Lesson 16

Learning with Minna no Nihongo? Lesson 16 teaches you how to talk about giving and receiving things or help, and how to make polite requests using the て-form. You’ll also learn how to describe what people are doing using the て-form of verbs.

In this lesson, we’ll keep things very easy and simple. You will see grammar points, vocabulary, examples, and practice tips. Let’s get started!

Lesson
Minna no Nihongo 16

🎁 Focus
Giving & Receiving / て-form

🎓 Level
Beginner

🤝

Learn to Say 'Give', 'Get', and Make Requests

📘 Vocabulary

• あげます (agemasu) – Give (to someone)
• もらいます (moraimasu) – Receive / Get
• かします (kashimasu) – Lend
• かります (karimasu) – Borrow
• て-form + ください – Please do (request)
• て-form + います – Someone is doing something

🧠 Grammar Point

In Lesson 16, you learn two important grammar patterns:

1. Giving and Receiving
Aさんは Bさんに [Object] を あげます。
Bさんは Aさんに [Object] を もらいます。

2. Making polite requests:
て-form + ください → Please do something
Example: これを みせて ください。 → Please show me this.

3. Talking about actions in progress:
て-form + います
Example: たなかさんは べんきょうして います。 → Tanaka-san is studying.

💬 Example Sentences

• わたしは ともだちに プレゼントを あげました。 → I gave my friend a present.
• やまださんに ほんを もらいました。 → I received a book from Yamada-san.
• このCDを かして ください。 → Please lend me this CD.
• いま、にほんごを べんきょうして います。 → I am studying Japanese now.

📝 Tips for Practice

• Practice giving and receiving items in conversation with friends.
• Use て-form + ください to ask people for help in class.
• Try using て-form + います to describe what you're doing now.
• Make short daily sentences using new verbs from this lesson.

📚 What’s Next?

Lesson 17 will teach you how to talk about hobbies, preferences, and abilities. You’ll use new words like “can do” and “like doing”. But first, make sure you’re confident with the て-form and these request patterns.

Note: This guide is for beginners using Minna no Nihongo. Don’t rush — take your time and review often!

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Do I need to remember all て-form rules now?
Just start with a few common verbs. You will learn more step by step.

Q2: What’s hard in this lesson?
Making the correct て-form of verbs is tricky at first. Practice helps.

Q3: Can I use もらいます with ください?
No, they are different. Use ください to ask. Use もらいます to say you got something.

Q4: How do I practice this alone?
Say simple て-form sentences out loud. Practice with flashcards or videos.