Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 10: 12/12

つもりだTo plan to, To intend to

Structure

Verb［る］ + つもり + だ
Verb［ない］+ つもり + だ(*)
Verb + つもり + は(1) + ない(**)

(1) が
(*) To intend not to
(**) To have no intention of

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Noun

  • Word Type

    Auxiliary Verb

  • Register

    Standard

  • Rare Kanji

    積もり

About つもりだ

つもりだ (or です) is a grammar point that can have several meanings in Japanese, but is often translated simply as 'intend to (A)', or 'plan to (A)'. It can be used after the plain (dictionary) form of verbs, or after the ない form.

In the last two sentences, there is quite a large difference in nuance, and can be thought of as similar to the difference between 'to intend not to' ないつもり, and 'to have no intention of' つもりはない in English. The former will mean that (A) is being actively avoided, while the latter will indicate that one simply has no plans to (A).

Fun Fact

The literal meaning of つもり comes from the verb 積(つ)もる, which means 'to pile up', or 'to load'. Due to this, つもり is regularly used to describe people that are doing something that is out of character for them, meaning that they have 'piled up' whatever feeling was required to act that way.

  • それは謝(あやま)ってるつもり?
    Is that intended to be an apology? (Do you really think that is an apology?)

In this example, the nuance of つもり is 'so you're really going to act like you're apologizing?!' However, the literal meaning is closer to 'so you've really piled up enough (nerve) in order to act like that's an apology?!'

Caution

The は in つもりはない is interchangeable with が or じゃ (usually では is not used). The difference in nuance is that が gives the impression of being 'uninterested' in (A), while じゃ simply expresses that (A) is not the intended result.

  • 今日(きょう)は先生(せんせい)と話(はな)すつもりがない。
    I don't have any intention to talk to the teacher today.
  • 今日(きょう)は何(なに)も買(か)うつもりじゃない。
    I don't intend on buying anything today.

Examples

--:--

    日本(にほん)に行(い)くつもりだ。

    I intend to go to Japan.

    日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)するつもりだ。

    I intend to study Japanese.

    明日(あした)早(はや)く起(お)きるつもりです。

    I intend to wake up early tomorrow.

    車(くるま)で行(い)くつもりです。

    I intend to go by car.

    スポーツが上手(じょうず)になるつもりだった。

    I intended to become good at sports.

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つもりだ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (17 in total)

  • jugglenutz

    jugglenutz

    When using a -する noun/verb, should するbe included or omitted?
    Ex: 自転車屋を連絡（する？）つもりです

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey @jugglenutz !

    Since this grammar point is used after verbs and ない forms, you do need to include する after する verbs!

    Ex:自転車屋に連絡するつもりです。

    Using つもり right after nouns will make the sentence sound very unnatural.

    Ex:自転車屋に連絡つもりです。(Unnatural)

    I hope this answers your question!

  • jugglenutz

    jugglenutz

    Perfect, thanks so much.

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