Depends / without / instead / for / so that
Linkers that do the job of an English preposition or 'so that': depends on X, without doing X, instead of X, in order to / for X, so that (not) X.
-ni yoru
polite -ni yorimasuit depends on
による によります
Noun + ni yoru: the answer depends on X; the all-purpose hedge when yes or no would be too strong ('hito ni yoru', 'toki ni yoru').
sore wa hito ni yoru ne.
That depends on the person.
それは人によるね。
sore wa hito ni yorimasu ne.
That depends on the person.
それは人によりますね。
Mid-sentence it becomes ni yotte: 'hito ni yotte chigau' = varies by person. 'X ni yoru to' = 'according to X' ('yohou ni yoru to, ame da tte').
-naide
without doing; instead of
ないで
-nai form + de: you do the main action without doing X, or instead of X ('nenaide benkyou shita').
asagohan tabenaide kita.
I came without eating breakfast.
朝ごはん食べないで来た。
asagohan o tabenaide kimashita.
I came without having breakfast.
朝ごはんを食べないで来ました。
For a negative reason use -nakute ('wakaranakute komatta'), not -naide. At the end of a sentence it's a request: 'ikanaide' = 'don't go'.
Learn first: -nai
-kawari ni
instead (of); in return (for)
代わりに かわりに
Puts one thing in place of another: noun + no kawari ni = 'instead of X' (koohii no kawari ni ocha), plain verb + kawari ni = 'instead of doing' or 'in return for doing' (oshiete kureru kawari ni, ogoru yo = teach me and I'll buy you dinner). At the start of a sentence sono kawari (no ni) sets a condition, 'but in return' (ii yo. sono kawari, ashita tetsudatte ne), or balances a downside, 'to make up for it' (takai kedo, sono kawari oishii).
watashi no kawari ni itte kureru?
Can you go in my place?
私の代わりに行ってくれる？
watashi no kawari ni itte kuremasen ka?
Could you go in my place?
私の代わりに行ってくれませんか？
Same sound as kawaru 'change' (kawaru) and its noun kawari (kawari nai? = how've you been?), but this kawari comes from the other kawaru, 'take someone's place' (kawarou ka? = want me to take over?). Said alone, kawari ni = 'instead' (kawari ni yattoku yo = I'll do it instead); kawari alone = a replacement (kawari ga inai). okawari = seconds / a refill. Even in polite speech the verb before it stays plain: iku kawari ni denwa shimashita, not ikimasu kawari ni.
-tame ni
in order to; for
ために
Plain verb + tame ni = in order to; noun + no tame ni = for X's sake ('kenkou no tame ni'). The 'because of' reading is news/written; in chat use de or kara.
ryokou suru tame ni, chokin shiteru.
I'm saving up to travel.
旅行するために、貯金してる。
ryokou suru tame ni, chokin shitemasu.
I'm saving up so I can travel.
旅行するために、貯金してます。
Tame ni needs an action you choose to do; with potentials, -nai forms and verbs you don't control (maniau, wakaru), use -you ni instead ('mieru you ni', 'maniau you ni', 'wasurenai you ni').
Learn alongside: -you ni
-you ni
so that; so as not to
ように
Plain verb + you ni gives a purpose you can't directly control: after potentials (hanaseru you ni), non-volitional verbs like kikoeru and maniau, or when the purpose is someone else's state (minna ga wakaru you ni), where tame ni doesn't fit; after -nai forms it's the everyday choice (wasurenai you ni). The polite form goes on the main verb.
wasurenai you ni kaitoku ne.
I'll write it down so I don't forget.
忘れないように書いとくね。
wasurenai you ni kaite okimasu ne.
I'll write it down so I don't forget.
忘れないように書いておきますね。
At the end of a sentence it's a reminder or wish: 'kaze hikanai you ni ne' = 'don't catch a cold, OK?'; polite: 'kaze o hikanai you ni ki o tsukete kudasai ne'. As a set wish it keeps -masu even with friends: 'umaku ikimasu you ni' = 'here's hoping it goes well'. A different you ni: 'mae mo itta you ni' = 'like I said before'.
Learn alongside: -tame niLearn first: -nai, -eru / -rareru, -tame ni