Processing keyword: Verb て いく (Verb-te iku)

Japanese Grammar Point: Verb て いく (Verb-te iku)

1. Introduction

In this lesson, we'll explore the grammar point ～ていく (Verb て いく), a versatile construction in Japanese that expresses movement away from the speaker both in a physical and temporal sense. Understanding this structure will enhance your ability to describe ongoing actions, changes over time, and movements in space.

2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning and Usage

The expression ～ていく combines the -te form of a verb with いく (iku), which means "to go." This construction conveys:

1. Continuation into the future: An action or state continues from now into the future.
2. Change over time: Gradual changes starting from the present or past and moving forward.
3. Movement away from the speaker: Physical actions moving away from the current location.

Structure

Formation

To form ～ていく, follow these steps:

1. Conjugate the verb into its -te form.
2. Add いく (iku) after the -te form. Formation Diagram:

Verb (て-form) + いく

Examples:

• 食べる (taberu) → 食べていく (tabete iku)
• 減る (heru) → 減っていく (hette iku)
• 登る (noboru) → 登っていく (nobotte iku)

Visual Aid: Common Verbs in -te Form with いく

Verb (Dictionary Form)	-te Form	+ いく	Meaning
行く (iku)	行って (itte)	行っていく (itte iku)	Go away (from the speaker)
減る (heru)	減って (hette)	減っていく (hette iku)	Decrease over time
増える (fueru)	増えて (fuete)	増えていく (fuete iku)	Increase over time
覚える (oboeru)	覚えて (oboete)	覚えていく (oboete iku)	Continue to remember/learn

3. Comparative Analysis

～ていく vs. ～てくる While ～ていく implies movement or change away from the speaker or present moment, ～てくる (Verb て くる) indicates movement or change towards the speaker or up to the present moment.

Aspect	～ていく	～てくる
Direction	Away from speaker/present	Towards speaker/present
Temporal	From now into the future	From the past until now
Example	暖かくなっていく (It will continue to get warmer)	暖かくなってきた (It has become warmer)

4. Examples in Context

Example Sentences

1. 季節が変わっていく。
   Kisetsu ga kawatte iku.
   The seasons will continue to change.
2. これから、日本語を勉強していきます。
   Korekara, Nihongo o benkyō shite ikimasu.
   From now on, I will continue studying Japanese.
3. 彼は山道を歩いていった。
   Kare wa yamamichi o aruite itta.
   He walked away along the mountain path.
4. 人口が減っていく村があります。
   Jinkō ga hette iku mura ga arimasu.
   There are villages where the population is decreasing over time.
5. 新しい技術が発展していくだろう。
   Atarashii gijutsu ga hatten shite iku darō.
   New technology will continue to develop.

Context Variations

• Formal Speech:
  • 会社は成長していきます。
    Kaisha wa seichō shite ikimasu.
    The company will continue to grow.
• Informal Speech:
  • これからも頑張っていくよ。
    Korekara mo ganbatte iku yo.
    I'll keep doing my best.
• Written Language:
  • 環境問題は深刻になっていく。
    Kankyō mondai wa shinkoku ni natte iku.
    Environmental issues will continue to become serious.
• Spoken Language:
  • 気をつけて行ってね。
    Ki o tsukete itte ne.
    Take care as you go.

5. Cultural Notes

Cultural Relevance

In Japanese culture, the use of ～ていく can reflect a collective awareness of progression and change, which is often important in social and environmental contexts. It can denote respect for the natural flow of time and events.

Levels of Politeness

The basic structure Verb て いく is neutral. Politeness can be adjusted by changing the form of いく:

• Polite Form: いきます (ikimasu)
• Casual Form: いく (iku)
• Volitional Form: いこう (ikō)

Idiomatic Expressions

• 忘れていく (wasurete iku)
  To gradually forget.
• 消えていく (kiete iku)
  To disappear/fade away.

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Error Analysis

• Confusing with ～てくる: Mixing up ～ていく with ～てくる can lead to misunderstandings in direction and time reference.

  • Incorrect: 人々は集まっていく。
    (If people are gathering towards the speaker, it should be 集まってくる.)

Learning Strategies

• Mnemonic Device: Remember that いく (to go) involves movement away from the speaker, so ～ていく expresses actions moving away or forward in time.
• Practice with Timelines: Visualize timelines to distinguish between actions continuing into the future (～ていく) and actions that have been occurring up to now (～てくる).

7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

• ～ていく (Verb て いく) is used to express actions or changes that will continue from the present into the future or move away from the speaker.
• It combines the -te form of a verb with いく.
• It contrasts with ～てくる (Verb て くる), which indicates movement or change towards the speaker or up to the present.

Quick Recap Quiz

1. How do you form ～ていく with the verb 始まる (hajimaru)? Answer: 始まっていく (hajimatte iku)
2. What is the main difference between ～ていく and ～てくる? Answer: ～ていく indicates movement or continuation away from the speaker or present, while ～てくる indicates movement or continuation towards the speaker or up to the present.
3. Translate to Japanese: "The flowers will continue to bloom." Answer: 花が咲いていく。(Hana ga saite iku.)

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Feel free to revisit this lesson to reinforce your understanding of ～ていく. Practice by creating your own sentences using this grammar point!

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