Breakdown of atarasii taisaku wo kangaeru tame ni, syatyou to soudansimasita.
をwo
direct object particle
とto
companion particle
新しいatarasii
new
ため にtame ni
for (the sake of)
社長syatyou
president
対策taisaku
measure
考えるkangaeru
to think
相談するsoudansuru
to consult
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Questions & Answers about atarasii taisaku wo kangaeru tame ni, syatyou to soudansimasita.
Why is ために used after 考える?
Because ために attaches to the dictionary form of a verb to indicate purpose, i.e. “in order to do …”. The pattern is:
verb (dictionary form) + ために → “in order to (verb)”.
Here 考えるために means “in order to think up (measures)”.
Why is 考える in the dictionary form, and not 考えた or 考えます?
When you express purpose with ために, you must use the plain (dictionary) form of the verb.
- 考えるために = “in order to think”
If you said 考えたために, it would sound like “because I thought” (a cause, not a purpose).
What is the difference between ために and ための?
- V(dictionary form) + ために = “in order to (verb)”. (marks purpose)
- N + のために = “for the sake of N” or “for N’s benefit”. (also marks purpose but from a noun)
- N + のための + N2 = “N2 for the purpose of N”. (noun modifying noun)
In our sentence we need “in order to think” so we use 考えるために, not 考えるための.
Why is 対策 followed by を?
Because 対策 is the direct object of the verb 考える. You “think up” or “come up with” something, so the thing you think of is marked with を.
Why is 社長 marked with と in 社長と相談しました, instead of に?
The verb 相談する can take the person you consult with either with に or と, but there’s a nuance:
- 社長に相談する emphasizes going to the president as the recipient of your request.
- 社長と相談する emphasizes the back-and-forth “consulting together” with the president.
Both are grammatically correct, but と highlights that it was a mutual discussion.
Why is there no subject like 私は at the beginning?
Japanese often omits the subject when it’s clear from context. Here the speaker (I/we) is understood, so 私は isn’t necessary.
Why is the main verb 相談しました in the past tense, even though it describes a purpose?
Only the main clause is in the past tense. The purpose clause 考えるために remains unchanged. So the full meaning is:
“(I) consulted with the president [past] in order to think of new measures.”
Could we use 相談に乗る instead of 相談する?
No, because 相談に乗る means “to give someone advice” (you are the helper). Here the speaker is the one requesting or seeking advice, so we use 相談する (“to consult”).