〜ように

ように expresses purpose just like ために, but it specializes in outcomes you can't directly control: before ように comes a non-volitional verb (分かる、聞こえる、なる、治る…), a potential form (読める、話せる), or a ない-form. You perform the action in the second clause and hope the state in the first clause comes true on its own: 早く治るように、薬を飲んでいます.

The rule for choosing between the two patterns is compact: if the first clause is something you can actively do → ために (働くために); if it's a state that happens on its own or a ない-form → ように (忘れないように、聞こえるように). Saying ×忘れないために is wrong because "not forgetting" isn't a deliberate action. In addition, ように allows the two clauses to have different subjects: 子供にも分かるように、ゆっくり話します.

Don't confuse it with 〜のように (the simile "like…") — that pattern follows a noun + の, while purpose ように always follows a verb. This pattern also gives rise to two other important N4 structures: ようになる (change in ability or habit) and ようにする (sustained effort) — coming up in the next two lessons.

Examples

• 忘(わす)れないように、ノートに書(か)いておきます。

  I write it down in my notebook so that I don't forget.

• 後(うし)ろの人(ひと)にも聞(き)こえるように、大(おお)きい声(こえ)で話(はな)しました。

  I spoke in a loud voice so that the people in the back could hear too.

• 早(はや)く病気(びょうき)が治(なお)るように、薬(くすり)を飲(の)んでいます。

  I'm taking medicine so that I get over my illness quickly.

Related patterns

• 〜ため（に）
• 〜ようになる
• 〜ようにする
• 〜のように