ては | Grammar

Structure

[verb て-form] + は [i-adj 〜い → 〜くて] + は [na-adj] + では [noun] + では

Description

ては is an "if" that leads to something bad: if this happens, or goes on, the result is a problem. A verb takes its て-form plus は, an い-adjective くては, and a な-adjective or a noun では.

。

If you eat this much, you'll put on weight.

。

If you play around every day, you won't pass the exam.

、。

With it this hot, I can't get any work done.

。

With these grades, you won't get into university.

ては or たら

is a neutral "if": the result can be good or bad. ては already expects a bad one, so it cannot introduce something welcome.

、。

If you take the medicine, you'll get better.

、。

If you don't take the medicine, you won't get better.

× 薬を飲んでは治ります → 薬を飲んだら治ります

Must not

The bad result can be a plain judgement – いけない, だめ, ならない, こまる困る. Put together, these give the fixed forms for "must not", each a grammar point of its own.

。

You must not smoke here.

。

You mustn't be late.

。

I can't have you making noise here.

Usage notes

These go beyond the plain conditional.

ちゃ and じゃ

In casual speech ては shortens to ちゃ and では to じゃ.

。

You mustn't say things like that.

。

You can't play here.

Over and over

Two verbs with ては describe a cycle that keeps repeating, often with some weariness: do A, then B, then A again.

、。

I wrote and erased, wrote and erased, again and again.

、。

Every weekend my father goes fishing and comes back with fish.

Examples

。

You must not take photos here.

。

You must not use your phone during class.

。

You must not speak ill of others.

。

If you push yourself that hard, you'll ruin your health.

。

With this weather, we can't have the match.

。

If you ask him, it will only end in failure.

、。

I cried and laughed, laughed and cried.

、。

I fell down and got back up, challenging myself again and again.

。

If you break promises, you'll lose people's trust.

。

You shouldn't say things like that.

、。

Every weekend my father goes fishing and comes back with fish.

。

With these grades, you won't be able to get into university.

References

～てはimabi.org
てはBunpro