may do, it is okay to do (permission)

The te form plus mo ii desu grants permission: tsukatte mo ii desu means you may use it. As a question, te mo ii desu ka asks for permission politely. Answer with douzo or with hai, ii desu yo.

Examples

• ここで写真しゃしんを撮とってもいいですか。

  Koko de shashin o totte mo ii desu ka.

  May I take photos here?

• このペンを使つかってもいいですよ。

  Kono pen o tsukatte mo ii desu yo.

  You may use this pen.

Vocabulary in these examples

• ここ here
• 写真 photograph
• 撮る to take (a photo)
• いい good; fine (also: no thank you)
• この this (+ noun)
• ペン pen

Related patterns · Permission, obligation, ability

• 〜てはいけません must not do (prohibition)
• 〜ないでください please do not do
• 〜なければなりません must do, have to do
• 〜なくてもいいです do not have to do
• 〜ことができます can do, be able to do