〜たまま~ta mama

How it works

1. 

   The person has gone out, but the light is still on. Look at the yellow link: what state stays the same?

2. 

   「まま」 means a state stays unchanged. The light is turned on, then the person goes out, leaving it on.

3. 

   Here, attach 「まま」 to the verb’s た-form: つける→つけたまま, meaning “left on.”

4. 

   「つけた」 refers to the state left after turning on the light. The point is that it stays on, not that someone keeps switching it on.

5. 

   「ぬれたまま」 means “still wet.” The power cord is left that way, with its state unchanged.

6. 

   「火をつけたまま」 means the flame is still burning. The person leaves home without putting it out, so the example warns of danger.

Example sentences

• 火ひhiをoつけたままtsuketamama家いえieをo離れるはなれるhanareruのnoはわwa危険きけんkikenです。desu。

  It is dangerous to leave the house with the fire left on.

In a conversation

• A
  管理人さん、かんりにんさん、廊下ろうかの電源でんげんコードこーどがぬれたまま放置ほうちされていますよ。

  A: Janitor, the power cord in the hallway has been left wet.
• B
  本当ほんとう

Check yourself

1. Level 1 · Recognise

   Which sentence is correct?

   A避難するときは、非常持ち出し袋を持たないまま外へ出てはいけません。B避難するときは、非常持ち出し袋を持たないまま玄関を出てはいけません。C避難するときは、非常持ち出し袋を持たないまま車に乗ってはいけません。D避難するときは、非常持ち出し袋を持たないまま避難してはいけません。

2. Level 1 · Recognise

   Listen and choose the meaning

   ADuring the earthquake, I hurried under the desk with the air conditioner still on。BDuring the earthquake, I ran hurriedly toward the entrance with the TV on。CDuring the earthquake, I stayed frozen in place for a while with the door open。DDuring the earthquake, I hurried outside to evacuate while still wearing slippers。

3. Level 2 · Build

   Put the words in order

   It is dangerous to leave the house with a fire left burning.

   火をつけ危険です。を離れるのはかなりたまま家
   Check

4. Level 3 · Use

   What goes in the blank?

   火をつけた____家を離れるのは危険です。

   It's dangerous to leave home with the fire on.

   Show answer

More grammar in this theme

• 〜たままleaving a state unchanged

Keep practising