Offering to help: ～ましょうか
Verb-ましょうか
Verb-ましょうか = shall I…? Answer: おねがいします (yes) / けっこうです (no, thank you).
In short
～ましょうか is used to offer to do something for the other person: まどを あけましょうか (shall I open the window?). You answer ええ、おねがいします (yes, please) or いいえ、けっこうです (no, thank you).
- にもつを もちましょうか。nimotsu o mochimashō kaShall I carry your luggage?
- まどを しめましょうか。mado o shimemashō kaShall I close the window?
- ええ、おねがいします。ē, onegai shimasuYes, thank you very much.
The basics
～ましょうか offers help: “would you like me to…?”, “shall I…?”. It's ましょう (let's) with か, which turns the suggestion into an offer.
- にもつを もちましょうか。nimotsu o mochimashō kaShall I carry your bag?
- まどを あけましょうか。mado o akemashō kaWould you like me to open the window?
Accepting or declining
To accept: ええ、おねがいします. To decline politely: いいえ、けっこうです or だいじょうぶです、ありがとう.
| Answer | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ええ、おねがいします。 | Yes, thank you very much. |
| すみません。ありがとうございます。 | Thank you, that's kind of you. (accepting) |
| いいえ、けっこうです。 | No, thank you, I'm fine. |
ましょう, ましょうか, ませんか
Three similar forms, three intentions.
| Form | Intention |
|---|---|
| 行きましょう | let's go (a confident suggestion) |
| 行きませんか | would you like to come? (an invitation) |
| もちましょうか | shall I carry it for you? (an offer of help) |
Common mistakes
- Mixing up ～ましょうか (shall I help you?) and ～ませんか (shall we go together?).
- Answering with a bare はい: you say ええ、おねがいします.
- Declining with a bare いいえ: add けっこうです or ありがとう.
5 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N5 point is on the Sōbu Line (Giving and receiving) of the Tokyo subway.