Our first lesson in our new textbook is asking advice and making suggestions. It doesn't present any new grammar, but provides new use for the conditional form of verbs.
Offering a suggestion
A: How about it?
B: What?
A: If we saw a movie? (Seeing a movie?)
B: Sure. Sounds good.
| Verb-conditional | + | How about it? | |
| 映画を見たら | + | どう|いかが | ですか。 |
| えいがをみたら | + | どう|いかが | ですか。 |
The English construction for offering suggestions only slightly different. If translated "How about it?", then the pronoun it is replaced by a noun or noun phrase. In this case, English uses the gerund (V + ing) rather than the conditional (if + V) form.
| How about | + | Noun Phrase | Verb (gerund) |
| How about | + | seeing a movie. |
| + | eating at McDonalds. | |
| + | watching TV. | |
| + | studying Japanese. |
English also uses the conditional form of the verb in this context. "I don't want to see a movie. What if we went to the park instead?" With the conditional (if), it sounds more natural to say "What if..." than "How about if..."
Asking for advice
If you're asking for advice, then the construction is the same. Just replace the "How about it?" with "Is that good."
| Verb-conditional | + | Is that good? | |
| 映画を見たら | + | いい | ですか。 |
| えいがをみたら | + | いい | ですか。 |
Unasked for advice
In both languages, you should be careful how you give suggestions or offer advice. Unasked for advice sounds rude and pushy.
Complaining Child: "I'm tired."
Nagging Mother: "Well, how about going to bed earlier?"
質問とコメント
Permalink.
映画をみるのはどうですか、映画をみるのはいかがですか？
---How about seeing a movie? It is a way to suggest.
映画をみたらいいですか？
---I think it sounds a little bit strange.
映画をみてもいいですか？
---May I see a movie? It is a way to ask permission.
映画でもみるといいんじゃないですか？
---It is also a way to suggest.
--- Japanese is difficult!
Posted by: Mieko on January 31, 2004 06:52 PM
Mieko. Thanks for your input. I think my original example dialog is misleading...I didn't mean it to sound like an invitation, but it does. (Wouldn't you like to see a movie; let's go to a movie. 映画を見ませんか。)
The situation should be more like this, I think:
B: "I'm bored. There's nothing to do."
A: "Why don't you see a movie?"
Does that make more sense?
Posted by: M on February 2, 2004 12:59 PM
Sorry my poor English and Japanese make you confused.
映画でもみませんか？映画はどうですか。映画なんかいいんじゃないですか。
---
いいですね。映画もいいですね。みてみましょうかね。
We often thease pharase in conversation.
Posted by: Mieko on February 3, 2004 10:03 AM
Mieko. Thanks so much for your help. It's my Japanese that's bad! 日本語を話せません。
Posted by: M on February 3, 2004 12:11 PM
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