Actions and Invitations - Japanese Grammar

The Object Particle: を

The particle を (wo, pronounced "o") marks the direct object of an action - the thing that receives the action of a transitive verb.

Pattern

[object] を [transitive verb]

[object] wo [verb]

Examples

朝ごはんを食べます。 Asagohan wo tabemasu. I eat breakfast.

水を飲みます。 Mizu wo nomimasu. I drink water.

本を読みます。 Hon wo yomimasu. I read a book.

Transitive verbs require an object - they describe actions done to something.

Use で to indicate where an action takes place.

Pattern

[place] で [object] を [verb]

[place] de [object] wo [verb]

Examples

レストランで昼ごはんを食べます。 Resutoran de hirugohan wo tabemasu. I eat lunch at a restaurant.

図書館で本を読みます。 Toshokan de hon wo yomimasu. I read books at the library.

スーパーで野菜を買います。 Suupaa de yasai wo kaimasu. I buy vegetables at the supermarket.

To invite someone to do something together, change the verb ending to ～ませんか.

Pattern

[verb stem] + ませんか

"Won't you...?" / "Would you like to...?"

Invitation Examples

一緒に昼ごはんを食べませんか。 Issho ni hirugohan wo tabemasen ka. Would you like to have lunch together?

映画を見ませんか。 Eiga wo mimasen ka. Would you like to watch a movie?

コーヒーを飲みませんか。 Koohii wo nomimasen ka. Would you like to have some coffee?

To suggest doing something together ("Let's..."), use ～ましょう.

Pattern

[verb stem] + ましょう

"Let's [verb]"

Suggestion Examples

行きましょう。 Ikimashou. Let's go.

休みましょう。 Yasumimashou. Let's take a break.

一緒に勉強しましょう。 Issho ni benkyou shimashou. Let's study together.

～ませんか vs ～ましょう

～ませんか is a polite invitation (asking). ～ましょう is more direct (suggesting/deciding). Use ませんか when inviting someone for the first time.

Accepting

ええ、いいですね。 Ee, ii desu ne. Yes, that sounds good.

ぜひ。 Zehi. By all means. / I'd love to.

Declining Politely

すみません、ちょっと... Sumimasen, chotto... Sorry, it's a bit... (difficult)

今日はちょっと用事があります。 Kyou wa chotto youji ga arimasu. I have something to do today.