Breakdown of koko de namae wo kaite mo ii desu ka?
ですdesu
to be
をwo
direct object particle
かka
question particle
でde
location particle
書くkaku
to write
〜て も いい〜te mo ii
to be permitted to
ここkoko
here
名前namae
name
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Questions & Answers about koko de namae wo kaite mo ii desu ka?
What does ここで mean in this sentence, and why is the particle で used instead of に?
ここ means “here,” referring to the location. The particle で marks the place where an action takes place, so ここで means “at this spot.” If you used に, it would indicate a destination or direction rather than the site of the action.
Why is 名前 followed by を in 名前を?
The particle を marks the direct object of a verb. In 名前を書く, 名前 (name) is what you write, so it takes を. Saying 名前に書く would mean “write into the name,” which doesn’t fit here.
Why is the verb in the て-form (書いて) before もいいですか?
Japanese uses the pattern V-て + も + いい to express permission. You convert 書く to its て-form (書いて), then add もいい, so 書いてもいいです literally means “even if (you) write, it’s okay,” i.e. “you may write.” Adding か turns it into a polite question.
What is the role of も in 書いてもいい?
The も is part of the concessive ～ても form, which means “even if.” Combined with いい, 書いてもいい means “even if you write, it’s good,” or more naturally, “it’s okay to write.”
Can you drop the も and say 書いていいですか? Is there a difference?
Yes, you can say 書いていいですか in casual speech. 書いてもいいですか is slightly more standard or formal, but both ask for permission.
What does the final か do, and can I omit it?
The か turns the sentence into a polite question. Omitting it makes the sentence a statement (e.g. “writing here is okay”) rather than a request. To ask for permission, you need か.
Could I use ここでは名前を書いてもいいですか instead? What’s the nuance?
Yes. ここでは adds a topic marker and can imply contrast—“As for here, is it okay to write my name?” Without は, ここで simply states the location without that extra nuance. Both are grammatically correct.
Can I use お名前 instead of 名前 here?
Absolutely. Adding the honorific お (お名前) makes it more polite or respectful. In informal situations or on casual forms, 名前 is fine. In formal or customer‐service contexts, お名前 is preferred.
Are there more formal or more casual ways to ask the same thing?
Casual: ここで名前書いていい？ (drop も and ですか).
Very formal: 失礼ですが、ここでお名前を書かせていただいてもよろしいでしょうか？ (uses humble and honorific language for business or official settings).