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What is the difference?

Volitional + とする has also the meaning of "be about to".

Which cases aren't equivalent?

Example #2 in <https://jlptsensei.com/learn-japanese-
grammar/%E3%82%88%E3%81%86%E3%81%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B-you-to-suru-meaning/>

  * `お風呂に入ろうとしたら、電話が掛かってきた。` => `Just as I was about to take a bath, the phone rang.`

What would be the difference with the alternative using ところ:

  * `お風呂に入るところだったら、電話が掛かってきた。`
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question
grammar
ようとする vs ところ: To be about to
Volitional + とする - shows an interruption of your effort to do an action.
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2022-11-27T23:02:53.567
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answer
First, you need to understand the concepts of `Verb of volition` and `Verbs
without volition`.

In general `Verb of volition` corresponds to transitive verbs and `Verbs
without volition` to intransitive verbs.

`Verbs without volition + ようとしている` mean `to be about to`. A bit formal.

```

    授業が始まろうとしている
    
```

The class is about to start.

Verbs in the `volitional form ＋というところ／ってところ` and `verbs in the dictionary form
+ ところだ` are similar in use and also mean `to be about to` regardless of
volition.

```

    これから友達に説明しに行こうというところです
    
```

I'm about to go to explain it to my friend from now.

```

    これから仕事に行くところだ
    
```

I'm about to go to work from now.

If you attach with the 意向形 associated with expressions like `とき`、`ところ` etc,
They will usually mean `to be about to`

```

    私もちょうど電話をかけようとしていたところに、その友人から電話が来た
    
```

When I was about to call too, a call from my friend came.

But not necessarily:

```

    困っていたところに彼女が救いの手を差し伸べてくれた
    
```

Just when I was troubled, she lent a helping hand.

In other cases, ようとする means `try to`.

It's also worth mentioning that ところ emphasizes the "state" that is being
influenced. Constructions like ようとしていたところに literally mean "(right) in the
moment when I had volition to do X, Y happens".
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answer