Mini-Dialogue: Expressing Intentions
A review of expressing plans, intentions, and relaying information using と思う, と言う, and ために through a real-world dialogue.
Planning a Trip
In this lesson, we follow two friends, Ken and Yumi, as they discuss their upcoming weekend plans. To communicate effectively, they use structures to express what they think, what they have heard, and the purpose behind their actions.
Core Grammar Recap
Here are the three structures used to express intentions and relay thoughts.
Tip
Dialogue: Weekend Plans
Read through this dialogue between Ken and Yumi to see these patterns in action.
しゅうまつはきょうとにいくつもりです。
週末は京都に行くつもりです。
I intend to go to Kyoto this weekend.
いいですね。なんのためにいきますか？
いいですね。何のために行きますか？
That sounds nice. What are you going for?
しゃしんをとるためにいきます。
写真を撮るために行きます。
I am going to take photos.
たなかさんが、きょうとはとてもきれいだといっていましたよ。
田中さんが、京都はとても綺麗だと言っていましたよ。
Tanaka-san said that Kyoto is very beautiful.
そうですか。たくさんしゃしんをとろうとおもいます。
そうですか。たくさん写真を撮ろうと思います。
Is that so? I think I will take many photos.
日本語を勉強する【ために】、毎日練習しています。
Hint: Use the particle for 'in order to'.
I practice every day in order to study Japanese.
Nuance and Register
How do these patterns fit into natural speech?
Intentions vs. Opinions
〜つもりです
Stronger personal intent/plan.
行くつもりです
〜と思う
Soft opinion or tentative plan.
行こうと思います
Which form is more appropriate when reporting what a teacher said?
- 先生と言いました
- ✓ 先生が〜と言っていました
- 先生が〜と思う
When reporting what someone else said, use the person + が + quoted speech + と言っていました.
Advanced Notes
A few extra details for your toolkit.
Tense in Quotes
Lesson Summary
You have practiced using と思う for opinions, と言う for reporting, and ために for purpose. These tools allow you to connect your actions to your goals and share information with others effectively.