Master Japanese Benefactives: 〜てあげる, 〜てくれる, and 〜てもらう (JLPT N4)

In Japanese culture, gratitude, social harmony, and relationships are embedded directly into the grammar. When someone does a favor for someone else, you cannot simply use a standard verb. You must use benefactive verbs (授受動詞 - juju dōshi) to show who performed the action and who benefited from it.授受動詞

Let's demystify the three pillars of N4 benefactive grammar: 〜てあげる, 〜てくれる, and 〜てもらう.

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The Big Picture: Direction of Favors

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1. 〜てあげる (Doing a favor for someone)

Use this when you (or someone in your in-group) do a favor for someone else.

Sentence Structure:

$$\text{[Giver] は/が + [Receiver] に + [Verb て-form] あげる}$$

Example:

• 私は友達に英語を教えてあげました。
  • Watashi wa tomodachi ni eigo o oshiete agemashita.
  • I taught English to my friend (as a favor).
  私友達英語教

⚠️ Cultural Warning: Avoid using 〜てあげる directly to superiors or people you don't know well. It can sound patronizing, as if you are bragging about doing them a favor. Instead, use polite alternatives or simply the standard polite verb form (お〜します or just 〜ます).

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2. 〜てくれる (Someone doing a favor for you)

Use this when someone else does a favor for you (or your family/in-group). The subject of the sentence is always the person who did the favor.

Sentence Structure:

$$\text{[Giver] が + [Receiver (Me)] に + [Verb て-form] くれる}$$

Example:

• 鈴木さんが（私に）傘を貸してくれました。
  • Suzuki-san ga (watashi ni) kasa o kashite kuremashita.
  • Suzuki-san lent me an umbrella. (How kind of him!)
  鈴木私傘貸

💡 Tip: Because くれる inherently means the action is directed toward "me," you can almost always omit 私に (to me).私

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3. 〜てもらう (Receiving a favor / Having someone do something)

Use this when you receive a favor from someone. Unlike 〜てくれる, the subject of this sentence is the receiver (usually you). It often implies that you asked or initiated the action.

Sentence Structure:

$$\text{[Receiver (Me)] は + [Giver] に/から + [Verb て-form] もらう}$$

Example:

• 私は山田さんに漢字を教えてもらいました。
  • Watashi wa Yamada-san ni kanji o oshiete moraimashita.
  • I had Yamada-san teach me Kanji. (I received the favor of him teaching me.)
  私山田漢字教

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The Nuance Battle: 〜てくれる vs. 〜てもらう

Students often ask: "What is the difference between these two?"

• 〜てくれる focuses on the giver's spontaneous kindness.
  • Example: 友達が宿題を手伝ってくれた。 (My friend helped me with my homework—they initiated it out of kindness.)友達宿題手伝
  友達宿題手伝
• 〜てもらう focuses on the receiver's gratitude or request.
  • Example: 友達に宿題を手伝ってもらった。 (I got my friend to help me with my homework—I likely asked them for help.)友達宿題手伝
  友達宿題手伝

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Quick Practice Challenge

Translate the following sentences into Japanese using the correct benefactive pattern. (Answers below!)

1. My older brother bought a book for me.
2. I lent a pen to Tanaka-san.
3. I got the teacher to check my essay.

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Answers:

1. 兄が（私に）本を買ってくれました。 (Ani ga hon o katte kuremashita.)兄私本買
2. 私は田中さんにペンを貸してあげました。 (Watashi wa Tanaka-san ni pen o kashite agemashita.)私田中貸
3. 私は先生に作文を直してもらいました。 (Watashi wa sensei ni sakubun o naoshite moraimashita.)私先生作文直