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I work in a hotel and I was asking a coworker if we are permitted to drink the coffee in a certain location near the desk. I am trying to be formal with this request.

I asked "Are we allowed to take that coffee?"

In romanji "Sore Koohii o teru kyoka sa retamasu ka"

1) Am I allowed to combine verbs like this? Under what circumstance can I do this?

2) In order to be polite is it ok to add the masu to the last verb or do I have to add it to Teru as well?

3) How would I make this sentence casual?

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  • Question, is this coworker at the same hierarchical level as you? Is he perhaps your senpai? That will help people answer things related to politeness
    – Felipe Chaves de Oliveira
    Jan 16, 2019 at 2:40
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    No this coworker is my friend we are on the same "level" (bottom feeders). We are both kohai I guess. She speaks with me casually but since I am a new Japanese learner I am focusing on the formal language to avoid ever offending some one.
    – Angus Campbell
    Jan 16, 2019 at 3:04
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    What did you intend by "teru"? It doesn't remind me a relevant word from the context. btw... there's no "we're both kohai" more than "we're both younger than each other", it's a relative concept.
    – broccoli forest
    Jan 16, 2019 at 5:07
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    I suppose the most likely candidate for what "teru" was meant to be is 取る.
    – Leebo
    Jan 16, 2019 at 5:40
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    I am not sure exactly what you are trying to ask. Do you want to ask if you are allowed to drink coffee at a certain location, or do you want to ask if you are allowed to take coffee from a certain location?
    – a20
    Jan 16, 2019 at 9:23

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