Lesson 24 Base 3 + deshou

Even though deshou was already introduced in Lesson 18, I thought it would be a nice and easy way to begin the Base 3 verb endings. But before we begin, please remember that Base 3 is actually the root or "dictionary" form of the verb; the plain, unsophisticated form used by kids or in very familiar situations, as explained in Lesson 1. (To my mind it would make more sense to call this form Base 1, but I suppose we must allow each language its quirks.)

Remember these examples?

• Jim wa manga o yomu.
• Ojii-san wa sugu kaeru.
• Watashi wa ringo o taberu.
• Naomi wa terebi o miru.
• Mama wa mise de banana o kau.

Not only should you be able to translate these, you should know which are ichidan and which are yodan. Please review Lesson 1 if necessary.

Let's get back to deshou. This is an easy add-on which means "perhaps" or "probably." For example, add it to kau (to buy) in Mama wa mise de banana o kau and you have Mama wa mise de banana o kau deshou (Mom will probably buy some bananas at the store). Let's do a few more:

• Raishuu watashi wa Okayama ni iku deshou. (I'll probably go to Okayama next week.)
• Kenji wa atarashii kuruma o kau deshou. (Kenji will probably buy a new car.)
• Ashita wa ame (ga furu) deshou. ¹ (It will probably rain tomorrow.)

Base 3 + deshou is very handy when you are not sure of something. Use it when you don't want to take full responsibility for an outcome. That is why you will hear it used at the end of practically every sentence of a weather forecast in Japan.

Another use for this form is questioning or confirming something already assumed, as we would use tag questions in English. Please note that ka is not added at the end; a rising intonation is used instead:

• Osaka ni iku deshou? (You're going to Osaka, aren't you?)
• Sue wa kuru deshou? (Sue's coming, isn't she?)
• Tomoka wa eigo no shukudai o suru deshou? (Tomoka will do her English homework, right?)

Word Check

raishuu: next week
atarashii: new
kuruma: car
ashita: tomorrow
ame: rain
furu: to fall (rain, snow, etc.)
shukudai: homework

Notes

1. The verb furu used in this example means "to fall," but only if it's rain or snow that's doing the falling. (A falling object uses the verb ochiru). As in English, the fact that the rain will fall is understood, making the verb unnecessary, so it is often omitted.