JLPT N2 Grammar
· Upper Intermediate
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· Upper Intermediate
About to; is trying to; on the verge of
Category: Time & Sequence
The grammar pattern "V-意向形 + としている" is used to indicate that an action is about to happen or someone is making an effort for an action to start. It often conveys a sense of anticipation or expectation, and can be used for natural phenomena or formal descriptions. This pattern is particularly useful for describing situations where an action is imminent or in progress. The volitional form of the verb is used to emphasize the speaker's intention or effort, and the phrase "としている" adds a sense of uncertainty or possibility. For example, "長い冬が終わり、ようやく春が ______." suggests that spring is about to start after a long winter, implying a sense of anticipation and expectation.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Volitional form (V-ます/えます) | V-ます/えますとしている | 食べますとしている |
| Volitional form (V-ます/えます) with ない | V-ないとしている | 行かないとしている |
| Volitional form (V-ます/えます) with いる | V-いるとしている | 来るとしている |
長い冬が終わり、ようやく春が来るとしている。
Nagai fuyu ga owari, yōyaku haru ga kuru to shite iru.
Spring is about to start after a long winter.
長い冬が終わり (long winter has ended), ようやく (finally), 春が来るとしている (spring is about to start)
決勝戦が今、始まるとしている。
Kesshōsen ga ima, hajimaru to shite iru.
The final match is about to start now.
決勝戦が今 (the final match is now), 始まるとしている (is about to start)
太陽が西の空に沈むとしている。
Taiyō ga nishi no sora ni shimu to shite iru.
The sun is about to set in the western sky.
太陽が西の空に (the sun is in the western sky), 沈むとしている (is about to set)
彼女は明日、試験を受けるとしている。
Kanojo wa ashita, shiken o ukeru to shite iru.
She is about to take the exam tomorrow.
彼女は明日 (she is tomorrow), 試験を受けるとしている (is about to take the exam)
This pattern is often used in formal descriptions or to convey a sense of anticipation or expectation. It can be used for natural phenomena, such as weather or astronomical events, as well as for human actions. The volitional form of the verb emphasizes the speaker's intention or effort, and the phrase "としている" adds a sense of uncertainty or possibility. This pattern is particularly useful for describing situations where an action is imminent or in progress.
The volitional form emphasizes the speaker's intention or effort, while the dictionary form simply states the action.
'You to omou' (thinking of doing) implies a more casual or tentative intention, while "V-意向形 + としている" emphasizes a more formal or certain intention.
This pattern is used to convey a sense of anticipation or expectation, so it should only be used for actions that are imminent or in progress.
Pay attention to the context and the speaker's intention when using this pattern. Make sure to use the correct volitional form and the phrase "としている" to convey the intended meaning. Practice using this pattern in different contexts to improve your understanding and usage.
長い冬が終わり、ようやく春が ______。
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