There are three major uses of “-te/de” connections.
(1) Sequential Actions (introduced in A1 S16)
Example: Machi ni Itte, Kaimonoshite, Shokujishite, Kaeri mashita.
(I went to the town, did shopping, had a meal, and then came back home.)
(2) Accompanying Action (introduced in A3 S34)
Example: Sumaho o Motte, Machi ni Dekake masu.
(Having my smartphone in hand, I go to the town.)
(3) Action that is Cause/Reason (introduced in A1 S39)
Example: Jishin ga Kite, Totemo Bikkuri shimashita.
(As an earthquake hit, I got surprised much.)
(3) is what we are learning today. In the comparison with (1) and (2), it is important to know what is the subject of each clause in these sentences with “-te/de” connections.
(1)’ (Watashi wa)Machi ni Itte, (Watashi wa) Kaimonoshite, (Watashi wa)Shokujishite, (Watashi wa)Kaeri mashita.
These subjects in clauses are all “Watashi wa”.
(2)’ (Watashi wa) Sumaho o Motte, (Watashi wa) Machi ni Dekake masu.
Also, in use for accompanying action, the subject in clauses are the same.
(3)’ (Jishin) ga Kite, (Watashi wa) Bikkuri shimashita.
But in this one, the subject of subordinate clause is “Jishin”, while that of main clause is “Watashi”.
Therefore, there is a rule about subject in each clause of a sentence with “-te/de” connection;
<1> “-te/de” connection is for “Sequential actions” or “Accompanying action”;
The subjects in clauses need to be the same.
<2> “-te/de” connection is for “Action that is Cause/Reason”;
Either is okay for the subjects in clauses to be the same and to be different.
[1] “-te/de” connections using Te-form of a Verb
1. Shiken ni Ochite, Totemo Gakkarishi mashita.
(Since I failed an examination, I was totally disappointed.)
Having failed an exam is a reason why “I” was disappointed. “Ochite” is the Te-form of “Ochiru/Ochimasu” which is a Group2 verb.
2. Tenkiyohou o Kiite, Kasa o Mochi mashita.
(Since I had heard a weather forecast, I took an umbrella. / I heard a weather forecast, and then I took an umbrella.)
Actually, this is not a good example. If the reason of taking an umbrella is hearing the weather forecast that was saying a rain was coming, “-te” connection in this sentence would be “Action that is Cause/Reason”. But perhaps it is simply saying that I heard a weather forecast and then I picked up an umbrella on my hand, “-te” connection in this sentence would be “Sequesntial Actions. Note that it is sometimes difficult to decide on one out of the three types of “-te/de connections” (1) to (3). In order to avoid such “grey zone”, the writers of Minna no Nihongo use expressions denoting the arousal of emotion for the main clauses in the examples of A1 S39. There must be a reason for an arousal of emotion, and that is the subordinate clause with “-te/de”.
[2] “-te” connections using “-nakute,” of Nai-form of a Verb
3. Yasumi ga Torenakute, Taihen desu.
(Since I cannot take day-off, it is terrible.)
“Torenakute” comes from “Torenai” which is the Nai-form of “Toreru”. And “Toreru” is the potential form of “Torou/Torimasu”.
4. Sensei ni Okorarenakute, Hotto-shi masita.
(I was not scolded by the teacher, so, I was relieved.)
“Okorarenakute” comes from “Okorarenai” which is the Nai-form of “Okorareru”. And “Okorareru” is the passive form of “Okoru/Okorimasu”.
As seen in 3 and 4, not only Nai-forms obtained directly from dictionary forms, Nai-forms coming from potential and passive forms are also able to be used in subordinate clauses to say reason/cause.
[3] “-te” connections of I-adjectives, and “-de” connections of Na-adjectives
Not only verbs but also I-adjectives and Na-adjectives can be used for today’s sentence construction;
– {Subordinate Clause of Reason/Cause}+te/de, {Main Clause}.
5. Tenki ga Warukute, Yama ni Nobore masen.
(Since the weather is too bad, we can’t climb the mountain.)
“Warui” is an I-adjective, which becomes “Warukute” for “-te” connection. Don’t say (WRONG) “Waruide”. “Nobore masen” comes from Nai-form of Potential form “Noboreru” whose origin is “Noboru/Noborimasu”.
6. Setumei ga Teineide, Yoku Wakari mashita.
(The explanation was thorough, and I understood it well.)
“Teinei(na)” is a Na-adjective, which becomes “Teineide” for “-de” connection.
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This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section39 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”
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