Verb ない＋つもりです (I intend NOT to)
Supporting / Negative Intentions
👀 Layer A: Visual Guide
📝 Quick Summary
This grammar point is used to express a firm decision not to do something. While the dictionary form shows a plan to act, the Nai-form shows a plan to avoid an action. It represents a solidified intention in the speaker’s mind.
Structure: [Verb ない-form] + つもりです。
Example: らいしゅうは どこへも いかない つもりです (I intend not to go anywhere next week).
🔍 Layer B: Deepening
💡 Raya’s Hack
Decided “Not To” vs. No “Intention To”
There are two ways to say you won’t do something using “Tsumori”:
1. いかない つもりです (I plan not to go) – Most common. It shows a personal decision.
2. いく つもりは ありません (I have no intention of going) – Much stronger. It sounds a bit defensive or formal, like saying “I have 0% interest/plan to do that.”
As a student, stick to the first one (Nai-form + Tsumori) for daily conversations to sound polite but firm!
🚧 Joy’s Mistake
Scene: Joy is talking about his friend’s diet.
Joy: 「田中さんは ケーキを たべない つもりです。」
(Tanaka-san wa keeki o tabenai tsumori desu.)
❌ Rude Assumption!
Why?
Just like positive intentions, you should not use “Tsumori” for someone else’s private decisions. It implies you have full access to their internal thoughts. If you want to talk about Tanaka-san’s plan, use “Yotei” (Schedule) or “Sou desu” (I heard).
Correct: 田中さんは ケーキを たべない そうです (I heard Tanaka-san won’t eat cake).
🔥 Layer C: Practice Loop
Master the Negative Intention! (Answers in Hiragana and English)
Level 1: Conjugation to Negative Intention
Q1. To eat (たべる)
Q2. To go (いく)
Q3. To do (する)
Q4. To buy (かう)
Q5. To speak (はなす)
Level 2: Full Sentences
Q6. I intend not to eat cake today.
Q7. I plan not to go out this weekend. (しゅうまつ / でかける)
Q8. I intend not to buy a new car.
Q9. I plan not to use my phone during the lesson.
Q10. I intend not to meet him tomorrow.
