Japanese Language Grammar Pattern -mashou

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Japanese Language Grammar Pattern -mashou

Introduction

This form is a grammar pattern in japanese language with a certain function for asking someone or someone else to do an activity together. In this context, there are many translation that fits the grammar pattern. Actually, it is more likely not to ask directly to do an activity together. It is more like to propose or to invite another person to do an activity together. The offer is in the form of proposal or invitation using a positive sentence. The answer to the proposal or the invitation can be positive or negative.

Grammar Pattern

The following is the pattern to the grammar form :

Kanji : 動詞「ーます刑」 ーます ーましょう
Hiragana : どうし「ーますけい」 ーます ーましょう
Romaji : doushi [-masu kei] -masu -mashou
Meaning : verb [-masu form] -masu -mashou

 

Example

The following is a sentence for an example containing an offer in form of proposal or invitation to do something together with either a positive or a negative response :

Kanji :

来週の土曜日一緒にテニスをしましょう。

。。。はい、しましょう。

。。。いいえ、すみあせん。できません。

Hiragana :

らいしゅうのどようびいっしょにテニスをしましょう。

。。。はい、しましょう。

。。。いいえ、すみあせん。できません。

Romaji :

Raishuu no doyoubi isshoni tenisu wo shimashou.

。。。Haishimashou

。。。IiesumimasenDekimasen

Meaning :

Let’s play tennis together Saturday next week.

。。。YesLet’s do (it together)

。。。No(I am) sorryI cannot do it

 

The above sentence is an example using grammar pattern with a verb ‘suru’. The verb itself means ‘to do’. That verb has a -masu form ‘shimasu’. Overall, in the sentence as an example, the verb ‘tenisu shimasu’ means ‘to play tennis’. In this grammar pattern, the ‘-masu’ form later on change into another form. That form is the ‘mashou’ form so the verb will change into ‘tenisu shimashou. The translation to the ‘mashou’ form of the verb is ‘let’s play tennis’. The person speaks the sentence in order to invite another person to do an activity together. That person is inviting another person to play tennis Saturday next week.

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