[Common Mistakes] Master Japanese Requests: When Not to Use ‘してください’
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Today, I am going to share a homework correction from my JLPT Course!
The student’s sentence is not correct. Can you find the mistake?
[Student’s sentence]
ぜひ私にしてください。
*ぜひ わたし に して ください。
zehi watashi ni shite kudasai.
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[My correction]
ぜひ私にしてください。
→ぜひ私にさせてください。
zehi watashi ni sasete kudasai.
Please let me do it.
*ぜひ: by all means, definitely
私がVたいです(I want to V)
＝私にV causative-formてください(please let me V)
私がしたいです（I want to do it）
＝私にさせてください。
させて is the causative-form of する
When you want to express a desire to do something yourself, you should use the causative form of the verb+てください.
The sentence “ぜひ私にしてください” is incorrect, which literally means “please do it,” or “please do toward me”.
e.g.
私に歌を歌わせてください。(歌う→歌わせる)
watashi ni uta o utawasete kudasai.
please let me sing a song.
私にプレゼンをさせてください。(する→させる)
watashi ni purezen o sasete kudasai.
Please let me give a presentation.
I hope my explanation helps you! 😊
I interact like the above correction with my JLPT All-in-One Course student. (Today’s homework sentence is from the N4, elementary level. Don’t know your Japanese level? Then take a level test here.) I can explain in English or Japanese, depending on your level.
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