Not Planning

“Everyone has a plan – until they get punched in the face.” – Mike Tyson

The problem with negative つもり is that there’s two ways to do it. Take a look at the following, somewhat similar examples:

aすし　を　たべる　つもりです

aすし　を　たべない　つもりです

aすし　を　たべる　つもり　は　ない

What’s the difference between these three? Well, you know the first one – “I plan to eat sushi” – that’s pretty easy.

The second and third one are where things get a tad bit tricky, though.

aすし　を　たべない　つもりです
I do not plan to eat sushi

aすし　を　たべる　つもり　は　ない
I have no plans to eat sushi

They pretty much mean the same thing, though you can see how they differ via the translation. The bigger difference, I’d say, is the difference between their levels of negativity.

aすし　を　たべない　つもりです　＝　Normal Negative

aすし　を　たべる　つもり　は　ない　＝　Even More negative

Why is this? Let’s break it down.

aすし　を　たべない　つもりです

This one is plain and simple. You plan to not eat something. Easy, right? Nothing tricky here. You’re just using negative dictionary form with the verb (which you generally do if the verb isn’t at the end of the sentence, whether you’re going to end the sentence formal or informal), and then you’re adding that you’re planning on it (i.e. you’re planning on not eating sushi).

aすし　を　たべる　つもり　は　はい

This one is a little different. You’re still saying “I plan to eat sushi” but then you’re adding は ない to the mix. If you don’t remember ない, don’t worry about it too much. There’s going to be an entire lesson devoted to it later. ない means “don’t have” – so, when used in this sentence, it’s saying “I have no plans to eat sushi.” It’s not that you don’t plan to eat sushi… you have no plans to eat sushi. It’s a little bit more negative, and a little stronger than the first.

For you, though, the first one is all you really need to know at the moment. When you learn ない and いない (later on) we’ll wrap back around and take a look at this again. For now, let’s look at examples that cover the first negative version. What I want you to do is answer all these questions using negative dictionary + つもりです, just like in the すしをたべないつもりです example.

aすし　を　たべる　つもりですか？
Do you plan to eat sushi?　Answer →

aとうきょう　に　いく　つもりですか？
Do you plan to go to Tokyo?　Answer →

Now let’s do some in casual form. Can you note the difference between the above examples and the below examples?

aハリーポッター　を　よむ　つもりですか？
Do you plan to read Harry Potter?　Answer →

aえいが　を　み　に　いく　つもりですか？
Do you plan to go watch a movie?　Answer →

aボビーさん　が　きたら、パティー　に　いく？
If Bobby comes, do you plan to go to the party?　Answer →

Does the simple version of negative つもり make sense to you now? Make sure you can go through the examples and understand everything there, especially the ones that start integrating older grammar that you’ve learned.

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