Activities: When to use だろう (darō) and でしょう (deshō) in Japanese?

Let’s start with a review on how to form sentences with 〜だろう and 〜でしょう. Rewrite each declarative statement into a non-declarative statement using either だろう or でしょう based on the level of politeness in the original sentence (no need to consider the gender of the speaker in this exercise). Add the English translation as well.

• Declarative sentence:

  これは北斎の作品だ。
  Kore wa Hokusai no sakuhin da.
  This is a work by Hokusai.

  Non-declarative sentence:

• Declarative sentence:

  明日も風がつよいです。
  Ashita mo kaze ga tsuyoi desu.
  It will be windy tomorrow as well.

  Non-declarative sentence:

• Declarative sentence:

  昔はりっぱだった。
  Mukashi wa rippa datta.
  It was once magnificent.

  Non-declarative sentence:

• Declarative sentence:

  荷物は今日届きます。
  Nimotsu wa kyō todokimasu.
  The package will arrive today.

  Non-declarative sentence:

• Declarative sentence:

  森の中はしずかだ。
  Mori no naka wa shizuka da.
  It’s quiet in the forest.

  Non-declarative sentence:

• Declarative sentence:

  私ならあきらめません。
  Watashi nara akiramemasen.
  If it were I, I would not give up.

  Non-declarative sentence:

• Declarative sentence:

  テストはあまりむずかしくなかった。
  Tesuto wa amari muzukashiku nakatta.
  The test was not very difficult.

  Non-declarative sentence:

• Declarative sentence:

  ジョンはビーチでのんびりしています。
  Joh wa biichi de nonbiri shite iru.
  John is taking it easy on the beach.

  Non-declarative sentence:

Complete each Japanese sentence (and its English translation) by using words in the word bank. You must use one of でしょう / だろう / でしょ / だろ, based on the politeness level of the given situation as well as your own gender or preferred style. The correct answers vary. Make sure to change the word form as necessary.

• Situation	The outside temperature is 100℉ (in the shade). You have just invited your visitor into your well air-conditioned house. Let’s express your empathy to them!
  Vocabulary	暑い[atsui](hot), 外[soto](outside)

  いらっしゃい。 。冷たい麦茶でもどうぞ。
  Irasshai. ... . Tsumetai mugicha demo dōzo.
  Welcome. ... . Have some cold barley tea.

  Sample answer: 外は暑かったでしょう。[Soto wa atsukatta deshō.](It must have been hot outside.)

• Situation	Your younger brother has been playing soccer inside the house despite your numerous warnings. He has just knocked a reading lamp off the end table, which broke into pieces. Let’s admonish him for ignoring your warning.
  Vocabulary	言う[iu](to say; tell)

  だから、家のなかでサッカーするなって !
  Dakara, ie no naka de sakkā suruna tte ... !
  So, ... not to play soccer inside the house, didn’t I!　

  Sample answer: 言っただろう[itta darō](I told you, didn't I)

• Situation	In the afternoon, your boss begs you to finish an urgent project by 5 p.m. You know that it’s rather a tall order and you probably won’t make it. Let’s tell them your grim prediction as an expert.
  Vocabulary	まにあう[maniau](to be on time; make it), おそらく[osoraku](probably)

  うーん、やってみますが、。
  Ūn, yatte mimasu ga, ... .　
  Hmm, I’ll try, but ... .

  Sample answer: おそらくまにあわないでしょう[osoraku maniawanai deshō](I probably won't make it)

• Situation	You are traveling to Osaka via Shinkansen (bullet train). Your ticket is only for unreserved seats. You find an empty seat next to a businessperson, but not sure if it’s taken or not. Let’s politely ask them to find out.
  Vocabulary	空いている[aite iru](to be available; not occupied), この席[kono seki](this seat)

  すみません、 。
  Sumimasen, ... .
  Excuse me, ... .

  Sample answer: この席、空いているでしょうか[kono seki, aite iru deshō ka](is this seat available?)

