http://www.jgram.org JGram RSS Grammar a Day - JLPT 3 http://www.jgram.org/pages/viewOne.php?tagE=te&date=2013-5-24 〜て (te)

    Meaning: ([verb]-te, connects two sentences)
    Example: I'm going to the book shop to buy it.

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  Notes:  
te is more of a "parallel" tense in Japanese. It reflects that the verb goes on along with the rest of the sentence or in a sequence.
te-iru is the same way, the verb is going on at the same time "you exist" hence the -ing.
The -te form has many uses; here there are just some of them:

1) It's a way to connect two sentences (a kind of equivalent expression for "and").

2) Equivalent to English "-ing".

3) -te+iru: to describe an action that is now happening or that is not already finished.
[There are similar grammatical structures with verbs like "shimau", "ageru", "yaru", "miru"... but I guess they should have their own section]

4) Replacing an adverb.

5) Motte+iku/kuru: to bring, to take, to carry something.

6) Present perfect in some cases.

When the -te form is applied to adjectives finished in -i, it has also a copulative function: joining two or more adjectives by adding -kute instead -i.

天気が悪くて、たいへん困りました。
The weather was bad, and that bothered us.

あの映画は短く面白いです。= あの映画は短くて面白いです。
That film is short and amusing.

[I must apologize for the possible mistakes this note may have. English is not my native language]


  Examples:  
Note: visit WWWJDIC to lookup any unknown words found in the example(s)...
Alternatively, view this page on POPjisyo.com or Rikai.com

• この赤くて大きい車は田中さんのです。 [kono akaku1teookii kuruma ha tanakasan no desu.   [ex #707]
This large and red car is Mr Tanaka's.

• 本屋に行って買います。[honya ni itte kaimasu.]   [ex #888]
I'm going to the book shop and buying it.

• 茶碗を口のところまで持ってきて、箸でごはんをかきこむのは行儀が悪い。   [ex #3118]
Brining the bowl up to your mouth and shoveling rice in with Chopsticks is bad manners.

• メロンを食べて、コーヒーを飲ました。(1)   [ex #6248]
He ate some melon and drank some coffee.

• 歩いて来ます。(2)   [ex #6249]
I come on foot (walking).

• 妹は遊そんでいます。(3)   [ex #6250]
My younger sister is playing (right now).

• 社長はたいへん怒っています。(3)   [ex #6251]
The director is very angry (he became angry and is still angry).

• 喜んで手伝います。(4)   [ex #6252]
It'll be a pleasure to help you out.

• 手紙をもって行きました。(5)   [ex #6253]
I brought the letter (lit. "having the letter, I came").

• 田中さんは出掛けています。(6)   [ex #6254]
Mr. Tanaka's gone out (Mr. Tanaka is not here).

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  Comments:  

• Note, many, many, other uses of vte. (contributor: Amatuka)
  
• Hmm, not the most natural example sentence in the world ^^v (contributor: Amatuka)
  
• Also -i adjectives join with -kute -くて
  The copula has the 'te' form of で. (contributor: Amatuka)
  
• Verbs with auxillary verbs and auxillary adjectives use the -te form. e.g. やってみてください。
  やる(in -te form, to do) みる (in -te form, to try) ください (request). All together Please try to do it. (contributor: Amatuka)
  
• It is sometimes much the same as 'and'. (contributor: Amatuka)
  
• [List of conjugations to be done] (contributor: Amatuka)
  
• It's a JLPT level 4 grammar point (both the -て and -くて forms, btw), and not a level 3 one; Only some of the -て + verb forms are part of the JLPT level 3 grammar requirements
  
  (contributor: Aria)
  
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