試Time and change
Trying and preparing
Three て form patterns that are easy to confuse: try it and see, do it ahead of time, and it's been done.
The trio
All follow the て form
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ~てみる | try it and see | 食べてみる |
| ~ておく | do it ahead of time, or leave it | 買っておく |
| ~てある | has been done, and is still that way | 書いてある |
~てみる
Try and see what happens
Please try this cake.
I tried talking in Japanese.
In the past, you did actually do it.
May I try this on?
~ておく
Do it now, for later
I'll book a hotel ahead of the trip.
I bought drinks in advance.
Please leave the window open.
It can also mean leave as it is.
I'll let the kids play for now.
With a causative, it can mean “let be”.
I'll read it by tomorrow.
In speech, ~ておく often shrinks to ~とく: 読んどく.
Someone did it, and it shows
~てある vs. ~ている
~てある needs a verb that someone does, like 開ける. ~ている with 開く simply reports how things are.
The window has been opened.
Someone opened it, on purpose.
The window is open.
It just describes the state.
Action or state?
~ておく vs. ~てある
I'll chill the beer ahead of time.
An action you're taking.
The beer's been chilled.
A state that exists now.
Did you actually do it?
~てみた vs. ~ようとした
I tried opening the window.
You opened it, to see what would happen.
I tried to open the window, but it wouldn't open.
Volitional + とする: you made the attempt, and it may never have happened.
Check yourself
Which idea is this?
Your turn
おきます or あります?
I'll study for tomorrow.
~てみた vs. ~ようとした
Did it actually happen?
Say it yourself
Getting ready for guests
Friends are coming tonight. You've already put out the drinks, you'll clean the room beforehand, and you'd like to try a new recipe.
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