The て-form is also used in the pattern て-form + もいい, which is commonly used to ask for permission or whether something is acceptable. The word いい, as you learned previously, means good or OK. So you can think of the literal translation of this grammar point as, Is it alright to …?
Check out the sentences below for some examples for how this pattern is used.
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Can she come too? | 彼女 も 来て も いい です か？kanojo mo kite mo ii desu ka? |
| Can I come in? Uh, wait a moment please. | 入って も いい です か。 ああ、 ちょっと 待って ください。haitte mo ii desu ka. aa, chotto matte kudasai. |
| Can I smoke here? (Is smoking allowed here?) | ここ で タバコ を 吸って も いい です か？koko de tabako o sutte mo ii desu ka? |
| You may smoke here. | ここ で タバコ を 吸って も いい です。koko de tabako o sutte mo ii desu. |
