Shows change/movement A is about to start/end
Used in referring to changes A that aren't based on will/decision of a person (movement of a train, change in seasons, etc.)
1
夜が明けようとしている。
The dawn is breaking.
1
その船は出航しようとしている。
The ship is about to set sail.
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
桜が咲こうとしている (the cherry blossoms are starting to bloom)
Related Expressions
V-ようとする
Where this grammar is found
User notes
火曜
Level: 34
(9 years ago)
（よ）う form has conceptually overlapping categories:
1. presumptive (conjecture: ~ is probable: ~ でしょう);
2. volitional / hortative (shall)
Use in patterns where the meaning similar to English "shall" where there is a future element (probability) involved:
It will probably rain
I shall go, let's go
Shall we go?
To express what you are thinking of doing using the pattern ～（よ）うと思う (e.g. I am thinking of going, I shall/probably go)
To express (where the subject has a will) "to try to ~" using the pattern ～（よ）うとしている (e.g I am trying to write)
To express (where the subject does not have a will) "be about to ~" using the pattern ～（よ）うとしている (The trees are about to be blown over) (see DAJG p. 474)
1. presumptive (conjecture: ~ is probable: ~ でしょう);
2. volitional / hortative (shall)
Use in patterns where the meaning similar to English "shall" where there is a future element (probability) involved:
It will probably rain
I shall go, let's go
Shall we go?
To express what you are thinking of doing using the pattern ～（よ）うと思う (e.g. I am thinking of going, I shall/probably go)
To express (where the subject has a will) "to try to ~" using the pattern ～（よ）うとしている (e.g I am trying to write)
To express (where the subject does not have a will) "be about to ~" using the pattern ～（よ）うとしている (The trees are about to be blown over) (see DAJG p. 474)
1
berndbausch
Level: 1
(12 years ago)
Under normal circumstances requires a subject that has a will (human, animal), such as 寝ようとしていた "I was about to go to sleep". Usage for things is polite (? not sure), ironic or poetic. The cherry blossoms example would fall in the latter category.
0
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