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Using deshou (でしょう) at the end of a sentence means that something will probably happen or that it seems like it will happen. The level of certainty in that “might” is probably around 80-90%  This means that the probability of accuracy is a more than a kamoshiremasen sentence.

でしょう (deshou) is commonly used when we talk about the weather in Japanese. 

verbs

{ 食べる　/　食べた } 　でしょう。

{ taberu / tabeta } deshou.

(someone will probably eat / probably ate)

i-adjectives

{ 高い　/　高かった } 　でしょう。

{ takai / takakatta } deshou.

(something is / was probably expensive)

na-adjectives

{ 静か　/　静かだった } 　でしょう。

{ shizuka / shizuka datta } deshou.

(something is / was probably quiet)

nouns

{ 学生　/　学生だった } 　でしょう。

{ gakusei / gakusei datta } deshou.

(someone is / was probably a student)

雨が降るでしょう｡

ame ga furu deshou.

(it will probably rain)

明日は晴れるでしょう｡

Ashita wa hareru deshou.

(It will probably be sunny tomorrow)

彼女は 綺麗でしょう。

kanojyo wa kirei deshou

(I assume she is beautiful.)

今夜は風が強いでしょう。

Kon’ya wa kaze ga tsuyoideshou.

(The wind will be strong tonight.)

あの人は田中さんでしょう。

Ano hito wa Tanaka-sandeshou.

(I guess that person is Ms. Tanaka.)

When でしょう (deshou) is used to guess or predict something, it can take on the form of a question because it naturally seeks confirmation to something with a bit of uncertainty.

今日は木曜日でしょう｡

kyo wa mokuyoubi deshou?

(Today is Thursday, isn’t it?)

眠いでしょう｡

nemui deshou?

(You’re sleepy, aren’t you?)

どう？美味しいでしょう？

dou? oishii deshou?

(How are they? They're good,  isn’t it?)

You can use the more casual だろう(darou) if you’re talking with people you are close with (friends, family, close co-workers, etc.)

雨が降るだろう｡

ame ga furu darou.

(it will probably rain)

眠いだろう｡

nemui darou?

(You’re sleepy, aren’t you?)

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In English, this word means “perhaps” or “might.” You can use it with verbs, adjectives, or nouns.

Verb in plain form (present or past tense) + かもしれません (kamoshiremasen)

I-Adjective in plan form (present or past tense) + かもしれません (kamoshiremasen)

Na-adjectives in plain form (without na) (present or past tense) + かもしれません (kamoshiremasen)

Noun + かもしれません (kamoshiremasen)

The level of certainty in that “might” is probably hovering around 50% (though no one’s keeping track).  This means that the probability of accuracy is a little less than a darou sentence and a lot less than a ni chigainai sentence.

verbs

{ 食べる　/　食べた } 　かもしれません

{ taberu / tabeta } kamoshiremasen.

(someone might eat / might have eaten)

i-adjectives

{ 高い　/　高かった } 　かもしれません

{ takai / takakatta }kamoshiremasen.

(something might be / might have been high)

na-adjectives

{ 静か　/　静かだった } 　かもしれません

{ shizuka / shizuka datta } kamoshiremasen.

(something might be quiet / might have been quiet)

nouns

{ 学生　/　学生だった } 　かもしれません

{ gakusei / gakusei datta } kamoshiremasen.

(someone might be a student / might have been a student)

明日は雨がふるかもしれません。

Ashita wa ame ga furu kamoshiremasen.

(It might rain tomorrow.)

今日は雨が降らないかもしれません。

Kyo wa ame ga furanai kamoshiremasen.

(Perhaps it will not rain today.)

昨日彼は休んだかもしれません。

Kinou kare wa yasunda kamoshiremasen.

(He might have taken some time off yesterday.)

昨日彼は休まなかったかもしれません。

Kinou kare wa yasumanakatta kamoshiremasen.

(He might not have taken some time off yesterday.)

テストは難しいかもしれません。

Testuto wa muzukashii kamoshiremasen.

(The test might be hard.)

テストは難しくないかもしれません。

Testuto wa muzukashikunai kamoshiremasen.

(The test might not be hard.)

