Learning objectives
- Lesson goals: Learn you to shiteiru for moments when something is about to happen or someone is trying to do something.
- Form and connection: [Verb volitional form（〜よう/〜おう）] としている
- Nuance in real use: ようとしている captures the delicate moment of "about to but not yet" — Japanese has rich grammar for transitions and changes, reflecting sensitivity to timing and states of flux.
Form and connection
Core Explanation
Learn you to shiteiru for moments when something is about to happen or someone is trying to do something.
Cultural Note
Practical examples
Common pitfalls
Build the base form before adding the pattern
Complete the required conjugation first. Do not keep polite and plain endings at the same time.
Match politeness to the situation
The examples are reliable starting points; relationships and context can still change the most natural wording.
Practice and answers
Show answer
[Verb volitional form（〜よう/〜おう）] としているShow answer
The sun is about to set.Show answer
時代じだいが大おおきく変かわろうとしている。 ([Verb volitional form（〜よう/〜おう）] としている)Continue learning
～Tokoro Datta: Almost Did
Learn tokoro datta for situations that almost happened but didn't. Often paired with "mou sukoshi de." This lesson combines form, context, examples, common mistakes, and practice so you can use the pattern in real communication.
～ka ~nai ka no Uchi ni: No Sooner Than
Learn this pattern for two actions happening almost simultaneously — "no sooner had X happened than Y." This lesson combines form, context, examples, common mistakes, and practice so you can use the pattern in real communication.
Complete Guide to Plain Forms: Linking Ideas, Quotations, and Judgments
Learn the plain forms of nouns, adjectives, and verbs and use them to modify nouns, quote speech, express time and reasons, state plans, make judgments, and build indirect questions.