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Lesson 31 — 意向形いこうけい· つもり ·予定よてい

BOOK II · 初級 II みんなの日本語 · Mini no Nihongo

L31 · volitional · つもり · 予定

Name Date

REF意向形いこうけい· つもり ·予定よてい

Volitional form (意向形いこうけい)

GroupRuleExample
1 godanu-row → o-row + う
2 ichidanる → よう
3 irreg.—

This is the plain equivalent of ましょう: 行いきましょう →行いこう.

1. Volitional alone — casual "let's"

2. 〜(よ)うと思おもっています — intention

FormNuance
decided just now / on the spot
have been intending for a while

〜と思おもっています can describe a third person's intention; 〜と思おもいます generally cannot.

3. 〜つもりです — firm plan

FormExample
dict + つもり
ない + つもり

Stronger and more settled than 〜ようと思おもっています.

4. 〜予定よていです — scheduled

FormExample
dict +予定よてい
noun + の+予定よてい

予定よてい= fixed on a calendar, often decided by someone else. つもり = your personal resolve.

5. まだ 〜ていません

— haven't decided yet (but intend to).

6. Certainty ladder

fixed schedule
firm personal plan
current intention
desire only

Set expressions会話かいわ

Key vocabulary

引ひっ越こします参加さんかします申もうし込こみます取とります(休やすみを)やめます勤つとめます登のぼります泊とまりますオーロラ結婚式けっこんしき式しき連休れんきゅうずっとしばらく予定よていつもり

詳説 In depth — grammar notes

Making the 意向形いこうけい (volitional)

The volitional is the plain-form twin of ましょう. Build it from the dictionary form.

GroupRuleExampleVolitional
I (godan)final う-row kana → お-row + う
II (ichidan)drop る, add よう
IIIirregular
PolitePlain volitional

The rule is the same vowel shift as the ない-form but with お instead of あ: / . Group II adds よう, not just う — ✕ · ○.

1. Volitional on its own — casual "let's"

JapaneseEnglish
Let's take a break.
Shall we head home soon?
Want me to help?

Plain volitional is casual. To a teacher, a client or anyone you would use です with, say — never .

2. 〜(よ)うと思っています — what I intend to do

Volitional + と思おもっています reports a decision you have already made and are still holding.

JapaneseEnglish
I'm thinking of studying in Japan next year.
I intend to exercise every day.
I'm planning to buy a car.
FormWhat it implies
I decided just now, as I speak
I decided a while ago and still intend it

Only ています works for someone else: ○. You cannot read a third person's mind at the instant of deciding, so ✕ in this pattern.

3. 〜つもりです — a firm plan

Attaches to the plain dictionary form (not the volitional).

JapaneseEnglish
I intend to go home and teach Japanese.
I'm going to quit smoking.

Two negatives, two strengths:

FormStrength
I intend not to do it
I have no intention of doing it — flatly refuses

✕. The volitional never meets つもり: ✕ · ○.

4. 〜予定よていです — it is on the schedule

Follows the dictionary form, or a noun + の. Use it for arrangements that exist outside your own head: flights, meetings, ceremonies.

JapaneseEnglish
I'm scheduled to go to Osaka next week.
The meeting is scheduled from 3.
I'm due to return home next month.

5. まだ 〜ていません — not decided / not done yet

JapaneseEnglish
"Have you had lunch?" "No, not yet."
I haven't decided yet.
I haven't bought the ticket yet.

Answer 「もう〜ましたか」 with or — never , which means "I didn't do it (and that's over)".

6. The certainty ladder

WeakestFormReads as
1I want to
2I'm thinking of / I intend to
3I've made up my mind
4it's booked, it's on the calendar
5I'm doing it

Step 1 carries a restriction the other four do not. states your own desire — for anyone else you need , or a hedge: . ✕ · ○. This is the same rule the app gives you for in L13, and it applies to たい just as hard.

Asking is a different matter: is fine to a friend, because the subject is the person in front of you. To a superior it is still intrusive — or instead (L13).

Error table

✕○Why
group II adds よう
つもり takes the dictionary form
third-person intention needs ています
plain volitional is not polite
"not yet" is the ていません form
〜たい states your own desire only

Try translating

EnglishJapanese
Shall we take a break?
I'm thinking of studying in Japan next year.
I intend to quit smoking.
I have no intention of going.
The meeting is scheduled to start at three.
I haven't decided yet.

練習 Practice — 9 questions

  1. Q1 G1 · volitional

    Volitional form of行いきます

    行 い
    く
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    A godan: u→o + う:行いこう
  2. Q2 G1 · volitional

    Volitional form of 飲のみます

    飲 の
    む
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    B む→も+う: 飲のもう
  3. Q3 G2 · volitional

    Volitional form of 食たべます

    食 た
    べ
    る
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    B ichidan: る→よう
  4. Q4 G3 · volitional

    Volitional of します /来きます

    す
    る
    ・
    来 く
    る
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    A しよう /来こよう(こよう)
  5. Q5 〜ようと思っています

    'I'm thinking of going to the beach this weekend.'

    意向 いこう
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    B volitional + と思おもっています = intention
  6. Q6 negative つもり

    'I plan NOT to return to my country.' (firm)

    つ
    も
    り
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    B ない-form + つもりです
  7. Q7 〜予定です

    'I'm scheduled to go on a business trip in July.' (fixed)

    予定 よてい
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    A dict form +予定よていです
  8. Q8 noun + 予定

    'The meeting is (scheduled for) next week.'

    予定 よてい
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    B noun + の +予定よていです
  9. Q9 まだ〜ていません

    'I haven't decided yet.'

    ま
    だ
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    B まだ + 〜ていません = not yet done

解答 Answer key

  1. Q1 A godan: u→o + う:行いこう
  2. Q2 B む→も+う: 飲のもう
  3. Q3 B ichidan: る→よう
  4. Q4 A しよう /来こよう(こよう)
  5. Q5 B volitional + と思おもっています = intention
  6. Q6 B ない-form + つもりです
  7. Q7 A dict form +予定よていです
  8. Q8 B noun + の +予定よていです
  9. Q9 B まだ + 〜ていません = not yet done