JLPT N4 Plans, intention, and change
The volitional form and ようと思う voice intentions, while 予定だ states a fixed schedule. ようになる describes a change in ability or habit and ようにする a conscious effort, and くする・にする make something change. Learners often use ようになる when they mean ようにする, losing the sense of deliberate effort.
8 N4 grammar points in this group
意向形 (ikou-kei): the volitional form; let’s do
The volitional form has two core meanings, and which one you get depends on who is being addressed.
一緒に帰ろう。 — Let’s go home together.
ようと思う (you to omou): be thinking of doing
Use ようと思う when you want to express be thinking of doing in a Japanese sentence.
週末に映画を見ようと思います。 — I am thinking of watching a movie this weekend.
予定だ (yotei da): be scheduled to; plan to
Use 予定だ when you want to express be scheduled to; plan to in a Japanese sentence.
来週、日本へ行く予定です。 — I am scheduled to go to Japan next week.
ぜひ (zehi): definitely; by all means
Use ぜひ when you want to express definitely; by all means in a Japanese sentence.
ぜひ日本に来てください。 — Please come to Japan by all means.
ようにする (you ni suru): make sure to; try to
Use ようにする when you want to express make sure to; try to in a Japanese sentence.
毎日日本語を聞くようにしています。 — I make sure to listen to Japanese every day.
ようになる (you ni naru): come to be able to; start to
Use ようになる when you want to express come to be able to; start to in a Japanese sentence.
日本語が少し話せるようになりました。 — I became able to speak a little Japanese.
くする (ku suru): make something become
The pattern is [thing] を [い-adjective く] する. The thing you change is the object, marked with を, and the adjective describes the new state.
すみません、テレビの音を小さくしてください。 — Excuse me, could you turn down the TV, please?
にする (ni suru): make something become
Use にする when you want to express the idea of “to make something into; make it” in natural Japanese.
部屋をきれいにしました。 — I made the room clean.
More JLPT N4 grammar groups
- Conditionals and decisions (11)
- Giving, receiving, requests, and keigo (15)
- Passive, causative, and permission (12)
- Te-form helpers for real conversation (15)
- Time, timing, and sequence (17)
- Soft examples, lists, and limits (13)
- Hearsay, appearance, and feelings (17)
- Guessing, certainty, and wondering (11)
- Nominalizers, quoting, and comparison (14)