[Common Mistakes] If someone asks you with 〜ませんか, they are inviting you.
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Today, I am going to share a homework correction from my Japanese Course!
The student’s sentence is not quite correct. Can you find the mistake?
[Student’s sentence]
A: よかったら、私たちのサッカークラブに入りませんか。
B: はい、入りません。
*A: よかったら、わたしたちのサッカークラブにはいりませんか。
B: はい、はいりません。
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[My correction]
A: よかったら、私たちのサッカークラブに入りませんか。
B: はい、入りません。
→B: はい、入ります。
A: If you like, would you like to join our football club?
B: Yes, I would./Yes, I will join.
“〜ませんか” is a polite invitation, meaning “Would you like…?” (or “Won’t you…?”).
When agreeing, you should respond affirmatively with “はい、(入り)ます” (Yes, I will) instead of “はい、(入り)ません” (Yes, I won’t).
To decline, you can say “いいえ、〜ません” (No, I won’t).
Here are some more examples:
A: いっしょに映画(えいが)を見(み)に行(い)きませんか。
B: はい、行きます。
A: Would you like to go to the movies with me?
B: Yes, I’ll go.
A: コーヒーブレイクしませんか。
B: そうですね、しましょう。(〜ましょう: let’s…, affirmative)
A: Would you like to have a coffee break?
B: Yes, let’s do that.
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. Not sure of your Japanese level? Then take a level test here.) I can explain in English or Japanese, depending on your level.
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