～つもり
intend to / plan to
～つもり expresses the speaker's intention or plan. It is made by putting つもりだ／つもりです after the dictionary form of a verb.
For English speakers, it maps closely to “I plan to ...” or “I intend to ...”. It's a decision you have already made, not just a wish.
1. Stating a plan
Use the dictionary form of a verb plus つもりです to say what you have decided to do.
来年日本に行くつもりです。
“I plan to go to Japan next year.”
- 来年（らいねん）= next year
- 日本（にほん）= Japan
- に = direction marker (“to”)
- 行く（いく）= to go
- つもりです = plan to / intend to
2. Stating what you do not plan to do
To say you intend not to do something, put the ない-form of the verb before つもり.
明日は何も買わないつもりです。
“I don't plan to buy anything tomorrow.”
- 明日（あした）= tomorrow
- は = topic marker
- 何も（なにも）= nothing (used with a negative verb)
- 買わない（かわない）= will not buy
- つもりです = intend to
～つもり vs ～たい
～たい (“want to”) only expresses a desire, while ～つもり expresses a decision: 行きたい（いきたい）says you would like to go, but 行くつもりだ（いくつもりだ）says you have actually decided to go.
How to form it
Verb (dictionary form) + つもりだ／つもりです (negative plan: ない-form + つもりだ)
- 行く（いく）= to go → 行くつもりだ（いくつもりだ）= intend to go
- 帰る（かえる）= to go home → 帰るつもりです（かえるつもりです）= plan to go home
- 食べない（たべない）= not eat → 食べないつもりだ（たべないつもりだ）= plan not to eat
Key idea
～つもり announces a decision you have already made: “this is what I mean to do.” If it is still only a hope or a wish, use ～たい instead.
Other N4 grammar
Updated .