Structure
Verb[おう] + としたが(1) + Result
Verb[おう] + としたら + Result
(1) けれども、けれど、けども、けれども、けど
Details
Register
Standard
About Verb[volitional] + としたが
As mentioned in our ようとする lesson, when combined with the auxiliary verb う (or よう), とする carries the meaning of 'to try to do (A)', or 'to be about to do (A)'. The case marking particle と in this expression highlights a 'result'.
However, the addition of structures like the conjunction particles が, or たら, to the past tense of する will indicate that something interrupted (A), and therefore it was unable to be completed. In these cases, the translation becomes 'to have tried to do (A), but (B)', 'was about to (A), but (B), or 'was on the verge of (A), but (B)'.
う and よう mark volition (the express intent to do something), while とする adds the nuance that the express intent has been decided, and all that remains is to 'do' the action. Due to this, when something interrupts a ようとする verb, it strongly suggests that (B) is/was highly unanticipated.
Synonyms
Examples
--:--
Get more example sentences!
Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.
兎の世話をしようとしたが逃げられた。
I was going to take care of the rabbit but it ran away.
彼は徹夜しようとしたけれど寝てしまった。
He tried to pull an all-nighter, but fell asleep.
説得しようとしたが、失敗した。
I tried to persuade him, but I failed.
お弁当を食べようとしたが、箸が入っていなかった。
I was about to eat my bento, but there were no chopsticks inside.
私は彼女の手伝いをしようとしたが、断られた。
I tried to offer my help, but was rejected.
Self-Study Sentences
Study your own way!
Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.
Online
All uses of volitional form and よう explained
BriefJapanese
ようとする vs. てみる
Tae Kim
Offline
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 210
Track Resources!
Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.
Verb[volitional] + としたが – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (7 in total)
seanblue
Johnathan-Weir
Yeah I’m kinda wondering too. All the sentences use the formal forms けれど or が except one.
Is this just a common way of using the phrasing or would it sound unnatural to use these in a friendly conversation?
Daru
They are all acceptable. It’s just that they’re mostly used with formal variants so its better to make it a habit to use the ‘fully formal’ variants rather than the informal. (Which is why we mark it as a hint and not a mistake.)
In the case of たら, there’s no informal way to state what たら states, that’s why its unchanged.
Hope this helps!
Got questions about Verb[volitional] + としたが? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!
Join the Discussion