Japanese verb · u-verb · first needed at intermediate level (B1)
もらう
morau
to receive, to get
The receiver is the subject; the giver takes (ni) or (kara): (tomodachi ni hon o moratta), I got a book from a friend. Humble form: (itadaku).
Present
現在形
Now, habits and the future. The plain form is for friends and family; polite ～ます is the default.
| plain | もらうmorau | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | もらいますmoraimasu | |
| plain negative | もらわないmorawanai | |
| polite negative | もらいませんmoraimasen |
Past
過去形
What happened, or what has happened. The plain form is for friends and family; polite ～ました is the default.
| plain | もらったmoratta | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | もらいましたmoraimashita | |
| plain negative | もらわなかったmorawanakatta | |
| polite negative | もらいませんでしたmoraimasen deshita |
Te-form
て形
(moratte kudasai): “please take it”; (moratte mo ii desu ka): “may I have this?”. After a te-form, ～てもらう means having something done for you.
| te-form | もらってmoratte | |
|---|---|---|
| -te imasu (doing now) | もらっていますmoratte imasu | |
| -te kudasai (please do) | もらってくださいmoratte kudasai | |
| -te mo ii desu ka (may I) | もらってもいいですかmoratte mo ii desu ka |
Volitional
意向形
I'll get, let's get: (ryōshūsho o moraō), let's get a receipt.
| plain (let's) | もらおうmoraō | |
|---|---|---|
| polite (let's) | もらいましょうmoraimashō | |
| polite (shall we?) | もらいましょうかmoraimashō ka |
Potential
可能形
Can get: (moraeru). ～てもらえますか (-te moraemasu ka) is a polite “could you …?”.
| plain | もらえるmoraeru | |
|---|---|---|
| polite | もらえますmoraemasu | |
| plain negative | もらえないmoraenai | |
| polite negative | もらえませんmoraemasen |
Conditional
条件形
If you get: (kyoka o moraeba), if you get permission; (morawanakereba): “if you don't get”.
| -ba | もらえばmoraeba | |
|---|---|---|
| -tara | もらったらmorattara | |
| -nakereba (if not) | もらわなければmorawanakereba |
Examples
- 姉にかばんをもらいました。Ane ni kaban o moraimashita.I got a bag from my older sister.
- このパンフレット、もらってもいいですか。Kono panfuretto, moratte mo ii desu ka.May I take this brochure?
- 友達に写真を撮ってもらいました。Tomodachi ni shashin o totte moraimashita.I had a friend take my photo.