Difference in meaning between ようとする and ようにする？Meaning of のか in this question?


> 鈴木はその場で目をつぶり、気を _______ のか、ゆっくりと大きく息をついた。

1 静めようとした

2 静めようとしている *

3 静めるようにしている

4 静めるようにした

1) I'm very confused about ようとする and ようにする. I do understand they have
different nuance in meaning, but I still can't differentiate them, for example
in the above question.

2) What is the meaning of "のか" in this question?

3) Why do they choose the ている form? I thought it was an event in the past,
because of the ついた at the end.

Thank you.




> 1) I'm very confused about ようとする and ようにする. I do understand they have
> different nuance in meaning, but I still can't differentiate them, for
> example in the above question.

よう in (静め)ようとする is the [volitional auxiliary
よう](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/226119/meaning/m0u/%E3%82%88%E3%81%86/).  
It attaches to the imperfective form (未然形) of a verb. (「静め」 is 未然形)

ように in (静める)ようにする is the 連用形 of the [比況/例示 auxiliary
ようだ(様だ)](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/226613/meaning/m0u/%E3%82%88%E3%81%86%E3%81%A0/).  
It attaches to the attributive form (連体形) of a verb. (「静める」 is 連体形)

Basically, ～ようとする means "try to do~~", and ～ようにする means "make sure that~~".
For example:

> 宿題を **しようとしました** 。I tried to do my homework.  
>  毎日宿題を **するようにしました** 。I made sure that I do my homework every day.

For more examples, please see this thread: [Understand the difference between
[dictionary/ない ＋ ようとする] and [volitional ＋
にする]](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/33068/9831)

> 2) What is the meaning of "のか" in this question?

It means "as if". 「気を静めようとしているのか、」"as if trying to calm down,"  
(The の is a nominalizer and the か is a question particle.)

> 3) Why do they choose the ている form? I thought it was an event in the past,
> because of the ついた at the end.

The tense of a Japanese verb is relative to the time when the main action
takes place. Here, the main action is ついた at the end, and it's the past tense
form, but regardless of the tense of the main verb you use している, not していた,
since ようとしている occurred at the same time as ついた, not before ついた.




> 1) I'm very confused about ようとする and ようにする. I do understand they have
> different nuance in meaning, but I still can't differentiate them, for
> example in the above question.

よう in (静め)ようとする is the [volitional auxiliary
よう](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/226119/meaning/m0u/%E3%82%88%E3%81%86/).  
It attaches to the imperfective form (未然形) of a verb. (「静め」 is 未然形)

ように in (静める)ようにする is the 連用形 of the [比況/例示 auxiliary
ようだ(様だ)](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/226613/meaning/m0u/%E3%82%88%E3%81%86%E3%81%A0/).  
It attaches to the attributive form (連体形) of a verb. (「静める」 is 連体形)

Basically, ～ようとする means "try to do~~", and ～ようにする means "make sure that~~".
For example:

> 宿題を **しようとしました** 。I tried to do my homework.  
>  毎日宿題を **するようにしました** 。I made sure that I do my homework every day.

For more examples, please see this thread: [Understand the difference between
[dictionary/ない ＋ ようとする] and [volitional ＋
にする]](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/33068/9831)

> 2) What is the meaning of "のか" in this question?

It means "as if". 「気を静めようとしているのか、」"as if trying to calm down,"  
(The の is a nominalizer and the か is a question particle.)

> 3) Why do they choose the ている form? I thought it was an event in the past,
> because of the ついた at the end.

The tense of a Japanese verb is relative to the time when the main action
takes place. Here, the main action is ついた at the end, and it's the past tense
form, but regardless of the tense of the main verb you use している, not していた,
since ようとしている occurred at the same time as ついた, not before ついた.

