What is the difference? （る）つもり vs（た）つもり/ JLPT N3

Author Hazakura

つ も り has two uses: (1) talking about an intention (2) talking about a particular thought.

• When つ も り goes with dictionary-form verbs （る）, this is つ も り of the intention, which means “I intend to do A”.

Verb （る） つ も り

= I plan to do A

• When つ も り goes with （た） form verbs, this つ も り is a single thought which means, “I thought A, but in actuality it’s not.”

Verb たつ も り

= I thought that  A but actually….not

For example

旅行 す る つ も り

(= Ryokō suru tsumori)

= I plan to travel

旅行 し た つ も り

(= Ryokō shita tsumori)

= I thought  I was traveling

More about つ も り (2) – a particular thought

～ つ も り (2) means I thought I did it but actually…not. The intention of the grammar is to represent a thought of our own while disregarding anything real. In other exaggerated way, this ～ つ もり  could be called “illusion”.

For example

1/ I think I’m young!

This “illusion” of my own (but actually not) is つ も り (2).

= I’m young つ も り (2)

= ま だ ま だ 若 い つ も り

= Madamada wakai tsumori

Similarly

2 / She thinks she is a sempai, but in reality I am the older one.

It’s つ も り (2), hitting the “illusion” inside her.

= 彼女 は 先輩 の つ も り だ っ た が (but in fact I am an older person).

= Kanojo wa senpai no tsumoridattaga

What is the difference between the thought of つ も り (2) and the thought of ～ と 思 う?

～ た つ も り represents a thought. ～ と 思 う is also a thought.

A た つ も り = I think A

A と 思 う = I think A

However,

While ~ と 思 う is purely a thought

ま だ ま だ 若 い と 思 う。

= Madamada wakai to omou.

= I think I’m young

~ た つ も り is a thought added the color of illusion.

ま だ ま だ 若 い つ も り。

= Madamada wakai tsumori.

＝ I think I’m young

This つ も り is a thought of my own and that that viewpoint may not be everyone’s viewpoint. (Maybe because I am 70 years old.)

How to form

Special attention!!!

Absolutely do not use dictionary-form verbs （る） or dictionary-form verbs ない。

Because (る) つ も り and （な い） つ も り will lead us astray into another grammar point and a completely different meaning!

A る つ も り = I plan to do A

A た つ も り = I thought that  A

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