Sometimes the て form has an adverbial meaning like: 重ねて or 歩いて行く and sometimes it functions as a way to connect two sentences. Is there an easy way to differentiate between what meaning is being used?
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5Context. Sorry if that's doesn't sound helpful, but it's the only answer to so many questions in Japanese.– user3856370Mar 25, 2018 at 9:58
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Please look at this answer by <japanese.stackexchange.com/users/12/andry>. It helped me. Hope it helps you too. <japanese.stackexchange.com/a/11301/29313>– Dheeraj MohanMar 25, 2018 at 19:07
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1^ いやその回答の例文はあんまり・・・特に対話文のとこは・・・– Chocolate ♦Mar 26, 2018 at 0:47
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1 Answer
If there is a comma after the first verb in te-form, you're lucky, because it tends to be sequential actions ("V1 and V2", "V1, then V2"). The first verb can be a reason for the second verb.
- 朝起きて、顔を洗う。 (sequential actions)
- 彼女に会って、話をします。 (sequential actions)
- 電車が遅れて、遅刻した。 (sequential actions / reason)
If there is no comma, it can also refer to methods or surrounding events/situations, "V2 while V1" or "V2 by/with V1-ing". The correct meaning depends on the context.
- 急いで顔を洗う。 (situation)
- 歩いて学校に行く。 (method)
- 朝起きて顔を洗う。 (sequential actions)
"Context" may be a disappointing answer, but English also has many context-dependent words that confuses people who learn English as the second language. For example, "as he speaks" means both "while he speaks" and "because he speaks". "She must be a pro" means both "she has to be a pro" and "she is certainly a pro". You can soon get used to such ambiguous constructions once you've understood the possible meanings.
