Grammar JLPT Level N5 - Lesson 20

Structure of ～て (Adjectives and Nouns):

［い］Adjective［い］ + く + て
おもしろい + く + て
新(あたら)しい + く + て

［な］Adjective + で
しずか + で
好(す)き + で

Noun + で
先生(せんせい) + で
仕事(しごと)+ で

Exceptions:
いい→よくて

Details about ～て (Adjectives and Nouns):

The て form of an い-Adjective, or で form of a noun (or な-Adjective) is exactly the same as the て form of a verb, in that it carries the meaning of 'and', and is used for linking. It will allow us to list multiple qualities/traits of something.
For い-Adjectives, we will need to change the last い to く (the form used for conjugation), and then simply add て.
For nouns and な-Adjectives, we will need to add で to the base form (not な or だ).

このパソコンは新(あたら)しくて早(はや)い。
This computer is new and fast.
あの自転車(じてんしゃ)は便利(べんり)で軽(かる)い。
That bicycle is useful and light.
音楽(おんがく)を作(つく)るのは仕事(しごと)で趣味(しゅみ)だ。
Making music is both work, and my hobby.

It should be noted that て and で are different structures here. て is the same conjunction particle that is used with verbs (meaning that い-Adjectives are similar to verbs), while で is actually a form of だ that is used for conjugation. It is the same で as the one that is used in the formal version of だ, である. Which we will learn later.

～て (Adjectives and Nouns)

Usage Notes for ～て (Adjectives and Nouns):

Like other て forms (ている 1, ている 2, and ている 3), the て (or で) form of other words can have several possible meanings. These meanings are as follows.
Linking - Like 'and' in English.
Reasons - Like 'with (A)', or 'because of (A)' in English.
Manner - Like 'to do (B) in an (A) way' in English.