ようにso that; told to; I hope
ように points at a result you want but can't simply decide on. So you do something that helps ("so that"), tell someone to see to it, or wish for it.
so that
I practice a little every day so that I can read kanji.
told to
My doctor told me to walk for thirty minutes every day.
So that
Verb (dictionary form or ない-form) + ように + what you do
Mostly a potential form or a negative: 読めるように, 忘れないように.
Telling, asking
Verb (dictionary form or ない-form) + ように + 言う／頼む
来るように言う, 来ないように言う.
Wishing
Verb in the ます-form + ように。
晴れますように, 降りませんように.
So that
The result you want comes first, then what you do about it.
I set two alarm clocks so that I wouldn't oversleep.
I'll print it larger so that everyone can read it.
The teacher explained it in simple words so that the international students could follow it too.
ないように気をつける is "be careful not to".
Take care not to catch a cold.
ために or ように?
Both say what an action is for. ために goes with something you decide to do. ように goes with a result you can't simply decide on: being able to, something not happening, what another person or a thing does.
I'm saving up to go to Japan.
Going is something you decide.
Not said: 日本へ
(I'm saving up to go to Japan.)
ように doesn't fit your own decision.
I'm saving up so that I can go to Japan.
Being able to go is a result.
I speak loudly so that the people at the back can hear too.
What other people hear is a result.
Not said: 後ろの
(I speak loudly so that the people at the back can hear too.)
ために doesn't fit: you can't decide what they hear.
I take notes so that I won't forget.
A negative usually takes ように.
I take notes so as not to forget.
Also said: not forgetting is your goal.
Passing an exam can be your goal too: 合格するために. With ように it is 合格できるように.
Telling or asking someone to
The person told takes に. The request goes before ように as a dictionary form or a ない-form, never as てください.
I asked Tanaka to close the window.
Reporting it afterward.
The last verb says how it was put: 言う (tell), 頼む (ask), 伝える (pass on). With 言われる (be told), に marks who said it.
My mother told my little brother to call when he got home.
The teacher told the students not to use dictionaries during the exam.
Please tell him to call when he gets back.
"Ask" here is 頼む, asking a favor. 聞く only asks a question.
Not said: 田中さんに
(I asked Tanaka to close the window.)
閉めるように頼みました.
Wishing: ますように
A sentence that ends in ますように is a wish for something out of your hands. You'll see it at shrines and in New Year cards.
I hope it's sunny tomorrow.
I hope you get well soon.
I hope it doesn't rain.
Before 祈る (pray), the wish is in the plain form.
At the shrine, I prayed that my daughter would get over her illness.
Close neighbours
"Like" or "as": 子どものように, 言ったように.
He walked silently, like a cat.
ためにN4
"In order to", for something you decide to do.
I study Japanese every day in order to study abroad.
なる: a change that has come about. する: making a point of it.
Once I made a point of walking every day, I started sleeping well.
と言うN4
Gives the words that were said. ように言う gives only what was wanted.
Kenta said, "I'll call later."
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
車を
Choose an answer to see why.
2The teacher said this to the students. Which sentence reports it?
「静かに
Choose an answer to see why.
3What does this mean?
いい
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
Stopping at ように
A teacher or a notice can stop at a plain verb and ように: an instruction.
Don't be late tomorrow.
On the train
Please take care not to leave anything behind.
In announcements and writing the に often drops.
More sentences
We turned the microphone up so that people at the back of the hall could hear too.
I wrote the main points up in my notebook so that I wouldn't forget them.
Let's move the chairs so that everyone can see the screen.
The teacher told the students to submit their essays by tomorrow.
I asked the receptionist to change the reservation.
The children were told by their teacher not to run in the hallway.
My mother prayed that I would pass the exam.
I'm praying that the typhoon doesn't come near this town.