Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 7: 18/21

う・よう + としたがTried to ~ but ~, Was about to ~ but ~, Was going to ~ but ~

けど、けれど、けども、けれども are all acceptable.

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

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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.

Examples

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    兎(うさぎ)の世話(せわ)をしようとしたが逃(に)げられた。

    I was going to take care of the rabbit but it ran away.

    彼(かれ)は徹夜(てつや)しようとしたけれど寝(ね)てしまった。

    He tried to pull an all-nighter, but fell asleep.

    説得(せっとく)しようとしたが、失敗(しっぱい)した。

    I tried to persuade him, but I failed.

    お弁当(べんとう)を食(た)べようとしたが、箸(はし)が入(はい)っていなかった。

    I was about to eat my bento, but there were no chopsticks inside.

    私(わたし)は彼女(かのじょ)の手伝(てつだ)いをしようとしたが、断(ことわ)られた。

    I tried to offer my help, but was rejected.

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Verb[volitional] + としたが – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

  • seanblue

    seanblue

  • Johnathan-Weir

    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

    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!

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