JLPT N4
てもらう
Have someone do ~ for you
Structure
Verb て-form もらう
How it works
This grammar is used when the speaker (or someone close to them) receives a favor or has something done for them by another person. It indicates that the action was requested or that the speaker feels gratitude for the service provided. The person performing the action is followed by the particle 'に'.
Examples
私は友達に漢字を教えてもらいました。
I had my friend teach me kanji.
田中さんに駅まで送ってもらった。
I had Mr. Tanaka give me a ride to the station.
お父さんに新しい靴を買ってもらうつもりです。
I plan to have my father buy me new shoes.
Common mistakes
Confusing 'てもらう' with 'てくれる'. While both mean receiving an action, 'てもらう' uses the particle 'に' for the doer and emphasizes the speaker's perspective of receiving a favor, whereas 'てくれる' uses 'が' for the doer and emphasizes the doer's kindness.
Tip
Think of 'てもらう' as 'I received the favor of someone doing X.' This helps you remember that the subject is the receiver, not the doer.
More JLPT N4 grammar
See てもらう in real Japanese
Import an article and tap any sentence using it. The explanation comes back about the sentence in front of you, not a textbook example.
Try InputDojo free