Grammar: Making and Asking for Suggestions

[Lance]

Grammar 1 on Yookoso 3rd Edition (Continuing with Contemporary Japanese)

There are many ways to offer suggestions in Japanese, but here are the common ways.

How about if you (do...)
ta-form of verb + ら（ra） + いかがですか　（ikagadesuka）

Why not (do...)
ta-form of verb + ら（ra） + どうですか　（doudesuka）

It would be good if you (do...)
ta-form of verb + ら（ra） + いいと思います　(iitoomoimasu）

If you want to ask for suggestions, you can use the following constructions

What should I do? どうしたらいいですか。

What should I do (more polite)? どうしたらいいでしょうか。

What do you think I should do? どうしたらいいと思いますか。

Also you can use these questions for other verbs. For example

What should I do? どうしたらいいですか。can become...

What should I buy? 買ったらいいですか。Notice how どうしたら became 買ったら.

Also in some instances you'll want to append a question word like "Where." For example

Where do you think I should go?　どこに行ったらいいですか。
どこに　= where