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N3

ようとしたが

Tried to ~ but ~, Was about to ~ but ~, Was going to ~ but ~

池いけで泳およごうとしたら、警察けいさつに止とめられた。

I was stopped by the police when I was about to swim in the lake.

Explanation

「〜ようとしたが」 means 'I tried to ..., but ...'. You were just about to act, but something got in the way and it did not happen: 「彼に電話しようとしたが、携帯の電池が切れた」 (I was about to call him, but my phone died). It carries regret.

Mixed up with

Unlike 「〜つもりだったが」: 「〜ようとしたが」 is blocked at the very moment of starting; 「〜つもりだったが」 means you had a plan but changed your mind.

The second half says why it didn't happen: something got in the way, or you stopped yourself (〜ようとしたが、やめた).

Examples

  1. 彼かれは徹夜てつやしようとしたけれど寝ねてしまった。

    He tried to pull an all-nighter, but fell asleep.

  2. 説得せっとくしようとしたが、失敗しっぱいした。

    I tried to persuade him, but I failed.

  3. 兎うさぎの世話せわをしようとしたが逃にげられた。

    I was going to take care of the rabbit but it ran away.

Tested 2 times in past papers

N3 · Jul 2015, Q40N2 · Jul 2014, Q37