When can one use the sentence ender ぞ? I've only ever heard it anime, so I'm unsure of it's actual usage in the real world. Is it not used that often or limited to specific age/gender groups?
Answer
Borrowing from page 277 of this grammar textbook and the Daijisen entry flamingspinach linked to, ぞ is a (primarily masculine) sentence-ending particle used to
- express strong intent (そうはさせないぞ),
- persuade someone to go along with your action (そろそろ行くぞ), or
- (directed at yourself) indicate your judgment or resolution (うまくいったぞ).
なあ can usually substitute for ぞ in the third category. (This is covered in the same section as ぞ in the abovelinked Google Books preview.) Note that when using ぞ in the second category, ぞ follows the dictionary form of the verb. This is in contrast to ぜ, which often follows the volitional form when the intent is to get someone to participate in an action with you:
行くぞ。 I'm going [and so should you].
行こうぜ。 Let's go. (More emphatic than よ.)
ぞ never follows the polite form, and is only used toward friends and persons of lower status.
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