JLPT N4 Grammar
· Elementary
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· Elementary
want someone to do something
Category: Expressions
The grammar pattern ～てほしい expresses a desire for someone else to perform an action. This pattern is often used in polite or formal situations, and it emphasizes the speaker's expectation or request for the action to be taken by the person marked with the particle 'ni'. The nuance of this pattern is to convey a sense of politeness and respect towards the person being asked to perform the action.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Volitional form of the verb (～たい form, but with a different nuance) | Verb + に + てほしい | 話を聞いてほしい (I want you to listen to my story) |
| Potential form of the verb (～られる form) | Verb + ことができる + に + てほしい | 野菜を食べられるようにしてほしい (I want you to be able to eat vegetables) |
| Passive form of the verb (～られる form) | Verb + させる + に + てほしい | 野菜を食べさせてほしい (I want you to feed me vegetables) |
あなたに私の話を聞いてほしい
anata ni watashi no hanashi o kikite hoshii
I want you to listen to my story
あなた (you) + に (particle marking the person) + 私の話 (my story) + を (object marker) + 聞いて (listen to) + ほしい (want)
お母さんに野菜を食べてほしい
okasan ni yasai o tabete hoshii
I want you to eat vegetables, mom
お母さん (mom) + に (particle marking the person) + 野菜 (vegetables) + を (object marker) + 食べて (eat) + ほしい (want)
雨が降ってほしくないです
ame ga futte hoshikunai desu
I don't want it to rain
雨が (rain) + 降って (rain) + ほしくない (don't want) + です (polite ending)
The ～てほしい pattern is used to express a desire for someone else to perform an action, and it is often used in polite or formal situations. It is not suitable for expressing a desire to do something oneself, as that would be expressed with the ～たい pattern. Additionally, this pattern is not used with people of higher status, as that would be expressed with the ～て itadakitai pattern.
The ～たい pattern is used to express a desire to do something oneself, whereas the ～てほしい pattern is used to express a desire for someone else to perform an action.
The particle 'ni' is used to mark the person being asked to perform the action, whereas the particle 'o' is used to mark the object of the action.
The ～てほしい pattern is not suitable for expressing a desire for someone of higher status to perform an action, as that would be expressed with the ～て itadakitai pattern.
When taking the JLPT N4 exam, be careful to use the ～てほしい pattern correctly to express a desire for someone else to perform an action. Make sure to use the particle 'ni' to mark the person being asked to perform the action, and avoid using the ～たい pattern or the ～て itadakitai pattern in this context.
あなたに私の話を聞いて______。
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