Activities: "The volitional form in Japanese"
Activity 1: Form the volitional
Let’s begin with reviewing how to express our volition in Japanese! Read each situation and use the given verb/verb phrase to form a short sentence. Don’t forget to change the shape of the verb if necessary!
Part I
Let’s use the volitional form of verbs in the following sentences!
You are a student studying at a Japanese language school in Tokyo. One day, you decide you need a vacation and take off to a hot spring town. Next morning, you wake up refreshed after a good night's sleep at a small Japanese-style inn and tell yourself what to do first.
Verb: お風呂に入ってくる[ofuro ni haitte kuru](to go to take a bath)
朝ごはんのまえにお風呂に入って。
Asagohan no mae ni ofuro ni haitte ___.
Before breakfast, I’ll go to take a bath.In the lobby, the friendly front desk staff asks you what you are up to today. You tell them what you are thinking.
Verb: 登る[noboru](to climb)
近くの山にと思っています。
Chikaku no yama ni ___ to omotte imasu.
I think I’ll climb the mountain nearby.You are at the mountain top. The view is spectacular! You are, however, tired. You wonder aloud whether to take the aerial tram called ロープウエー[rōpu’uēi] to descend the mountain.
Verb: 降りる[oriru](to descend)
ロープウエーでか。
Rōpu’uē de ___ ka.
I guess I’ll take the aerial tram to descend.Before dinner, you try to call some of your friends but no one answers the phone. Disappointed, you write about it in your journal.
Verb: 電話する[denwa suru](to call (on the phone))
友だちにとしたが、だれも出なかった。
Tomodachi ni ___ to shita ga, dare mo denakatta.
I tried to call my friends but no one answered.
Part II
Now let’s practice expressing our volition without the volitional form. Your hot spring adventure continues…
At dinner in the dining hall, you start chatting with a group of friendly fellow guests. One of them asks you how many more nights you are staying at the inn. You have already decided to move to another hot spring town tomorrow and have no intention to change the plan. Let’s tell them about your decision in a concise manner!
Verb: 移る[utsuru](to move; relocate)
あした、別の温泉町に。
Ashita betsu no onsen machi ni ___.
I’ll relocate to another hot spring town tomorrow.After dinner, one of your friends calls you and asks you when you are coming back to Tokyo. You tell them you don’t intend to return until next Wednesday.
Verb: 戻る[modoru](to return)
来週の水曜日までつもり。
Raishū no suiyōbi made ___ tsumori.
I intend not to return until next Wednesday.When your friend hears your intention, they tell you that your kind landlord (大家さん[ōyasan]) is worried about your whereabouts. Feeling guilty, you decide to send your landlord an email to let them know where you are and tell your decision to your friend.
Verb: 知らせる[shiraseru](to inform; let (someone) know)
メールで大家さんににするよ。
Mēru de ōyasan ni ___ ni suru yo.
I’ll let my landlord know (where I am) via email.
Activity 2: Pick the correct form
Read each sentence and choose the correct answer.
Context: The speaker is talking to themselves.
わあ、いい天気！今日は１日中外で（ 遊ぶ・遊ぼう ）。
Wā, ii tenki! Kyō wa ichinichijū soto de (asobu / asobō).
Wow, nice weather! I’m going to play outside all day today.Context: The speaker is writing in their diary.
１月１日：今日から日記を（ つけよう・つける ）と思う。
Ichigatsu tsuitachi: Kyō kara nikki o (tsukeyō / tsukeru) to omou.
January 1st: I think I’ll keep a diary starting today.Context: The speaker is talking to their coworkers.
社長の命令で、今夜から大阪に出張する ( つもり・予定 ) です。
Shachō no meirei de, kon’ya kara Ōsaka ni shutchō suru (tsumori / yotei) desu.
I’ll leave for Osaka tonight on a business trip by order of our company president.Context: The speaker is talking to their friends.
田中さんは来年結婚しようと（ 思う・思っている ）そうだよ。
Tanaka san wa rainen kekkon shiyō to (omou / omotte iru) sō da yo.
I’ve heard that Mr. Tanaka thinks he will get married next year.Context: The speaker's coworker has asked if they have weekend plans.
ええ、友達とスキーに行く（ ことにします・ことにしました )。
Ē, tomodachi to sukii ni iku (koto ni shimasu / koto ni shimashita).
Yes, I’ve decided to go skiing with my friends.Context: The speaker's classmate has asked about their post-grad plans.
いや、留学しようかと（ 思う・思っている ）んだ。
Iya, ryūgaku shiyō ka to (omou / omotte iru) n da.
No, I think maybe I’ll go study abroad.Context: The speaker's roommate has informed them that it's raining outside.
え、ほんと？じゃあ、かさを持って行く（ つもりだ・ことにする ）よ。
E, honto? Jā, kasa o motte iku (tsumori da / koto ni suru) yo.
Oh, really? Well then, I’ll take my umbrella with me.Context: The speaker is talking to their former professor.
先生、同窓会へは（ いらっしゃいます・いらっしゃるつもりです ）か。
Sensei, dōsōkai e wa (irasshaimasu / irassharu tsumori desu) ka.
Professor, are you coming to our class reunion?
Activity 3: Form sentences
Answer the following questions. The translation is not given, but key words are provided. The correct answer varies, depending on what’s in your mind!!
今日はこれから何をするつもりですか。
Kyō wa kore kara nani o suru tsumori desu ka.
Key words: 今日[kyō](today), これから[kore kara](after this (lit. "from now"))
あしたの朝は何時に起きようと思っていますか。
Ashita no asa wa nan ji ni okiyō to omotte imasu ka.
Key words: あしたの朝[ashita no asa](tomorrow morning), 何時[nanji](what time), 起きる[okiru](to get up)
今週末、買い物に行きますか。
Konshūmatsu, kaimono ni ikimasu ka.
if yes:何を買うつもりですか。
Nani o kau tsumori desu ka.
if no:今週末は何をしますか。
Konshūmatsu wa nani o shimasu ka.
Key words: 今週末[konshūmatsu](this weekend), 買い物[kaimono](shopping), 買う[kau](to buy)
Yes:
No:
今年どこかへ旅行に行く予定ですか。
Kotoshi dokoka e ryokō ni iku yotei desu ka.
if yes:どこへ行くつもりですか。
Doko e iku tsumori desu ka.
if no:お金と時間があれば、どこへ行こうと思いますか。
Okane to jikan ga areba, doko e ikō to omoimasu ka.
Key words: 今年[kotoshi](this year), どこか[dokoka](somewhere), 旅行に行く[ryokō ni iku](to travel; to take a trip), お金と時間があれば[okane to jikan ga areba](if you have money and time)
Yes:
No:
