てもらう
Have Someone Do
The pattern 〜てもらう is used when someone does something for your benefit. It focuses on the person who receives the action rather than the person who performs it.
How It Works
This pattern is a fundamental part of Japanese 'benefactive' grammar. It allows you to describe an event where you (or someone in your group) benefited from another person's action.
1. Sentence Structure:
The person who benefits is the subject (marked with は or が). The person who performs the action is marked with the particle に.
Structure: [Receiver] は [Doer] に [Verb て-form] もらう。
2. Nuance of Request:
Unlike other giving/receiving patterns, 〜てもらう often suggests that the receiver initiated the action by asking, hiring, or persuading the doer. It is the standard way to describe professional services (like getting a haircut or seeing a doctor) because it acknowledges the service as a benefit received.
3. Politeness Levels:
- Casual: 〜てもらう
- Polite: 〜てもらいます
- Humble (to superiors): 〜ていただく
4. Requests:
By turning this into a question, you can make polite requests: 〜てもらえませんか (Could you do... for me?).
Examples (5)
- 友達に宿題を手伝ってもらった。
I had my friend help me with my homework.
Word by Word: Friend by homework help-received.
The speaker is the subject (implied 'I') and received the help from the friend.
- 田中さんに漢字を教えてもらいました。
I had Mr. Tanaka teach me kanji.
Word by Word: Tanaka-san by kanji teach-received.
This implies the speaker likely asked Mr. Tanaka to teach them.
- 美容院で髪を切ってもらった。
I got my hair cut at the salon.
Word by Word: Beauty salon at hair cut-received.
In Japanese, you use this pattern for services like haircuts to show you didn't cut it yourself.
- お医者さんに診てもらいました。
I had the doctor examine me.
Word by Word: Doctor by examine-received.
Even though you pay a doctor, using this pattern is the natural way to describe the medical service received.
- お父さんに車で送ってもらった。
I had my father give me a ride in the car.
Word by Word: Father by car by send-received.
The focus is on the benefit the speaker received (the ride).
Common Mistakes
Using the particle が for the person performing the action.
友達が手伝ってもらった。友達に手伝ってもらった。In the 〜てもらう pattern, the person doing the favor must be marked with に. Using が makes the friend the receiver of the favor instead.
Using the plain form with superiors or in formal situations.
先生に教えてもらった。先生に教えていただきました。When receiving a favor from someone of higher status, like a teacher or boss, you should use the humble version 〜ていただく to show proper respect.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'te-morau', you first need to know how to conjugate verbs into the 'te-form'. You also need to understand the basic verb 'morau' (to receive) and how the particle 'ni' marks the source or giver in receiving transactions.
Related Patterns
- てくれるSomeone Does for Me
Both describe a favor, but 〜てくれる focuses on the giver's perspective and kindness, whereas 〜てもらう focuses on the receiver's perspective.
Level 2 - てあげるDo for Someone
This is the opposite direction: doing a favor for someone else.
Level 2 - いただくTo Receive (Humble)
The humble version of もらう, used when receiving a favor from a superior.
Level 3 - てもらえませんかCould You
The potential question form of this pattern, used to make polite requests.
Level 2 - Causative form
The causative form ('make someone do') can be forceful; 〜てもらう is the polite way to express 'having someone do' something as a favor.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice てもらう in Bubblegum
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