How can I ask in Japanese “How was last night’s party?” ?
Asking how X was
In Japan, when we ask a general question about something,
どう
Doo
is typically used.
And this word does not change its form at all in the present and in the past.
Instead,it’s the part of politeness which changes.
So, for example,
A:
昨日のパーティーはどうでしたか。
Kinoo no paatii wa doo deshita ka
How was last night’s party?
B:
とてもよかったです。
Totemo yokatta desu
It was very good.
This is a common conversational exchange.
どうですか vs. どうでしたか
I have previously written an article on using “どう” (doo) in the present tense.
See also: Adjective sentence (negative & question)
Let’s compare the two forms:
- Present: どうですか : doo desu ka : How is
- Past: どうでしたか : doo deshita ka : How was
For example,
A:
パーティーはどうですか。
Paatii wa doo desu ka.
How is the party?
*Imagine that we are currently at the party and the party organiser asked this question.
B:
とてもいいです。
Totemo ii desu.
It is very good.
and
A:
パーティーはどうでしたか。
Paatii wa doo deshita ka
How was the party?
*Imagine that we participated at a party the other day and someone who know about it asked this question.
B(i-adjective):
とてもよかったです。
Totemo yokatta desu
It was very good.
B(na-adjective):
素敵でした。
Suteki deshita.
It was nice.
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