Last time, you learned how to express volition like “日本で働こうと思っています (I’m going to work in Japan),” and “日本で働くつもりです (I intend to work in Japan).” Then, what if you would like to ask your friend to work in Japan with you? You can express it by utilizing what you have learned so far. In this lesson, you will tackle how to express invitations and offers.
Explanation for Making Invitations and Offers in Japanese
You will actually not learn new grammar in this lesson. By utilizing the volitional form and negative questions that you know already, you can express invitations and offers. In spite of the simplicity, they are very important expressions in everyday life. Let’s check how they work.
Making Invitations
（よ）う: Let’s…
| [私たちは] | 一緒に | 勉強（しよう / しましょう） |
| [Topic / Subject] | Adverb | Verb: Volitional Form |
| Let’s study together. | ||
When you use the volitional form with other people, your speech sounds like an invitation and can be translated as “let’s” in English. This is a strong invitation and is suitable for when you would like him or her to accept your invitation regardless of his or her will.
| 今日は（飲もう / 飲みましょう）。 As for today, let’s drink. |
| クーラーをつけ（よう / ましょう）。 Let’s turn on the air-conditioner. |
| 電気を（消そう / 消しましょう）。 Let’s turn off the light. |
| 暖房を入れ（よう / ましょう）。 Let’s turn on the heating. |
…ない？: Won’t You…?
| [あなたは] | 一緒に | 勉強（しない / しませんか）？ |
| [Topic / Subject] | Adverb | Verb: Negative Question |
| Won’t [you] study with me? | ||
When you use negative questions with other people, your speech sounds like an invitation and can be translated as “won’t you” in English. This is less strong than the above and is suitable for when you are willing to accept his or her will.
| 今日、（遊ばない / 遊びませんか）？ Won’t [you] hang out [with me] today? |
| 外を（歩かない / 歩きませんか）？ Won’t [you] walk around outside [with me]? |
| 私の家に（来ない / 来ませんか）？ Won’t [you] come to my house? |
| 先生に（ならない / なりませんか）？ Won’t [you] become a teacher? |
Making Offers
…（よ）うか？: Shall I…?
| [私は] | [あなたを] | （手伝おう / 手伝いましょう）か？ |
| [Topic / Subject] | [Direct Object] | Volitional Form + か？ |
| Shall [I] help [you]? | ||
When you use the volitional form with the question marker か, your speech sounds like an offer and can be translated as “Shall I” in English.
| 一緒に（探そう / 探しましょう）か？ Shall [we] look for [it] together? |
| ルールを教え（よう / ましょう）か？ Shall [I] teach [you] the rule? |
| ５時に家を（出よう / 出ましょう）か？ Shall [we] leave [here] at 5:00pm. |
| 私が（払おう / 払いましょう）か？ Shall [I] pay? |
Difference between the Plain Form and the Volitional Form + か
| 僕が（持つ / 持ちます）よ。 I will hold [it]. |
| 僕が（持とう / 持ちましょう）か？ Shall I hold [it]? |
You can express offers by using the plain form, which is often used with the particle よ to make listeners aware of your intention. Since the plain form is not a question, the difference is whether or not you are ready to hear his or her opinion.
Summary
- When using the volitional form to other people, it means “let’s.”
- When using negative question with the question marker か, it means “won’t you.”
- When using the volitional form with the question marker か, it means “shall I.”
We think they are simple enough to memorize. If you have difficulty in conjugating verbs, please check the previous lesson about negative questions and the volitional form. Next, you will learn a related topic: how to make commands and requests.
