Minna No Nihongo Grammar Lesson 36

Minna No Nihongo Grammar Lesson 36

V1 dictionary form V1ない-formない

ように、V2

 V₁ indicates a purpose or an aim, while V₂ indicates a volitional action to get closer to that objective.

速く泳げるように、毎日練習しています。

I practice every day so that I can swim fast.

忘れないように、メモしてください。

Please take a memo so that you will not forget.

The dictionary form of non-volitional verbs such as potential verbs, わかります, みえます,きこえます, なります, etc., or a verb in its negative form should be used before ように.

V dictionary formように Vない-formなく

なります

1) なりますindicates that a state changes into another state. The verbs used here express ability or possibility: such as potential verbs, わかります, みえます, etc. V dictionary form ようになりますindicates that a state in which something cannot be done has changed into a state in which it can be done. Vない-formなくなります indicates the reverse (i.e., something can no longer be done).

毎日練習すれば、泳げるようになります。

If you practice every day, you will become able to swim.

やっと自転車に乗れるようになりました。

I’ve finally become able to ride a bicycle.

年を取ると、小さい字が読めなくなります。

As you get older, you cannot read small letters.

太りましたから、好きな服が着られなくなりました。

I gained weight so I can no longer wear my favorite dress.

2) How to give a negative answer to ～ようになりましたかis as follows:

ショパンが弾けるようになりましたか。

いいえ、まだ弾けません。

Have you become able to play work by Chopin?

No, not yet.

[Note] Using a verb which does not reflect ability will render the meaning that a habit which does not exist before has been acquired or a habit which existed before has become obsolete.

日本人は１００年ぐらいまえから牛肉や豚肉を食べるようになりました。

The Japanese started to eat beef and pork from about 100 years ago.

車を買ってから、わたしはあまり歩かなくなりました。

I do not walk much since I bought a car.

Such verbs as なれる, ふとる, やせる, etc., which denotes change itself cannot be used in this sentence pattern.

3.

V dictionary form Vない-formない

ようにします

This sentence pattern is used to express that one habitually or continuously makes efforts to do something or not to do something.

1) ～ようにしています

This expresses that one habitually and continuously tries to do something.

毎日運動して、何でも食べるようにしています。

I try to take exercise every day and eat a variety of foods.

歯に悪いですから、甘いものを食べないようにしています。

I try not to eat sweets because they are bad for my teeth.

2)  ～ようにしてください

～て／～ないでくださいare direct request expressions, while ～ようにしてくださいis an indirect request expression and more polite than the former. This pattern is used as shown below.

When requesting someone to try to do something habitually and continuously.

もっと野菜を食べるようにしてください。

Please try to eat more vegetables.

When politely requesting someone to try to do something in a one-off situation.

あしたは絶対に時間に遅れないようにしてください。

Please be sure not to be late tomorrow.

[Note] ～ようにしてくださいcannot be used when requesting something to be done on the spot.

すみませんが、塩を取ってください。

Excuse me, please pass me the salt.

ｘ すみませんが、塩を取るようにしてください。

4. とか

～とかis used to give some examples just like～や, but ～とかis more colloquial. Unlike や, とかsometimes comes after the last noun to be mentioned.

どんなスポーツをしていますか。

そうですね。テニスとか水泳とか…。

What kind of sports do you do?

Well, playing tennis, swimming, and so on.

Related Post:
Minna No Nihongo Grammar Lesson 37
Minna No Nihongo Lesson 36 Vocabulary