Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 7: 17/21

う・よう + とするTry to, Attempt to, To be about to

Verb[Volitional]としても(even if someone attempts to) can be contracted to Verb[Volitional] + たって/ったって。

Structure

Verb［おう］ + とする

Details

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About Verb[volitional]とする

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'.

To use おうとする, modify the (A) verb into its う or よう receiving form, and then add とする.

As う and よう mark volition (the express intent to do something), とする adds the nuance that the express intent has been decided, and all that remains is to 'do' the action. This translates quite closely to 'to endeavor to do' in English, where the past form 'endeavored to do' will suggest that the attempt was unsuccessful.

Caution

ようとする is also regularly used to indicate when one action interrupts another. In these cases, the nuance is not quite 'to have endeavored', but more '(A) was already underway, when (B)'. Again, it will just show that the (A) action was decided upon 100%, when something caused an unexpected change.

Antonyms

Related

Examples

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    一度(いちど)に二(ふた)つのことをしようとするな。

    Don't try to do two things at once.

    ひよこは親(おや)のように飛(と)ぼうとしても、できなかった。

    Even though the chick attempted to fly like its parents, it couldn't.

    答(こた)えようとしたのに、隣(となり)の人(ひと)に遮(さえぎ)られた。

    I tried to answer but the person next to me cut me off.

    見(み)ようとしたわけではないのに、見(み)えてしまいました。

    Even though I tried not to look, I inevitably saw it. (It's not like I tried to look)

    私(わたし)は止(と)めようとしたのに、言(い)うことを聞(き)いてくれないんです。

    I attempted to stop him/her, but he/she never listens to me.

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