Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 10: 1/18

様(よう)に
so that, in order to, in such a way that

Structure
Verb[る](1) + ように + Phrase
Verb[できる](2) + ように + Phrase

(1) Verb[ない]
(2) Verb[できる][ない]
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
When partnered with verbs in the potential form, or in the negative form, the 助動詞(じょどうし) (auxiliary verb) ようだ (in its adverbial form ように) implies that the speaker has a lack of direct control over an outcome, and therefore is ‘trying to do (B) in the manner of (A)’, but cannot guarantee the result. This grammar point is usually translated as ‘to do (A) in such a way that will enable (B)’, or ‘in order to allow (B)’.
To use ように in this way, simply add it to the non-past form of any verb in its negative, or potential conjugation.
  • お母(かあ)さんから離(はな)れないように手(て)つな
    I hold my mothers hands so that I won’t get separated from her.
  • 泥棒(どろぼう)入(はい)ないように家(いえ)カギ閉(し)め
    I lock my house, so that burglars can't come in.
  • マイケルジャクソンみたい踊(おど)れるように毎日(まいにち)ダンス練習(れんしゅう)する
    I practice dancing everyday, so that I can dance like Michael Jackson.
  • 日本語(にほんご)ペラペラ話(はな)せるように毎日(まいにち)近所(きんじょ)人(ひと)日本語(にほんご)話(はなし)ている
    I speak Japanese with my neighbor everyday, so that I can speak Japanese fluently.
As mentioned in our lesson about potential verbs, する does not actually have a potential form, and therefore できる will be used instead.
  • 勉強(べんきょう)できように机(つくえ)上(うえ)掃除(そうじ)した
    I tidied up my desk so that I could study.
  • 平日(へいじつ)スキー出来(でき)ように仕事(しごと)休(やす)んだ
    I took the day off of work, in order to be able to ski on a weekday.
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例(たと)えば風邪(かぜ)を引(ひ)かないように暖(あたた)かい服装(ふくそう)する
For example, I wear warm clothes so that I won't catch a cold.
目(め)悪(わる)いので、字幕(じまく)見(み)えるように椅子(いす)テレビ近(ちか)づけた。
Because I have bad eyes, I moved the chair closer to the TV so that I can see the subtitles.
子供(こども)ナイフなど近(ちか)づかないようにキッチンキャビネット閉(し)める必要(ひつよう)がある
It is necessary to close the kitchen cabinets so that children won't get near knives and the like.
Books
Tobira
Page 91
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 553
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 170
Minna no Nihongo II Main Textbook (beginner)
Chapter 36 Page 91
Minna no Nihongo English Translation and Grammatical Notes
Chapter 36 Page 68