〜てもらう "have someone do (something) for me"
te morau
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
The speaker receives a favour; the speaker (receiver) is the subject and the doer takes に.
〜てもらう means "I have someone do something for me" or "I get someone to do something". The receiver of the favour (usually the speaker) is the subject, and the person who does the action takes に: 友達に手伝ってもらった = I had my friend help me. It describes the same event as 友達が手伝ってくれた but from the receiver's point of view. When the doer is a superior, use 〜ていただく.
Reporting help you received (先生に直してもらった), explaining arrangements (兄に車を貸してもらった), and making requests: 〜てもらえませんか / 〜ていただけませんか (lesson 76). Common in speech and writing.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
(私は) person に V-て + もらう: 友達に手伝ってもらうHumble: 〜ていただく (先生に直していただいた)Requests: 〜てもらえませんか / 〜ていただけませんかThe doer takes に; the receiver is the subject
Visual diagram
- 私はreceiver of the favour (subject)
- 友達にdoer, marked with に
- 宿題をobject
- 手伝ってaction (て-form)
- もらいましたreceiving the favour
Natural examples
私は友達に宿題を手伝ってもらいました。
わたしは ともだちに しゅくだいを てつだってもらいました。
I had my friend help me with my homework.
Receiver 私は, doer 友達に: the speaker gets help.
先生に作文を直していただきました。
せんせいに さくぶんを なおしていただきました。
I had my teacher correct my essay.
ていただく: humble because the doer is a teacher.
兄に車を貸してもらった。
あにに くるまを かしてもらった。
I got my older brother to lend me his car.
Doer 兄に; the speaker received the favour of borrowing the car.
パソコンが壊れたので、店の人に直してもらいました。
パソコンが こわれたので、みせの ひとに なおして もらいました。
My computer broke, so I had the shop staff repair it.
店の人に marks the doer; the speaker receives the service.
分からない言葉を日本人の友達に教えてもらった。
わからない ことばを にほんじんの ともだちに おしえて もらった。
I had a Japanese friend explain the words I didn't know.
Same event as 友達が教えてくれた, but from the receiver's side.
Similar grammar and the difference
The doer is the subject with が (友達が教えてくれた). With てもらう the doer takes に and the receiver is the subject. Compare side by side
The potential of ていただく used as a polite request. This lesson covers the plain statement form. Compare side by side
友達に手伝わせた (I made my friend help) is forcing; 手伝ってもらった is receiving a favour. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 友達が手伝ってもらった。
- ✓
- 友達に手伝ってもらった。/ 友達が手伝ってくれた。
- Why
- With てもらう the doer takes に. が belongs to てくれる.
- ✗
- 先生に作文を直してもらいました。(in a formal speech)
- ✓
- 先生に作文を直していただきました。
- Why
- For a superior the humble ていただく is expected.
- ✗
- 私は妹に本を読んでもらった。(meaning 'I read to my sister')
- ✓
- 私は妹に本を読んであげた。
- Why
- てもらう means the speaker received the reading. To do the favour for the sister, use てあげる.
てもらう often sounds as if the speaker asked for the favour, while てくれる suggests the other person offered. Requests are built on the potential: 〜てもらえますか / 〜てもらえませんか (can I get you to…?). から can replace に when the favour is like receiving something: 先生から教えてもらった.
JLPT N4 tips
On the exam
- Particle questions: X に + てもらう / X が + てくれる. Look at the particle after the doer before choosing the verb, or at the verb before choosing the particle.
- In 並べ替え, the doer + に chunk comes before the て-form + もらう chunk, and the receiver (私は) comes first if present.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜てもらう "have someone do (something) for me" mean?
The speaker receives a favour; the speaker (receiver) is the subject and the doer takes に. 〜てもらう means "I have someone do something for me" or "I get someone to do something". The receiver of the favour (usually the speaker) is the subject, and the person who does the action takes に: 友達に手伝ってもらった = I had my friend help me. It describes the same event as 友達が手伝ってくれた but from the receiver's point of view. When the doer is a superior, use 〜ていただく.
How do you form 〜てもらう "have someone do (something) for me"?
(私は) person に V-て + もらう: 友達に手伝ってもらう / Humble: 〜ていただく (先生に直していただいた) / Requests: 〜てもらえませんか / 〜ていただけませんか / The doer takes に; the receiver is the subject. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜てもらう "have someone do (something) for me" used?
Reporting help you received (先生に直してもらった), explaining arrangements (兄に車を貸してもらった), and making requests: 〜てもらえませんか / 〜ていただけませんか (lesson 76). Common in speech and writing.
What is the difference between 〜てもらう "have someone do (something) for me" and 〜てくれる?
The doer is the subject with が (友達が教えてくれた). With てもらう the doer takes に and the receiver is the subject.
What is the difference between 〜てもらう "have someone do (something) for me" and 〜ていただけませんか?
The potential of ていただく used as a polite request. This lesson covers the plain statement form.
What is a common mistake with 〜てもらう "have someone do (something) for me"?
Wrong: 友達が手伝ってもらった。 Right: 友達に手伝ってもらった。/ 友達が手伝ってくれた。 With てもらう the doer takes に. が belongs to てくれる.
Quick check
私は姉（ ）日本料理を教えてもらいました。