GRAMMAR DETAIL
てくれる
Follows the connective form of a verb to show that someone else performs an action for the speaker or someone close to the speaker.
Examples
友人が週末の引っ越しを手伝ってくれた。
My friend helped me move over the weekend.
Words used
弟が壊れた時計を直してくれた。
My younger brother fixed my broken watch for me.
Words used
隣の人が重い荷物を運んでくれました。
My neighbor carried the heavy luggage for me.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: A verb's
てform takesくれるto express a benefit for the speaker or someone on the speaker's side. - Basic usage:
弟が壊れた時計を直してくれた。presents the younger brother's repair as benefiting the speaker's side.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Subjects with くれる and もらう
- In
友達が教えてくれた, the friend who taught is the subject; in私は友達に教えてもらった, the speaker receiving the benefit is the subject. The same favor is presented from different viewpoints.
- In
- Someone close to the speaker
友達が母を手伝ってくれたcan present help received by the speaker's mother as benefiting the speaker's side. The action need not be directed at the speaker personally.