Posted inN4 Grammar

Mastering the Volitional Form (意向形): Expressing Your Will and Making Suggestions

Posted inN4 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Expressing the speaker’s will or intention to do something, or making a suggestion/invitation to the listener.

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate personal resolution (“I will…”) or to propose an action to someone else (“Let’s…”, “Shall we…?”).

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb (plain form) -> Volitional Form (意向形) Group 1 Verbs (五段動詞): Change the final character from the いるound (い, ち, り, き, ぎ, び, み, に) to the お-sound in the same row and add う. 食べる (たべる) -> 食べよう (たべよう) 飲む (のむ) -> 飲もう (のもう) 行く (いく) -> 行こう (いこう) – Exception: 行く becomes 行こう Group 2 Verbs (一段動詞): Drop the final る and add よう. 食べる (たべる) -> 食べよう (たべよう) 見る (みる) -> 見よう (みよう) 起きる (おきる) -> 起きよう (おきよう) Group 3 Verbs (変格動詞): する -> しよう (しよう) くる -> こよう (こよう)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

In more formal contexts, the ます form equivalent (ましょう) is preferred for suggestions/invitations. The plain volitional form is less common for direct address but can appear in statements about one’s own firm resolve.

😊 Informal Situations

Widely used among friends and family to express personal intentions or suggest activities together.

✍️ Written Language

Used in written dialogue or informal writing like emails or personal notes.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Very frequently used in everyday conversation.

💡 Common Applications

Expressing personal intention
Stating what the speaker intends to do.
Example: 明日、早く起きようと思っています。(Ashita, hayaku okiyou to omotte imasu.) – I intend to wake up early tomorrow.
Making a suggestion or invitation
Proposing an action for the speaker and listener(s) to do together.
Example: 一緒にご飯を食べに行こう！(Issho ni gohan o tabe ni ikou!) – Let’s go eat together!
Trying/Attempting something (often with とする)
Expressing an attempt or effort to do something (though the direct volitional form itself means “let’s try”). The structure “~う/ようとする” specifically means “try to do”.
Example: 頑張って日本語を勉強しよう。(Ganbatte Nihongo o benkyou shiyou.) – Let’s try hard to study Japanese.
📊
Frequency
Very frequent in spoken Japanese, especially in informal settings.
🎚️
Difficulty
Relatively easy to understand the basic concept (N5/N4 transition), but mastering the nuances and conjugation rules requires N4-level practice.
Example Sentences
今週末、映画を見に行こうよ！
Let’s go see a movie this weekend!
疲れたから、もう寝ようと思います。
Because I’m tired, I think I’ll go to bed now.
明日は図書館で勉強しよう。
Let’s study at the library tomorrow.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Used with と思います/と思っています to express personal intention.
Adding と思います (present thought) or と思っています (ongoing intention/plan) after the volitional form is a very common way to express your own will or decision.
Example: 日本語をもっと勉強しようと思っています。(Nihongo o motto benkyou shiyou to omotte imasu.) – I intend to study Japanese more.
Informal equivalent of ましょう.
The plain volitional form (e.g., 行こう, 食べよう) is the informal version of the polite ます form (e.g., 行きましょう, 食べましょう) when making suggestions or invitations.
Example: 一緒に公園に行こう。(Issho ni kouen ni ikou.) vs. 一緒に公園に行きましょう。(Issho ni kouen ni ikimashou.) – Let’s go to the park together.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Confusing with plain present/future tense.
✅ Use the correct conjugation for the volitional form.
The plain present/future (e.g., 行く, 食べる) describes an action that happens or will happen. The volitional form (e.g., 行こう, 食べよう) expresses the speaker’s intention or a suggestion.
❌ Incorrect conjugation, especially for Group 1 verbs.
✅ Remember the お-sound + う rule for Group 1 verbs.
It’s common to forget to change the vowel sound or add the う correctly (e.g., のむ -> のもう, NOT のも).

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: The plain volitional form is informal. Use ましょう for polite suggestions/invitations.
Social Situations: Appropriate for use with friends, family, or close colleagues. Avoid using the plain form with superiors or in very formal business situations.
Regional Variations: The core conjugation is standard, but regional dialects might have slightly different intonations or particles used alongside (e.g., variations of よ or ね).

🔍 Subtle Differences

意向形 + と思う vs. ~たい
意向形 + と思う expresses a personal decision or thought about doing something. ~たい expresses a desire to do something.
When to use: Use 意向形 + と思う when stating your intention or decision. Use ~たい when expressing a feeling of wanting something.
意向形 + と思う vs. ~つもりだ
意向形 + と思う is a softer expression of intention or a thought about a future action. ~つもりだ indicates a firmer plan or intention.
When to use: Use 意向形 + と思う for less firm plans or when just thinking out loud about what you might do. Use ~つもりだ for definite plans.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

Pay close attention to Group 1 verbs, as their conjugation requires changing the final sound and adding う. Group 2 and 3 are more straightforward (add よう or specific irregular forms).

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The final う in the volitional form creates a long お sound (e.g., 行こう is pronounced ikōō). Practice sustaining the final vowel sound.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of “意向形” as the “Let’s!” or “I Will!” form. Associate Group 1 with the “ō” sound and Group 2/3 with “yō”.

Practice Exercises
Choose the correct volitional form for the verb “話す” (hanasu – to speak).
話しよう
話そう
話すよう
話ましょう
Which sentence uses the volitional form correctly?
週末は家でゲームをする。
週末は家でゲームをしよう。
週末は家でゲームがしたい。
週末は家でゲームをするつもり。
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