着を脱いでもいいですよ。
(You) may not practice Japanese every day.
毎日、日本語を練習しなくてもいいですよ。
(You) may not come in the morning.
朝に来なくてもいいですよ。
Note
People customarily add the sentence-ending particle: よ when they give permission.
