Receiving Action (〜てもらう)
〜てもらう
Expresses that the subject receives the benefit of someone else's action. Used when you have someone do something for you.
Pattern
[Person A は] [Person B に] Verb て-form + もらう
Explanation
〜てもらう is used when the subject receives the benefit of an action performed by someone else. The person performing the action is marked with the particle に. This pattern emphasizes the receiver's perspective and often implies gratitude.
The basic structure is [person に] + [て-form verb] + もらう. The subject (receiver) is typically the speaker or someone the speaker identifies with. もらう conjugates normally as a う-verb: もらった (past), もらえる (potential), もらいたい (want to).
This is part of the Japanese giving/receiving (あげる・もらう・くれる) system, which is essential for polite and natural Japanese. Unlike English, Japanese requires you to specify the direction of the favor explicitly.
Examples
友達に日本語を教えてもらった。
ともだちににほんごをおしえてもらった。
tomodachi ni nihongo o oshiete moratta.
I had my friend teach me Japanese.
母に駅まで送ってもらいました。
ははにえきまでおくってもらいました。
haha ni eki made okutte moraimashita.
I had my mother drive me to the station.
先生に作文を直してもらいたい。
せんせいにさくぶんをなおしてもらいたい。
sensei ni sakubun o naoshite moraitai.
I want to have the teacher correct my essay.
田中さんに写真を撮ってもらえますか。
たなかさんにしゃしんをとってもらえますか。
Tanaka-san ni shashin o totte moraemasu ka.
Could I have Tanaka-san take a photo?
Common Mistakes
Wrong
友達が日本語を教えてもらった。
Correct
友達に日本語を教えてもらった。
The person who does the action for you is marked with に, not が.
Wrong
友達に日本語を教えてあげた。
Correct
友達に日本語を教えてもらった。
あげた means you did it for them. もらった means they did it for you. The direction of benefit is reversed.
Wrong
友達に日本語を教えるもらった。
Correct
友達に日本語を教えてもらった。
The verb before もらう must be in て-form, not dictionary form.
Related Grammar Points
Vocabulary in Examples
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