How do I express intention and ask about someone else's?


How do I ask questions about someone's intention like "do you plan on coming
back?" In Japanese?




There are couple of forms to express intentions at least. I guess this three
does not cover all story, but they are quite common.

  1. Volitional form と思{おも}っています (or 思{おも}います) - This one is "I think I am going to" version.
  2. Plain form よていです - This one is "I plan to" version.
  3. Plain form つもりです - This one is also "I am going to" but there's more certainty to it. As if speaking person is really into it.

Volitional form creation rules. (See <http://tangorin.com/> dictionary for
verbs conjugation table.)

  * U-verbs: ~u → ~ou (よむ → よもう, かえる → かえろう, いく → いこう, かう → かおう, たつ → たとう)
  * RU-verbs: ~る → ~よう (たべる → たべよう, ねる → ねよう)
  * exceptions: する → しよう, くる → こよう

If you'd like to ask someone about his intentions you just add か at the end as
in any other sentence.

  * この本{ほん}を読{よ}もうと思{おも}っています。 - I'm going to read this book. (Literally: I am thinking to go.)
  * この本{ほん}を読{よ}もうと思{おも}っていますか。 - Are you going to read this book? (Literally: Are you thinking to go?)
  * 買{か}い物{もの}に行{い}くよていです。 - I am going to go shopping. (Literally: I plan to.)
  * 買{か}い物{もの}に行{い}くよていですか。 - Are you going to go shopping? (As above, literally: Are you planning to?)
  * 空手{からて}を習{なら}うつもりです。 - I am going to learn karate. (Firm statement, high level of certainty.)
  * 空手{からて}を習{なら}うつもりですか。 - Are you going to learn karate? (Can be rude in some circumstances. Like, someone may get the feeling that you're questioning his intention.)

