tento o tsukau.

We use a tent.

Breakdown of tento o tsukau.

• を: direct object particle
• 使つかう: to use
• テント: a tent

Questions & Answers about tento o tsukau.

Why is テント written in katakana?

Because テント is a loanword, originally from English tent. In Japanese, foreign loanwords are usually written in katakana.

So:

• テント = tent

This is very common for everyday borrowed words.

What does を mean here?

を marks the direct object of the verb. In other words, it shows what is being used.

So in:

• テントを使う

the thing being used is テント.

A natural way to think about it is:

• テント = tent
• を = object marker
• 使う = use

Also, although it is written を, it is pronounced お in modern Japanese.

What form is 使う?

使う is the dictionary form of the verb.

It is:

• plain
• non-past
• affirmative

Non-past in Japanese can mean:

• a present/habitual action: (I) use a tent
• a future action: (I) will use a tent

The exact meaning depends on context.