Permission

To ask permission to do something, add mo ii desu ka to the -te form. To ask if it's alright not to do something, change the negative -nai form to -nakute and then add mo ii desu ka.

すみませんが、ここに座ってもいいですか。いいです。どうぞ。
Sumimasen ga, koko ni suwatte mo ii desu ka. Ii desu. Douzo.
Excuse me, but is it alright if I sit here? Yes, please go ahead.

これを全部食べなくてもいいですか。はい（食べなくても）いいですよ。
Kore o zenbu tabenakute mo ii desu ka. Hai, (tabenakute mo) ii desu yo.
Is it alright if I don't eat all of this? Yes, it's alright (if you don't eat it).

The same form may be used to give permission.

名前と住所を書かなくてもいいです。
Namae to juusho o kakanakute mo ii desu.
It's alright not to write your name and address.

To refuse permission, use the -te form of the verb followed by wa ikemasen.

その部屋に入ってはいけません。
Sono heya ni haitte wa ikemasen.
You musn't go into that room.

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This page is a part of "Some Notes on Japanese Grammar" published for your personal use, with the kind permission of Keith Smillie (http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~smillie/)