• Situation	You are chatting with your old grade school classmate. You want to talk about your fond memory regarding the carp that lived in a small pond on the school grounds, but you are not sure if they remember about it. Let’s help them activate their memories.
  Vocabulary	いる[iru](to have; there is/are), コイ[koi](carp)

  ほら、学校に?
  Hora, gakkō ni ... ?
  Hey, at school ... ?

  Sample answer: コイがいたでしょう?[koi ga ita deshō?](we had carp, do you remember ?)
  Alternative answers: コイがいただろう？[koi ga ita darō?], コイがいたでしょ?[koi ga ita desho?], コイがいただろ？[koi ga ita daro?]

• Situation	You and John are waiting for your turn for the oral portion of a Japanese final exam. John is going next, and he is acting fidgety. You observe him and make a mental note on your guess at the reason for his behavior.
  Vocabulary	あがっている[agatte iru](to be feeling nervous), きっと[kitto](surely)

  ジョンはそわそわしている。。
  Jon wa sowasowa shite iru. ... .
  John is acting fidgety. ... .

  Sample answer: きっとあがっているんだろう。[Kitto agatte iru n darō.](He is surely feeling nervous.)
  Note: This is a soliloquy (you are making a mental note), so anyone can use だろう regardless of gender. Because you are guessing the reason or cause of his behavior, you need to use the explanation mode んだろう.

• Situation	You have found a bracelet under the table. You think it belongs to Ms. Sato, but not 100% sure. Let’s confirm it with her!
  Vocabulary	ブレスレット[buresuretto](bracelet), これ[kore](this), 佐藤さん[Satō san](Ms. Sato)

  ？テーブルの下に落ちていましたよ。
  ... ? Tēburu no shita ni ochite imashita yo.
  ... ? I found it under the table.

  Sample answer: これ、佐藤さんのブレスレットでしょう？[Kore, Satō san no buresuretto deshō?](This is your bracelet, right, Ms. Sato?)

• Situation	You have bought a birthday present for your friend, but you don’t know if they will like it or not. Let’s express your concern in your dear diary!
  Vocabulary	気に入ってくれる[ki ni itte kureru](to (kindly) like it)

  プレゼントは買ったけど・・・。 。
  Purezento wa katta kedo … .
  I bought a present, but … .

  Sample answer: 気に入ってくれるだろうか。[Ki ni itte kureru daro ka.](I wonder if they will like it.)
  Note: Since you are writing in your diary, you can use だろうか regardless of your gender. Remember, you can’t use でしょ or だろ with a particle such as か.

• Situation	You have bought a birthday present for your friend, but you don’t know if they will like it or not. Let’s express your concern in your dear diary!
  Vocabulary	気に入ってくれる[ki ni itte kureru](to (kindly) like it)

  プレゼントは買ったけど・・・。 。
  Purezento wa katta kedo … .
  I bought a present, but … .

  Sample answer: だめだろ[dame daro](is not enough, I bet)
  Alternative answer for male speakers: だめだろう
  Alternative answers for female speakers: だめでしょ or だめでしょう
  Note: だめ[dame] is a na-adjective. Did you remember to delete だ before adding だろ or でしょ?

• Situation	You have taken your friend for a hike in Japan. At one of your favorite lookout points, your friend praises the great view. Feeling happy and proud, you respond with enthusiasm to agree with them.

  • Friend: わあ、いい景色！
    Wā, ii keshiki!
    Wow, what a view!

  • You: ？ここ、私の / 僕のお気に入りのスポットなんだ。
    ... ? Koko, watashi no / boku no okini’iri no supotto nan da.
    ... ? As a matter of fact, this is my favorite spot.

  Sample answer: でしょ？[Desho?](I know, (right?))
  Alternative answers: でしょう？ with 私の[watashi no] or だろ？ with 僕の[boku no].
  Tip: If you are feeling extra light-hearted, you can even say でしょでしょ？ or だろだろ？