Course 2, Lesson 1, Grammar Notes :5 ～ masenka

[Accura]

5. ～ masenka

You can use 'masenka' (= the present tense negative verb, plus the question particle) to extend an invitation. It should be noted that its affirmative counterpart, 'masuka', cannot be so used.

Thus a sentence like 'hirugohan wo tabemasuka' can only be construed as a question, not as an invitation.

hirugohan o tabemasenka. (What do you say to having lunch with me?)

ii desune. (Sounds great.)

tenisu o shimasenka. (Will you play tennis with me?)

uun, chotto. . . (um, it's slightly [inconvenient for me at this moment].)