JLPT N4: ～ましょうか (shall I...?)

You may recall that we saw how ～ましょう can be used to say "let's VERB" back in this N5 lesson: [NDL #469] - JLPT N5: ～ましょう.

As you've likely realized by now, ～ましょう has other uses as well, many of which show up repeatedly throughout our NDLs.

One such use that you'll be tested on in the JLPT N4 is using ～ましょうかwhen offering to do something for someone:

V ます ＋ ましょうか
shall I VERB? // how about I VERB? // why don't I VERB?

If you've forgotten how to conjugate ～ましょう, please go back to that N5 lesson mentioned earlier.

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Our first example:

A:
寒いですね。ストーブをつけましょうか。
さむい　です　ね。　ストーブ　を　つけましょうか。
It’s cold, isn’t it? Shall I turn on the heater?
Literally: “cold + です + ね. + heater + を + let’s turn on + か.”

B:
ええ、つけてください。
ええ、　つけて　ください。
Yes, please turn it on.
Literally: “yes, + turn on (and) + please.”

To be honest, I don't really like using the phrasing "Shall I VERB?" in English translations... because I see this sentence pattern used far too much in English-learning books and courses in Japan. But, yeah... it does match up pretty nicely with this usage of ～ましょうか.

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You'll come across the usage of ～ましょうか showing up in this lesson again and again.

This is one of those grammar points you'll want to be able to use yourself.

After all, it's nice offering to help people with stuff...

A:
大変そうですね。手伝いましょうか。
たいへん　そうです　ね。　てつだいましょうか。
You seem to be having a hard time. Would you like me to help you?
Literally: “difficult / tough / having trouble + it looks like + です + ね. + let’s help + か.”

B:
すみません、お願いします。
すみません。　おねがいします。
Sorry, yeah, could you?
Literally: “excuse me / sorry, + please (do).”

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Are you keeping up with these dialogues?

Here's another:

A:
大丈夫ですか。救急車を呼びましょうか。
だいじょうぶ　です　か。　きゅうきゅうしゃ　を　よびましょうか。
Are you all right? Would you like me to call an ambulance?
Literally: “all right / OK + です + か. + ambulance + を + let’s call + か.”

B:
いえ、大丈夫です。ありがとうございます。
いえ、　だいじょうぶ　です。　ありがとう　ございます。
No, that’s OK. Thank you, though.
Literally: “no, + all right / OK + です. + thank you.”

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In casual language, be sure to use the casual conjugations of ～ましょう:

A:
私の携帯を貸そうか。
わたし　の　けいたい　を　かそうか。
Want me to lend you my phone?
Literally: “I + の + cell phone + を + let’s lend + か.”

B:
すみません、貸してください。
すみません。　かして　ください。
Sorry. Yes, please let me borrow it.
Literally: “sorry / excuse me, + lend (and) + please.”

Again, if you don't know how/why verbs are conjugated like this, go back to that earlier lesson.

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Another casual example:

A:
雨が降ってるから、車で送ってあげようか？
あめ　が　ふってる　から、　くるま　で　おくって　あげようか？
It’s raining, so why don’t I drive you there?
Literally: “rain + が + is falling + because, + car + で + send / take (you) (and) + let’s give + か?”

B:
いいの？ありがとう。
いいの？　ありがとう。
Are you sure? Thank you.
Literally: “good + の? + thanks.”

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The end!

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