Learn N3 Grammar – Week 1 Day 4

Learn N3 Grammar – Week 1 Day 4
A roundup of the most commonly used N3 grammar.
Below is the most commonly used N3 grammar for anyone taking the JLPT

I. Pattern ～ようにする (~you ni suru) = to make an effort to
* Combined with the dictionary form or short negative of a verb, this pattern expresses making an effort to do or not do a continuing or habitual action. Volitional verbs are used in this pattern.

* Often used with adverbs such as 出来るだけ (dekiru dake), 必ず (kanarazu), 絶対に (zettai ni)

* ~ようにしてください (~you ni shite kudasai): used to gently ask or advise someone to try to do V or not to forget to do V. The action V is repeated, not a one-off (for a one-off, use V てください – Vte kudasai).

Examples:
1. 忘れ物をしないようにしましょう (=忘れ物をしない努力をしましょう)
Wasuremono wo shinai you ni shimashou (= wasuremono wo shinai doryoku wo shimashou)
Try not to leave anything behind

2. 毎食後、歯を磨くようにしています.( =歯を磨く努力をしています)
Maishokugo, ha wo migaku you ni shite imasu. (= ha wo migaku doryoku wo shite imasu)
I make a point of brushing my teeth after meals.

* It can also be used for a one-off request when the request is not for now but for the future.

Examples:
明日の朝、8 時に来るようにしてくだ さ い。
Ashita no asa, 8ji ni kuru you ni shite kudasai)
Be here at 8 tomorrow morning!

* Because ~ようにしてください (~you ni shite kudasai) is advice that demands effort, the speaker takes the position of giving instructions. So students should not use it with teachers, nor juniors with their superiors.

II. Pattern V1 ように V2 (V1 you ni V2) = so that, in order to
V1 can be a potential verb, an intransitive verb, or verbs like わかります (wakarimasu), あります (arimasu), なります (narimasu), in the dictionary form or short negative. This pattern expresses a deliberate action to achieve a goal. V1 is the state you want to reach, and V2 is the effort or request made to reach it.

Examples:
1. 皆に聞こえるようにもっと大きな声で話してください。(= 聞こえないと困るから)
Minna ni kikoeru you ni motto ookina koe de hanashite kudasai (=kikoenai to komaru kara)
Please speak louder so that everyone can hear you

2. 忘れないように、手帳に書いておこう。(＝忘れると 困 るから)
Wawure nai you ni, techou ni kaite okou (=wasureru to komaru kara)
So as not to forget, I will write it in my notebook.

* Note: with volitional V1 verbs such as 買う (kau), 働く (hataraku)… we use ~ために
(~tame ni)

III. Pattern V ように なりました (V you ni narimashita)
Used to express a change in the state of a verb: from not being able to V to being able to V.
V is a potential verb, put into the dictionary form.

* If asked ～ように なりましたか。 the answer is:
はい、～ように なりました。（は い , なりました。 is wrong)
or いいえ、まだ ～Ｖません。（いい え, まだ ～ように なりません。 is wrong)

* Verbs that already express change by nature, such as なれます, ふとります, やせま
す… are not used in this structure.

Examples:
1. ここの電気は人が通るとつくようになっています。（＝つく状態になっている）
Koko no denki wa hito ga tooru to tsuku you ni natte imasu.
This light switches itself on whenever someone walks past.