tento wo tukau.

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.

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.

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.

Because Japanese often leaves out the subject when it is clear from context.

So テントを使う。 could mean:

• I use a tent.
• We use a tent.
• He uses a tent.
• They will use a tent.

Japanese often sounds natural without explicitly saying I, you, he, etc., unless that information needs to be stated.

Yes. Japanese usually follows Subject-Object-Verb order, while English usually uses Subject-Verb-Object.

So this sentence is literally closer to:

• tent + object marker + use

That is why the verb 使う comes at the end.

Normally, Japanese is not written with spaces between words.

So the standard writing would be:

• テントを使う。

Spaces are often added in beginner materials to make the sentence easier to read.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

• テント = tento
• を = o
• 使う = tsukau

So the whole sentence is pronounced roughly:

• tento o tsukau

A few notes:

• tsu in tsukau is the Japanese つ sound
• kau is pronounced as two vowels: ka-u, not like English cow

It can be a complete sentence in Japanese. Japanese often allows short sentences like this, especially when the context is already known.

However, by itself it can sound a little plain or textbook-like in English-style translation. In real conversation, you might often hear something with more context, such as:

• テントを使います。 = I’ll use a tent / use the tent.
• テントを使うよ。 = I’m going to use a tent, you know.
• テントを使おう。 = Let’s use a tent.

So yes, it is complete, but it is very minimal.

The main difference is politeness.

• 使う = plain form
• 使います = polite form

So:

• テントを使う。 = plain
• テントを使います。 = polite

You would normally use 使います with:

• teachers
• strangers
• coworkers in formal situations
• customer service situations

You would use 使う with:

• friends
• family
• casual conversation
• dictionary examples

Not if you want the same basic meaning.

• テントを使う simply means use a tent
• テントは使う changes the nuance, because は marks the topic and often adds contrast

For example, テントは使う can feel more like:

• As for the tent, (I) use it
• I do use a tent
• At least the tent, (I) use

So を is the normal particle here for the direct object.

Japanese does not usually mark a vs. the the way English does.

So テントを使う could mean:

• use a tent
• use the tent

Context decides which one is meant.

This is very common in Japanese. Articles like a/an/the usually have to be inferred.

使う is grammatically correct and means to use. So テントを使う is fine if the point is simply that a tent is being used.

But in real life, Japanese often chooses a more specific verb if the action matters. For example:

• テントに泊まる = stay in a tent
• テントを張る = pitch a tent
• テントで寝る = sleep in a tent

So テントを使う is correct, but depending on context, a more specific verb may sound more natural.

Yes. The plain non-past form in Japanese can refer to:

• a general/habitual action
• a present action in some contexts
• a future action

So テントを使う might mean:

• I use a tent
• I’m going to use a tent
• We will use the tent

Time is usually understood from context or from time words such as:

• 今日 = today
• 明日 = tomorrow
• いつも = always

For example:

• 明日、テントを使う。 = Tomorrow, I’ll use a tent.