Using the て Form ＋ もらう

1. Vocabulary List

2. Grammar & Sentences

Three-Way Review

て Form ＋ もらう — Getting Someone to Do a Favour

Meaning: "I get [person] to do [action] for me." / "I have [person] do [action]."
Structure: receiver は + giver に + (object を) + verb て form + もらいます

Key sentence:

• 私は父にスマホを買ってもらいます。(Watashi wa chichi ni sumaho wo katte moraimasu.) — "I'll get my dad to buy me a smartphone."

Particle Focus: は and に

In a てもらう sentence:

• The person after は = the one receiving the favour (almost always the speaker)
• The person after に = the one performing the action

Example breakdown:

→ 私は友だちに宿題を手伝ってもらいました。(Watashi wa tomodachi ni shukudai wo tetsudatte moraimashita.) — "I got my friend to help me with my homework."

てもらう — Example Sentences

てあげる in context (from the same lesson)

• 私は入国カードを書いたとき、となりの座席の人にペンを貸してあげました。(Watashi wa nyuukoku kaado wo kaita toki, tonari no zaseki no hito ni pen wo kashite agemashita.) — "When I had filled in the arrival card, I lent a pen to the person in the seat next to me."

もらう vs くれる — Same Meaning, Different Topic

Both sentences below mean the same thing, but the topic (は) is different:

Key insight: もらう focuses on the receiver (speaker) getting something. くれる focuses on the giver doing something for the speaker. The underlying event is the same — only the perspective shifts.

くれる in context (from the same lesson)

• 私の便は遅れました。友だちは一時間私を待ってくれました。(Watashi no bin wa okuremashita. Tomodachi wa ichijikan watashi wo matte kuremashita.) — "My flight was delayed. My friend waited for me for an hour."

〜方（かた）— "How to / Way of doing"

Attach 方 to the verb stem to mean "the way of doing X" or "how to do X."

Examples from this lesson:

• 駅からホテルまでの行き方を教えてもらいました。(directions from station to hotel)
• 切ぶの買い方を教えてもらいました。(how to buy a ticket)

3. Learning Context

• Grammar Focus: て form ＋ もらう — "getting someone to do something for you." Completes the あげる / くれる / もらう triad for actions.
• Structure: 私は + [person]に + [action]てもらう — receiver は, doer に.
• もらう vs くれる: Same event, different topic — もらう highlights the receiver's perspective, くれる highlights the giver's perspective.
• New Pattern: 〜方（かた） = "how to / way of doing" — attach to verb stem. Very productive pattern used in natural Japanese (行き方, 買い方, etc.).
• Context: Arriving in Japan — getting help from strangers, shop staff, family, and cabin crew.
• Vocabulary Note: 座席（ざせき）= seat (formal, e.g. on a plane/train); 座（すわ）る = to sit.

4. Progress Tracker