Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI ask | ||
| NegativeI don’t ask |
JAPANESE VERB
たのむ
頼む
to ask, to rely on
- #85 most used
- Godan verb (u-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI asked | ||
| NegativeI didn’t ask |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formasking, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am asking | ||
| Please (て ください)please ask |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can ask | ||
| NegativeI can’t ask |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to ask | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to ask |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s ask |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I ask
- If, when (たら) if I ask
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) ask (do it)
- Plain command ask!
- Please don’t please don’t ask
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am asked | ||
| CausativeI make someone ask |
How to use たのむ
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
こまった とき は、 いつも あね に たのみます。
When I'm in trouble, I always ask my sister.
-
Past
ゆい に かいもの を たのんだ。
I asked Yui to do the shopping.
-
Te-form
ともだち に てつだい を たのんで みる。
I'll try asking a friend to help.
-
Potential
この しごと は ベン に たのめる。
We can ask Ben to do this job.
-
Want to
ひとつ たのみたい こと が ある ん だ けど。
There's something I'd like to ask you.
-
Volitional
ピザ を たのもう か。
Shall we order pizza?
-
Conditional
けんた に たのめば、 すぐ やって くれる。
If you ask Kenta, he'll do it right away.
-
Commands and requests
じぶん で できる こと は ひと に たのまないで ください。
Please don't ask others to do what you can do yourself.
-
Passive and causative
ぶちょう に きゅうな しごと を たのまれた。
My boss asked me to do an urgent job.
Good to know
- たのむ also orders in a restaurant: ラーメン を たのむ.
Where you hear たのむ
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 1
- こまった とき は ベン に たのむ。 When I'm stuck, I ask Ben.
- そうた に ひみつ の にんむ を たのんだ。 I gave Sota a secret mission.
- あした、 けんた に たのむ。 I'll ask Kenta tomorrow.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 2
- ベン は なんでも たのまれる。 Ben gets asked to do everything.
- きむら さん に スピーチ を たのんだ。 I asked Mr. Kimura to give a speech.
- あした、 おかあさん に たのむ。 I'll ask Mum tomorrow.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).