How to Make Invitations and Offers: （よ）う, （よ）うか, and ない

Last time, you learned how to express volition like “日に本ほんで働はたらこうと思おもっています (I’m going to work in Japan),” and “日に本ほんで働はたらくつもりです (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

Table of Contents
（よ）う: Let's…
…ない？: Won’t You…?
…（よ）うか？: Shall I…?

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…

[私わたしたちは]	一緒いっしょに	勉べん強きょう（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.

今日きょうは（飲のもう / 飲のみましょう）。
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.

電でん気きを（消けそう / 消けしましょう）。
Let’s turn off the light.

暖だん房ぼうを入いれ（よう / ましょう）。
Let’s turn on the heating.

…ない？: Won’t You…?

[あなたは]	一緒いっしょに	勉べん強きょう（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.

今日きょう、（遊あそばない / 遊あそびませんか）？
Won’t [you] hang out [with me] today?

外そとを（歩あるかない / 歩あるきませんか）？
Won’t [you] walk around outside [with me]?

私わたしの家いえに（来こない / 来きませんか）？
Won’t [you] come to my house?

先生せんせいに（ならない / なりませんか）？
Won’t [you] become a teacher?

Making Offers

…（よ）うか？: Shall I…?

[私わたしは]	[あなたを]	（手て伝つだおう / 手て伝つだいましょう）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.

一緒いっしょに（探さがそう / 探さがしましょう）か？
Shall [we] look for [it] together?

ルールを教おしえ（よう / ましょう）か？
Shall [I] teach [you] the rule?

５時ごじに家いえを（出でよう / 出でましょう）か？
Shall [we] leave [here] at 5:00pm.

私わたしが（払はらおう / 払はらいましょう）か？
Shall [I] pay?

Difference between the Plain Form and the Volitional Form + か

僕ぼくが（持もつ / 持もちます）よ。
I will hold [it].

僕ぼくが（持もとう / 持もちましょう）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.