昨日は天気がよかったかもしれません。

Kinou wa tenki ga yokatta kamoshiremasen.

(The weather might have been good yesterday.)

昨日は天気がよくなかったかもしれません。

Kinou wa tenki ga yokunakatta kamoshiremasen.

(The weather might not have been good yesterday.)

京都の桜はきれいかもしれません。

Kyouto no sakura wa kirei kamoshiremasen.

(The cherry blossoms in Kyoto might be beautiful.)

京都の桜はきれいではないかもしれません。

Kyouto no sakura wa kirei dewanai kamoshiremasen.

(The cherry blossoms in Kyoto might not be beautiful.)

彼女は学生だったかもしれません。

Kanojyo wa gakusei datta kamoshiremasen.

(She might have been a student.)

彼女は学生ではなかったかもしれません

Kanojyo wa gakusei datta kamoshiremasen)

(She might was not a student.)

However, you can use the more casual かもしれない (kamoshirenai) or the very casual かも (kamo) if you’re talking with people you are close with (friends, family, close co-workers, etc.)

明日は雨がふるかもしれない

Ashita wa ame ga furu kamoshirenai.

(It might rain tomorrow.)

明日は雨がふるかも。

Ashita wa ame ga furu kamo.

(It might rain tomorrow.)

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言います is used to report or quote speech, the particle と is placed before 言います。

～と言う (to iu) is the form you use to directly or indirectly quote what someone has said. と is a quotation marker that can also be used with other verbs like 聞く (to hear)、伝える (to convey)、思う (to think), etc. 言う means to say.

Plain form + to iimasu

(he) says that...

(people) says that...

彼は明日学校に行くと言いました。

kare wa ashita gakkou ni iku to iimashita.

He said he will go to school tomorrow.

彼は明日学校に行かないと言いました。 

kare wa ashita gakkou ni ikanai to iimashita.

He said he won't go to school tomorrow.

彼は昨日学校に行ったと言いました。

kare wa kinou gakkou ni itta to iimashita.

He said he went to school yesterday.

彼は昨日学校に行かなかったと言いました。 

kare wa kinou gakkou ni ikanakatta to iimashita.

He said he did not go to school yesterday.

彼はこの映画はおもしろいと言いました。

kare wa kono eiga wa omoshiroi to iimashita.

He said this movie is interesting.

彼はこの映画はおもしろくないと言いました。

kare wa kono eiga wa omoshirokunai to iimashita.

He said this movie is not interesting.

彼は昨日寒かったと言いました。

kare wa kinou samukatta to iimashita.

He said yesterday was cold.

彼は昨日寒くなかったと言いました。

kare wa kinou samukunakatta to iimashita.

He said yesterday was not cold.

彼は野菜が好きだと言いました。

kare wa yasai ga suki da to iimashita.

He said he likes vegetables.

彼は野菜が好きではないと言いました。

kare wa yasai ga suki dewa nai to iimashita.

He said he doesn't like vegetables.

彼は昨日暇だったと言いました。

kare wa kinou hima datta to iimashita.

He said he was free yesterday.

彼は昨日暇ではなかったと言いました。

kare wa kinou hima dewanakatta to iimashita.

He said he was not free yesterday.

彼は明日学校は休みだと言いました。

kare wa ashita gakkou wa yasumi da to iimashita.

He said school will be closed tomorrow.

彼は明日学校は休みではないと言いました。

kare wa ashita gakkou wa yasumi dewanai to iimashita.

He said school won't be closed tomorrow.

彼は昨日学校は休みだったと言いました。

kare wa kinou gakkou wa yasumi datta to iimashita.

He said school was closed yesterday.

彼は昨日学校は休みではなかったと言いました。

kare wa kinou gakkou wa yasumi dewa nakatta to iimashita.

He said school was not closed yesterday.

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“I think” in Japanese using 〜と思います (~to omoimasu).

The subject of the sentence (the speaker) is often omitted. In other words, you don’t need to say “I” think, because it is obvious from the context.

In the case that the subject is not “I” you must use 〜と思っています (to omotteimasu) instead of 〜と思います (~to omoimasu) because it is expressing what another person (might be) thinking.

