～ようと思う (you to omou) - thinking of doing

At its heart, this pattern combines the volitional form of a verb with the verb 思う (to think). The volitional form is often called the "Let’s" form (like 食べよう - Let’s eat). When you add と思う after it, you’re essentially saying "I am thinking ‘let’s do this.’" It’s like having a little conversation with yourself. You can use two versions of the ending: と思う and と思っている. The first one, ～ようと思う, usually describes a decision you just made or a general intention. The second one, ～ようと思っている, describes a state of mind you’ve had for a while. It’s like a continuous feeling. If you decided to study just now, use the first. If you’ve been planning to study for a week, use the second. It’s a subtle shift, like a grammar traffic light changing from yellow to green.

1. 1To build this, you first need to master the volitional form. Here is how you do it step-by-step:
2. 2Group 1 (U-verbs): Find the last syllable. Change the -u vowel to an -o sound, then add う (u). For example, 書く (kaku) becomes 書こう (kakou). 話す (hanasu) becomes 話そう (hanasou).
3. 3Group 2 (Ru-verbs): This is the easy part. Just drop the る (ru) and add よう (you). For example, 食べる (taberu) becomes 食べよう (tabeyou). 見る (miru) becomes 見よう (miyou).
4. 4Irregular Verbs: These two just want to be different. する (suru) becomes しよう (shiyou). くる (kuru) becomes こよう (koyou).
5. 5The Final Step: Add と思う (polite: と思考います) or と思っている (polite: と思っています) after the volitional form.

You’ll use this pattern in a variety of real-world scenarios. Imagine you’re at a job interview and they ask about your goals. You might say, 英語を勉強しようと思っています (I’m thinking of studying English). It shows initiative without sounding like you're making empty promises. Or, imagine you're out with friends. Someone asks what you're doing this weekend. You answer, 映画を見に行こうと思う (I think I'll go see a movie). It’s also great for self-corrections. If you realize you’ve been scrolling on your phone for too long, you might mutter, そろそろ寝ようと思う (I think I’ll head to bed soon). It’s the sound of a person making a choice. It feels modern and proactive. Whether you’re ordering food or planning a career change, this is your go-to structure for "me-time" planning.

There are a few traps to watch out for! First, don’t use ～ようと思う to describe someone else’s plans. You can't read their mind, right? If you want to talk about what your friend Tanaka-san is thinking of doing, you MUST use ～ようと思っている. The ている form makes it an observable state rather than an internal thought. Also, avoid using this for things that are 100% decided and scheduled, like a train departure or a wedding date. For those, use 予定 (yotei). Lastly, don't use it for things that are out of your control. You can't say "I'm thinking of making it rain tomorrow." Unless you're a weather god, that’s just weird. Use it for things *you* can actually choose to do.

One big mistake is forgetting the long う sound in the volitional form. If you say いこう instead of いこ, it changes everything! Make sure you hold that 'o' sound. Another classic error is using the dictionary form instead of the volitional form. Saying 行くと思う means "I think I will go" (a prediction), while 行こうと思う means "I’m thinking of going" (an intention). They look similar, but the feeling is totally different. It’s like the difference between saying "I think it will rain" and "I think I'll buy an umbrella." Also, keep an eye on your politeness levels. If you’re talking to your boss, don’t just drop the と思う! Use と思考っています to stay in their good graces. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes when they're tired, but you’ve got this!

How does this stack up against other "intent" forms?

• ～つもり (Tsumori): This is a much stronger "plan." If ～ようと思う is "I'm thinking about it," つもり is "I intend to do it." Use つもり for things you’ve already decided on.
• ～よう (Volitional only): This is used for "Let's do X" (to others) or a sudden "I shall do X" (to yourself). It's more immediate and less of a "thought process" than adding と思う.
• ～たい (Tai): This expresses a desire ("I want to"). ～ようと思う is more about the action and the plan than just the feeling of wanting. You might want to eat cake (食べたい), but you’re thinking of eating a salad (食べようと思う) because of that gym routine you mentioned earlier.