Present and future
now, habits, and what is to come
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI turn on | ||
| NegativeI don’t turn on |
JAPANESE VERB
つける
to turn on
- #360 most used
- Ichidan verb (ru-verb)
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Past
finished actions
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI turned on | ||
| NegativeI didn’t turn on |
Te-form
て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| て-formturning on, and… | ||
| Doing now (て います)I am turning on | ||
| Please (て ください)please turn on |
Potential
可能形 · “can”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI can turn on | ||
| NegativeI can’t turn on |
Want to
たい形 · “want to”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| AffirmativeI want to turn on | ||
| NegativeI don’t want to turn on |
Volitional
意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Let’slet’s turn on |
Conditional
条件形 · “if” and “when”
- If (ば) if I turn on
- If, when (たら) if I turn on
Commands and requests
命令形 · from gentle to blunt
- Do it (なさい) turn on (do it)
- Plain command turn on!
- Please don’t please don’t turn on
Passive and causative
受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”
| Form | Polite | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| PassiveI am turned on | ||
| CausativeI make someone turn on |
How to use つける
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present and future
くらく なったら、 でんき を つけます。
When it gets dark, I turn on the light.
-
Past
さむかった から、 ストーブ を つけた。
It was cold, so I turned on the heater.
-
Te-form
テレビ を つけて も いい？
Can I turn on the TV?
-
Potential
リモコン が なくて、 エアコン が つけられません。
I can't find the remote, so I can't turn on the air conditioning.
-
Want to
あつい から、 せんぷうき を つけたい。
It's hot, I want to turn on the fan.
-
Volitional
くらい ね。 でんき を つけよう。
It's dark, isn't it. Let's turn on the light.
-
Conditional
この ボタン を おせば、 つけられます。
If you press this button, you can turn it on.
-
Commands and requests
ねる とき は テレビ を つけないで ください。
Please don't leave the TV on when you go to bed.
-
Passive and causative
へや の でんき は つけられた まま でした。
The light in the room had been left on.
Good to know
- つける turns on a light, the TV or the air conditioning; けす turns them off.
Where you hear つける
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Japanese · Beginner Level 2
- よる は でんき を つけます。 At night I turn on the light.
- あつい です から、 エアコン を つけました。 It's hot, so I turned on the air conditioning.
- こんばん は エアコン を つけます。 Tonight I'll turn on the air conditioning.
Japanese · Intermediate Level 2
- さしみ に は、 しょうゆ を つけます。 I put soy sauce on sashimi.
- てがみ に しゃしん を つけた。 I put a photo in with the letter.
- こんど は、 ベン くん が えさ を つける。 Next time, Ben will put the bait on.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: ichidan verb (ru-verb).