Breakdown of benkyou no houhou wo dankaigoto ni kaeemasu.
をwo
direct object particle
のno
possessive case particle
勉強benkyou
study
変えるkaeru
to change
方法houhou
method
段階ごと にdankaigoto ni
at each stage
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Questions & Answers about benkyou no houhou wo dankaigoto ni kaeemasu.
Why is the particle の used between 勉強 and 方法?
The particle の is acting like the English “of” here, linking two nouns. 勉強の方法 literally means “the method of studying,” or more naturally in English, “study method.” It shows that 方法 (method) belongs to or is related to 勉強 (studying).
What role does the particle を play with 方法?
The particle を marks 方法 as the direct object of the verb 変えます (change). It tells us what is being changed: “(I) change the study method.” In a transitive sentence like this, を always follows the noun that receives the action of the verb.
What does 段階ごとに mean, and how is it used?
段階ごとに means “at each stage” or “in stages.” 段階 is “stage/step,” and ごと means “each/every.” Adding に turns 段階ごと into an adverbial phrase, so 段階ごとに変えます means “change (it) at each stage.” It describes how or when you change the method.
Why is there a に after 段階ごと?
Attaching に to ～ごと makes the phrase adverbial. Without に, 段階ごと would just be a noun phrase (“each stage”). ～ごとに (for example, 一時間ごとに, “every hour”) tells you the frequency or pattern of the action.
Why is the verb in the polite present form 変えます instead of 変える?
変えます is the polite (masu) form of 変える, used to sound more formal or polite, which is common in written instructions, presentations, or when speaking to someone you don’t know well. 変える is the dictionary/plain form, which you’d use with friends or in casual writing.
Could you reorder the sentence? For example, is 段階ごとに勉強の方法を変えます acceptable?
Yes—Japanese word order is relatively flexible as long as you keep the particles with their nouns or phrases. 段階ごとに勉強の方法を変えます has the same meaning; you’re just placing the adverbial phrase 段階ごとに at the front for emphasis or flow.
Why do we use the transitive verb 変える instead of the intransitive 変わる here?
変える (to change something) is transitive—it requires a direct object (方法を). You’re actively changing the study method. 変わる (to change/ to be changed) is intransitive and would suggest that the method changes on its own or by itself, without an explicit agent. Since you’re the one doing the changing, you need 変える.