Let's take a look at a type of "compound verb" formed from the ~て form + いくorくる
- These compound words have a new (but still related) meaning.
- Some compound verbs translate easily into English (e.g. もっていく= take), while others are more wordy in English than in Japanese (e.g. 食べていく = eat and then go / eat before going).
Verbs ending in いく
- 持っていく(もっていく)= take (something). From もつ (hold)+いく (go)
- 連れていく(つれていく)= take (someone of equal/lower status, or an animal). From つれる (lead)+いく (go)
- 歩いていく(あるいていく)= walk (to a place); go on foot. From あるく (walk)+いく (go)
Verbs ending in くる
- 持ってくる(もってくる)= bring (something). From もつ (hold)+くる (come)
- 連れてくる(つれてくる)= bring (someone of equal/lower status, or an animal). From つれる (lead)+くる (come)
- 歩いてくる(あるいていく)= walk (to this place); come on foot. From あるく (walk)+くる (come)
いく and くる endings are used in the same way as English 'take' and 'bring' (except American vernacular English, which uses 'bring' and 'take' interchangeably).
- ~ていく (e.g. take) means indicates moving something/somebody away from where the speaker is.
- ~てくる (e.g. bring) indicates moving something/somebody towards where the speaker is, or will be.