Learn Minna no Nihongo Grammar – Lesson 31
Translated from the Vietnamese original. View the original.
Learn Minna no Nihongo Grammar – Lesson 31
Let’s study N5-level Japanese grammar, lesson by lesson, following the Minna no Nihongo textbook.
What is the volitional form?
The volitional form is the verb form that expresses a wish or an intention.
1. How to make the volitional form (from the dictionary form)
Group 1 verbs: change the ending 「u」 to ō
| Dictionary form | Volitional form |
| 行く(いく) | 行こう |
| 急ぐ(いそぐ) | 急ぐ(いそぐ) |
| 飲む(のむ) | 飲もう |
| 呼ぶ(よぶ) | 呼ぼう |
| 終わる(おわる) | 終わろう |
| 待つ(まつ) | 待とう |
| 会う(あう) | 会おう |
| 話す(はなす) | 話そう |
Group 2 verbs: drop る and add よう
| Dictionary form | Volitional form |
| 食べる(たべる) | 食べよう |
| 始める(はじめる) | 始めよう |
| 出かける(でかける) | 出かけよう |
| 見る(みる) | 見よう |
Group 3 verbs
| Dictionary form | Volitional form |
| する | しよう |
| 来る(くる) | 来よう(こよう) |
2. How the volitional form is used
Essentially the volitional form is the plain (casual) equivalent, as covered in lesson 20, of the 「～ましょう」 form, so it can be used instead of「～ましょう」 when inviting someone to do something with you or offering to help them.
Examples:
（１） ちょっと 休まない？ Shall we take a short break?
…うん、 休もう。 Yes, let us take a break!
（２） 少し 休もうか。 Let us take a short break!
（３） 手伝おうか。 Shall I give you a hand?
「Note」 : in examples 2 and 3, the か at the end of the sentence is not dropped
3. Talking about plans with the volitional form.
V volitional form と思っています。
Meaning: (I/someone) intend to do something / am planning to do something
Usage:: used to tell the listener about a plan or intention.
Examples::
（１） 週 末は デパートで 買い物しよう と思っています。
I am planning to go shopping at the weekend.
（２） 今から 銀行へ 行こう と思っています。
I am planning to go to the bank now.
Note: 「~とおもっています」 is also used for a third person’s intention
彼は 外国で 働こうと 思っています。
He intends to work abroad
4. A pattern for talking about plans in Japanese
| V る V ない |
つもりです。 |
Meaning: to intend to do, or not to do, something
Examples:
来年結婚する つもりです。
I plan to get married next year.
明日からは たばこを 吸わない つもりです。
I intend to stop smoking from tomorrow.
Note: compared with V volitional form とおもっています, V plain form つもりです is more decisive and is used for a clear intention, a firm decision or a major plan in life.
5. Another grammar pattern for plans in Japanese
| V る N+の |
よていです。 |
Meaning: to plan to do something; to have arranged to do something
Usage: : also expresses a plan, but only for events already fixed, which do not depend on the speaker’s own will
Examples:
７月の終わりに ドイツへ 出 張する 予定です。
I am scheduled to go to Germany on business at the end of July.
6. The pattern まだ V ていません
Meaning: have not done ~ yet
Usage: : shows that something has not happened or has not been done yet
Examples:
銀行は まだ 開いていません。
The bank is not open yet.
レポートは もう 書きましたか。
Have you finished writing the report?
…いいえ、 まだ 書いていません。
…Not yet, I have not finished it.
7. How the particle は is used
Meaning: for emphasis
Usage: in place of the particle を
Examples:
もう 昼ご飯を 食べましたか。
Have you had lunch?
昼ご飯は もう 食べましたか。
As for lunch, I have already eaten.