JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N4 grammar · Chapter 16

~てくれませんか・~てもらえませんか

Ask someone politely to help by doing something

You'll be able to make considerate requests by framing the action as a favor.

Illustration of the scene described by Could you carry this box for me?
Read it first

この箱はこを持もってくれませんか。

kono hako o motte kuremasen ka.

What do you think this sentence means?

Could you carry this box for me?

Why it means that

Ask for a helpful action

~てくれませんか and ~てもらえませんか are requests for someone to do something for you. Their negative-question shape softens the request.

Example

もう一度もういちど説明せつめいしてもらえませんか。

mou ichido setsumei shite moraemasen ka.

Could you explain it once more for me?

How it is built

Form and use ~てくれませんか・~てもらえませんか

くれませんか asks whether the listener will give the favor. もらえませんか asks whether you can receive it. These are not usually literal questions expecting refusal; more deferential requests can use いただけませんか.

Verb て-form+くれませんか / もらえませんか
Examples

もう一度もういちど説明せつめいしてもらえませんか。

mou ichido setsumei shite moraemasen ka.

Could you explain it once more for me?

窓まどを閉しめてくれませんか。

mado o shimete kuremasen ka.

Could you close the window for me?

Examples

すみません、この荷物にもつを棚たなに上あげてくれませんか。

sumimasen, kono nimotsu o tana ni agete kuremasen ka.

Excuse me, would you put this bag up on the rack for me?

すみません、もう少すこし静しずかにしてくれませんか。

sumimasen, mou sukoshi shizuka ni shite kuremasen ka.

Excuse me, would you mind being a little quieter?

暑あついですね。窓まどを開あけてくれませんか。

atsui desu ne. mado o akete kuremasen ka.

It's hot, isn't it? Would you open the window for me?

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