In previous lessons you learned how the て-form can be used to join verbs. The て-form can also be used for linking adjectives.
Conjugating adjectives to the て-form depends on whether the adjective is an い-adjective or a な-adjective. For い-adjectives, the final い is replaced by くて. For example, 小さい becomes 小さくて. To connect two or more adjectives together, conjugate all but the last adjective next to the noun into the て-form.
English | Japanese |
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That country is small, hot, and beautiful. | その 国 は 小さくて 暑くて きれい です。sono kuni ha tiisakute atukute kirei desu. |
My watch is expensive and old. | 私 の 時計 は 高くて 古い です。watasi no tokei ha takakute hurui desu. |
For な-adjectives, で is simply placed at the end of the word to make the て-form, so きれい becomes きれいで.
Check out the example sentences below to see this grammar point used in context.
She wanted a beautiful, red dress. | 彼女 は きれいで 赤い ドレス が ほしかった です。kanozyo ha kireide akai doresu ga hosikatta desu. |
She is lively and pretty. | 彼女 は 元気で きれい です。kanozyo ha genkide kirei desu. |
Linking nouns together can also be done by placing で after a noun.
(He) is Japanese, and is a Japanese language teacher. | 日本人で、 日本語 の 先生 です。nihonzinde, nihongo no sensei desu. |
Finally, note that ない is also an い-adjective.
It's not a deer, it's a zebra. | シカ じゃ なくて、 シマウマ です。sika zya nakute, simauma desu. |