Asking permission: てもいいです
Use another te-form ending to ask whether something is allowed.
Coco-sensei
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Use te-form + も + いいです to say an action is allowed. 食べても いいです means “You may eat,” and 帰っても いいです means “You may leave.”
A structural guide is “It is okay even if you do it.” Natural English usually uses “may,” “can,” or “it’s okay to.” Use the guide to understand how the parts fit together, then translate the whole sentence naturally.
Add か to ask permission: 写真 を 撮っても いいです か means “May I take a photo?” English “can” also asks about ability, but this Japanese pattern asks whether the action is permitted.
Examples
ここ で 食べても いいです か。
May I eat here?
帰っても いいです。
You may leave.
テレビ を 見ても いいです。
You can watch TV.
日本語 で 話しても いいです か。
May I speak in Japanese?