1

How would one explain this -te form of the verb + mashou here:

姫, 城の中で隠れてましょうよ

Does it mean:

  1. 隠れて (い)ましょう [Lets hide and stay] - where the て is used as sequential action

OR

  1. 隠れて (い)ましょう [Lets keep hiding] - where its present-progressive-volitional tense
Improve this question
2
  • i understand what you’re asking but is there really a difference between the meaning of those two even in english. it feels a bit hair splitting to me.
    – A.Ellett
    Sep 27, 2020 at 1:32
  • @A.Ellett can both forms be correct ? Cause option 1 has the nuance "to hide" from this point in time and option 2 has the nuance to keep on "to hide"
    – Japanese Learner
    Sep 27, 2020 at 7:34

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

Only #2. When it appears in the reduced form, it is always an auxiliary (it is less frequently a main verb after a te-form anyways). This is similar to "I'll" or "I don't" cases in English, which are never main verbs in those forms.

帰っている = is at home / has been back and stays home
帰ってる = is at home

書いてしまう = has accidentally written / has written and stores
書いちゃう/書いちまう = has accidentally written

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .