In this workshop, you will practice talking about who does which task in a group project. You will learn to say what you will do, ask someone to do something, and ask who is responsible for a task. The native examples come from short recordings. Listen carefully, repeat aloud, and then try the exercises. You can play both roles when you practice with audio, and you can use the answer keys and self-checks to confirm your understanding.
Taking a task and asking your partner to do another
When you divide work, you can state your own task and then politely ask your partner to do a different task. In the recording, the speaker says «私は調査をします。あなたは書いてください。». This means 'I'll do the research. You write, please.' The first part, 'Watashi wa chōsa o shimasu,' means 'I will do the research.' The second part, 'Anata wa kaite kudasai,' means 'You write, please.' The verb 'kaite' is the te-form of 'kaku' (to write), and 'kudasai' makes a polite request. Note that 'anata' can sound direct; using the person's name with 'san' is often more natural. You can also state your task and then ask what your partner will do. The recording «私は資料を作ります。あなたは何をしますか。» shows this: 'I'll make the materials. What will you do?' Here, 'Watashi wa shiryō o tsukurimasu' means 'I will make the materials,' and 'Anata wa nani o shimasu ka' means 'What will you do?' Use this pattern to keep the conversation moving.
Asking who is responsible and answering
To find out who will do a specific task, ask «誰がプレゼンをしますか。». This means 'Who will do the presentation?' The question word 'dare' (who) is marked by the particle 'ga', which marks the subject. The answer uses the same particle 'ga' to mark the person. For example, «田中さんがプレゼンをします。» means 'Tanaka-san will do the presentation.' Here, 'Tanaka-san ga' marks Tanaka-san as the one who does the presentation. When you answer, you can replace 'Tanaka-san' with the appropriate name. Remember that 'ga' highlights who does the action, while 'wa' marks the topic. In «私は調査をします。あなたは書いてください。», 'watashi wa' marks the speaker as the topic, and in «田中さんがプレゼンをします。», 'Tanaka-san ga' marks Tanaka-san as the subject. This distinction helps clarify who is responsible.
Responding to a request and confirming
When someone asks you to do a task, you can accept and confirm what you will do. In the dialogue, after the request in «私は調査をします。あなたは書いてください。», the partner replies with «わかりました。じゃあ、私は書きます。». This means 'Understood. Then, I'll write.' The word 'wakarimashita' means 'I understood' or 'got it.' Then 'jā' means 'then' or 'well,' and 'watashi wa kakimasu' means 'I will write.' This shows that you accept the task and state your own action. You can use this pattern to confirm your role after someone asks you to do something. Notice that the request in «私は調査をします。あなたは書いてください。» is the same as «私は調査をします。あなたは書いてください。», and the reply in «わかりました。じゃあ、私は書きます。» is a natural follow-up. Practicing this exchange helps you respond smoothly in real conversations.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
私は調査をします。あなたは書いてください。
I'll do the research. You write, please.
Watashi wa chōsa o shimasu. Anata wa kaite kudasai.
誰がプレゼンをしますか。
Who will do the presentation?
Dare ga purezen o shimasu ka.
田中さんがプレゼンをします。
Tanaka-san will do the presentation.
Tanaka-san ga purezen o shimasu.
私は資料を作ります。あなたは何をしますか。
I'll make the materials. What will you do?
Watashi wa shiryō o tsukurimasu. Anata wa nani o shimasu ka.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
私は調査をします。あなたは書いてください。
I'll do the research. You write, please.わかりました。じゃあ、私は書きます。
Understood. Then, I'll write.誰がプレゼンをしますか。
Who will do the presentation?田中さんがプレゼンをします。
Tanaka-san will do the presentation.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Propose and Accept
Imagine you are working on a group project with a partner. You will play both roles. First, listen to the recording «私は調査をします。あなたは書いてください。» and repeat it aloud. Then listen to «わかりました。じゃあ、私は書きます。» and repeat it aloud. Pay attention to the polite request and the acceptance.
Your task: Now, without looking at the text, say the line from «私は調査をします。あなたは書いてください。» as if you are proposing the division. Then, switch roles and say the line from «わかりました。じゃあ、私は書きます。» as if you are accepting. Do this three times, alternating roles.
Reply Comprehension: Who Does the Presentation?
Listen to the question in «誰がプレゼンをしますか。» and the answer in «田中さんがプレゼンをします。». The question asks who will do the presentation. The answer tells you who is responsible.
Your task: After listening, answer these questions: 1) What is the question asking? 2) Who will do the presentation according to the answer? 3) Which particle marks the person doing the presentation in the answer? Say your answers aloud in English.
Recall with Correct Roles: State Your Task and Ask
Listen to the recording «私は資料を作ります。あなたは何をしますか。» where the speaker states their task and asks what the partner will do. Then listen to «私は調査をします。あなたは書いてください。» where the speaker proposes a division and makes a request.
Your task: Without looking at the text, say the line from «私は資料を作ります。あなたは何をしますか。» as if you are stating your task and asking your partner. Then say the line from «私は調査をします。あなたは書いてください。» as if you are proposing a division. Finally, switch roles: imagine your partner says «私は調査をします。あなたは書いてください。» to you, and you respond with the line from «わかりました。じゃあ、私は書きます。». Do this sequence twice.
Common questions
When should I use 'wa' and when should I use 'ga'?
'Wa' marks the topic of the sentence, often something already known or being talked about. 'Ga' marks the subject, often introducing new information or answering a question word like 'dare' (who). In «私は調査をします。あなたは書いてください。», 'watashi wa' marks the speaker as the topic. In «田中さんがプレゼンをします。», 'Tanaka-san ga' marks Tanaka-san as the subject who does the presentation. In «誰がプレゼンをしますか。», 'dare ga' uses 'ga' because 'dare' is the question word.
Is it okay to use 'anata' when asking my partner to do something?
'Anata' means 'you,' but it can sound direct or even rude in some situations. In «私は調査をします。あなたは書いてください。» and «私は資料を作ります。あなたは何をしますか。», 'anata' is used, but the source guidance notes that using the person's name with 'san' is often more natural. For example, if your partner is Tanaka-san, you could say 'Tanaka-san wa kaite kudasai' instead of 'anata wa kaite kudasai.' However, when practicing with the recordings, you can use 'anata' as shown.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: collaborate on projectChecked September 2026
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