明日は休みです (ashita wa yasumi desu) means “tomorrow is a holiday.”

The plain form of the sentence is 明日は休みだ (ashita wa yasumi da). The second step is to add 〜と思います (~to omoimasu) to the end of the sentence. The result is an “I think” statement: 明日は休みだと思います (Ashita wa yasumi da to omoimasu) – I think tomorrow is a holiday.

明日は休みだと思います。

ashita wa yasumi da to omoimasu.

I think tomorrow is a holiday.

明日は休みではないと思います。

ashita wa yasumi da to omoimasu.

I think tomorrow is not a holiday.

昨日は休みだったと思います。

kinou wa yasumi datta to omoimasu.

I think yesterday was a holiday.

昨日は休みではなかったと思います。

kinou wa yasumi dewa nakatta to omoimasu.

I think yesterday was not a holiday.

先生はとても親切です (sensei wa totemo shinsetsu desu) means “My teacher is very kind.” To change to an “I think” statement, first change です (desu) to だ (da). The result is an “I think” statement: 先生はとても親切だと思います (Sensei wa totemo shinsetsu da to omoimasu) – I think my teacher is very kind.

先生は親切だと思います。

Sensei wa shinsetsu da to omoimasu

I think my teacher is kind.

先生は親切ではない思います。

Sensei wa shinsetsu dewanai to omoimasu

I think my teacher is not kind.

昨日彼は元気だったと思います。

kinou kare wa genki datta to omoimasu.

I think he was fine yesterday.

昨日彼は元気ではなかったと思います。

kinou kare wa genki dewanakatta to omoimasu.

I think he was not fine yesterday.

猫は可愛いです (neko wa kawaii desu) means “Cats are cute.” The result is an “I think” statement: 猫は可愛いと思います (Neko wa kawaii to omoimasu) – I think cats are cute.

猫は可愛いと思います。

Neko wa kawaii to omoimasu

I think cats are cute.

猫は可愛くないと思います。

Neko wa kawaikunai to omoimasu

I think cats are not cute.

昨日は寒かったと思います。 

kinou wa samukatta to omoimasu

I think yesterday was cold.

昨日は寒くなかったと思います。 

kinou wa samukunakatta to omoimasu

I think yesterday was not cold.

今日は雨が降ると思います。

kyou wa ame ga furu to omoimasu.

I think it will rain today

彼はうちにいると思います。

kare wa uchi ni iru to omoimasu.

I think he is at home.

彼はお金が無いと思います。

kare wa okane ga nai to omoimasu

I think he doesn't have money

彼女は東京へ行ったと思います。

kanojyo wa tokyo e itta to omoimasu.

I think she went to Tokyo.

彼女は昨日ここに来なかったと思います。

kanojyo wa kinou koko ni konakatta to omoimasu.

I think she didn't come here yesterday.

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【い Adjective】

Present Affirmative: い-Adjective {～い}

Present Negative: い-Adjective {～い} くない

Past Affirmative: い-Adjective {～い} かった

Past Negative: い-Adjective {～い} くなかった

ながい (nagai)

なが くない (nagakunai)

なが かった (nagakatta)

なが くなかった (nagakunakatta)

いい (ii)

良くない (yokunai)

良かった (yokatta)

良くなかった (yokunakatta)

【な Adjective】

Present Affirmative: な-Adjective だ

Present Negative: な-Adjective ではない

Past Affirmative: な-Adjective だった

Past Negative: な-Adjective ではなかった

しずか だ (shizuka da)

しずか ではない (shizuka dewanai)

しずか だった (shizuka datta)

しずか ではなかった (shizuka dewanakatta)

【Noun】

Present Affirmative: Noun だ

Present Negative: Noun ではない

Past Affirmative: Noun だった

Past Negative: Noun ではなかった

あめ だ (ame da)

あめ ではない (ame dewanai)

あめ だった (ame datta)

あめ ではなかった (ame dewanakatta)

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あとで (ato de)means “after doing”.  To express that something happens after something else, we should use the past (ta-form) of a verb followed by あとで (ato de).  

