Japanese learning (A4 S21): Expression in Conversation to Make a Confirmation: [Clause]+deshou?

Today’s expression is to be used in relatively casual conversation. I don’t think it is good to use it when you talk to older people, your boss, your teacher, your customer, and so on. If your listener is people of the same social status, then it’s okay to use.

Today’s expression can be classified by a predicate of [Clause] as below;

 [Clause] + deshou?

1. Predicate in [Clause] is a Verb

[Concise ending of verb predicate] + deshou?

Example:

– Ashita Ohanami ni Iku deshou? (You are going to Under-cherry-blossom-party tomorrow, aren’t you?)

– Kinou Hakubutsukan de Konsa’ato ga Atta deshou? (I think a concert was held in the museum yesterday. Right?)

2. Predicate in [Clause] is an I-adjective

[Concise ending of I-adjective predicate] + deshou?

Example:

– Nihon wa Sakana no Ryouri ga Oishii deshou? (Seafood is very good in Japan, isn’t it?)

3. Predicate in [Clause] is a Na-adjective

[Stem of Na-adjective] + deshou?

Example:

– Kono Heya wa Ju’ubun Kirei deshou? (Don’t you think this room is clean enough?)

! “kirei” is not an I-adjective, but a Na-adjective. Concise ending is “Kireida.” But “Kireida deshou?” is wrong. It should be “Kirei deshou?”

4. Predicate in [Clause] is a Noun

[Noun] + deshou?

Example:

– Satou-san wa Daigakusei deshou? (Sato-san is a university student, isn’t she?)

! Although the concise ending for Noun Predicate is like “Daigakusei da”, “Daigakusei da deshou?” is wrong. It should be “Daigakusei deshou?”

Today’s “deshou” has a function to make a confirmation. But “deshou” has another function, that is express your speculation. “deshou” for speculation will be introduced in the section 32. As to distinction of the two, think like follows; “deshou” with ascending intonation is to make a confirmation. “deshou” with descending intonation is speculation.

– Kinou wa Ame datta deshou? (↑)　— Confirmation

– Ashita wa Ame deshou. (↓) — Speculation

This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section21 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”