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JAPANESE VERB

つける

to put on, to add onto

  • #389 most used
  • Ichidan verb (ru-verb)

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present and future

now, habits, and what is to come

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI put on
NegativeI don’t put on

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI put on
NegativeI didn’t put on

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formputting on, and…
Doing now (て います)I am putting on
Please (て ください)please put on

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can put on
NegativeI can’t put on

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI want to put on
NegativeI don’t want to put on

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s put on

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

  1. If (ば) if I put on
  2. If, when (たら) if I put on

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

  1. Do it (なさい) put on (do it)
  2. Plain command put on!
  3. Please don’t please don’t put on

Passive and causative

受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am put on
CausativeI make someone put on

How to use つける

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present and future

    やきとり に は しお を つけます。

    I put salt on my yakitori.

  2. Past

    こねこ に 「モモ」 と なまえ を つけた。

    We named the kitten "Momo".

  3. Te-form

    くるま に き を つけて ください ね。

    Watch out for cars.

  4. Potential

    この ソース は なん に でも つけられます。

    You can put this sauce on anything.

  5. Want to

    この ワンピース に あかい ベルト を つけたい。

    I want to add a red belt to this dress.

  6. Volitional

    かばん に なふだ を つけよう。

    Let's put a name tag on the bag.

  7. Conditional

    しょうゆ を つければ、 もっと おいしい です よ。

    If you add soy sauce, it's even tastier.

  8. Commands and requests

    さむい から、 マフラー を つけなさい。

    It's cold, put on a scarf.

  9. Passive and causative

    この パン は バター が つけられて います。

    This bread has butter on it.

Good to know

  • つける puts one thing onto another: ソース を つける, なまえ を つける (to name), き を つける (to be careful).

Where you hear つける

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Japanese · Beginner Level 2

  • ごはん に しお を つけます。 I put salt on the rice.
  • おにぎり に しお を つけました。 I put salt on the rice ball.
  • あとで しお を つけます。 I'll put salt on it later.
22
Cooking Curry

Beginner Level 2 · つけます

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Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: ichidan verb (ru-verb).