昼ごはんの後で友達とお茶を飲みました。

授業の後で映画に行きませんか？

薬を飲んだ後で、一時間寝ました。

私は宿題をした後でテレビを見ます。

子供が寝た後で、映画を見みました

たあとで also have the nuance of emphasising the fact that action B takes place after A (and not before). It’s good to remember that this grammar point uses the た form, which is the past tense in plain form.

ほんをよんだあとで、ねました　

てから is used when the second action (B) is going to happen straight after the first (A). In a lot of A てから B sentences, action B is only possible after completing action A. For that reason, it is useful when you want to express actions that take place in a specific order, such as in your daily routine.

ほんをよんでから、ねました

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 it would be better to (do), you had better (do)

“it is better (for you) to do…” is a sentence-final expression that can be used to give advice. It implies that if you do not follow the advice, danger or a problem will result. It refers to something very specific. 

運動したほうがいいです！

Undou shita hou ga ii desu!

Why don’t you exercise (It’s better to exercise)!   

When giving advice, it’s also common to add ね (ne) or よ (yo) at the end of the sentence. Adding ne softens the blow a bit, and adding yo makes it a bit more forceful (as if this person needs a bit more of a push in the right direction).

運動したほうがいいね！

Undou shita hou ga ii ne!

Why don’t you exercise! (Nuance: Have you tried that yet?)  

運動したほうがいいよ！

Undou shita hou ga ii yo!

Why don’t you exercise! (Nuance: You need to hop to! Chop-chop!)

毎日三時間勉強したほうがいいよ。

Mai-nichi san jikan benkyou shita hou ga ii yo.

Study three hours a day (You had better study three hours every day).

病院に行ったほうがいいですね。

Byouin ni itta hou ga ii desu ne.

You should go to the hospital (You had better go to the hospital).

もっとやさいをたべたほうがいいです。

motto yasai o tabeta hou ga ii desu.　　　

You’d better eat more vegetables.

★(nai-form) + ほうがいいです (hou ga ii desu)★

タバコを吸わないほうがいいね。

tabako wo suwanai hou ga ii ne.

You shouldn’t smoke.

コーヒーを飲まないほうがいい。

Kōhī o nomanai hō ga ī.

You had better not drink coffee.

ご飯を食べてからすぐ泳がないほうがいいですよ。

gohan o tabete kara sugu oyoganai hou ga ii desu yo.

You shouldn’t swim immediately after eating. 

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To talk about a past experience, we can use the past form a verb (also known as ta-form) followed by ことがあります (koto ga arimasu).  This is a way to express that you “have done something before”.  

verb (ta-form) + ことがあります (koto ga arimasu)

日本の映画を見たことがあります。

nihon no eiga o mita koto ga arimasu

(I have been watched Japanese movie)

ことがある (koto ga aru) is extremely useful for beginners who are trying to take that first step into Japanese conversation.  After all, talking about your experiences with each other may only be a few steps past hajimemashite (nice to meet you).  You only need a limited vocabulary to play around with this phrase, and it’s a great way to practice conjugating verbs to the past tense.  Asking someone about their own experiences is as simple as adding the question particle か (ka) at the end:

日本の映画を見たことがありますか

nihon no eiga o mita koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you watched Japanese movie?)

日本行ったことがありますか。

Nihon ni itta koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever been to Japan?)

私は京都に行ったことがあります。

Watashi wa Kyouto ni itta koto ga arimasu.

(I have been to Kyoto before.)

刺身を食べたことがあります。

sashimi wo tabeta koto ga arimasu.

(I have eaten sashimi before)

富士山に登ったことがありません。

fujisan ni nobotta koto ga arimasen.

(I have not climed Mount Fuji before.)

カラオケで歌ったことがないです。

Karaoke de utatta koto ga nai desu.

(I have never sung Karaoke before.)

新幹線に のった こと が ありますか。

shinkansen ni notta koto ga arimasu ka

(Have you ever taken a bullet train?)

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Even fluent speakers of standard Japanese scratch their heads a little when they come to Hokkaido and hear phrases they have never encountered before in their lives, like namara and shitakke. These words are part of the main dialect spoken in Hokkaido, known as Hokkaido-ben.

In this episode I had my friend Nori-chan to talk about Hokaido ben!

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