GI18 · Suggesting: 〜たら どうですか
Goal: make a friendly suggestion (6 example sentences).
Before you start
The sentences use words you already know, up to the intermediate level, in kanji with furigana, and assume elementary grammar.
This lesson assumes what you saw in the earlier ones. If something feels shaky, go back to it:
- GI01say something is excessive
- GI02say whether something is easy or hard to do
- GI03say what you do something for
- GI04say what you do to avoid something
- GI05pass on what you've heard
- GI06say what seems to be so
- GI07say something has just happened
- GI08say what point of an action you're at
- GI09say you start or finish something
- GI10list some of the things you do
- GI11give a reason softly
- GI12express surprise or a complaint
- GI13describe a change in ability or habit
- GI14report a decision
- GI15say one thing grows with another
- GI16give permission politely
- GI17regret what you didn't do
What you learn
〜たら どうですか
- どうwhy not…? (〜たら どうですか)
The た-form + ら + どうですか makes a friendly suggestion: くすりを のんだら どうですか (why not take some medicine?). It is softer than 〜た ほうが いい (G32).
Examples
- 薬を 飲んだら どうですか。kusuri o nondara dou desu ka.Why not take some medicine?
- 先生に 聞いたら どうですか。sensei ni kiitara dou desu ka.Why not ask the teacher?
- 今日は 休んだら どうですか。kyou wa yasundara dou desu ka.Why not rest today?
- 地図を 見たら どうですか。chizu o mitara dou desu ka.Why not look at the map?
- 病院に 行ったら どうですか。byouin ni ittara dou desu ka.Why not go to the hospital?
- 辞書を 使ったら どうですか。jisho o tsukattara dou desu ka.Why not use a dictionary?
Practice
Two rounds: first you pick what each sentence means; then you complete it with the missing form.
Reading in context
A short text with words and grammar you already know; kanji carry their reading above. Read it and answer.
A colleague is coughing at the office:
病院に 行ったら どうですか。
byouin ni ittara dou desu ka.
What is he advised to do?
Translation
Why not go to the hospital?