～ても いいですか

Oh, these sushi pieces look so good! I want to eat them with my hand, but my host family may mind me doing that. What should I say?

a. 手てで食たべなくちゃ いけない ですか。
b.手てで食たべべても いいですか。
c. 手てで食たべますか。
d.手てで食たべませんか。

The answer is b. because [てform] + もいい means “be allowed to” so the whole sentence means: May I eat them with my hand?

Let’s look at the translation of the other choices.

a. Do I have to eat them with my hand?
c. Do/Would you eat them with your hand?
d. Why don’t we eat them with our hand?

I think the following sentences are useful to remember if you are going to study Japanese in Japan.

トイレに いっても いいですか。
= May I go to the toilet?
ここに すわっても いいですか。
= May I sit here?
しゃしんを とっても いいですか。
= May I take a photo?

And if you are asked these questions and if you are allowing them to do so, your kindest answer is:
はい、どうぞ。

If you are not allowing it, then:
いいえ、だめ です。

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