N3 Intentions, Efforts, and Feelings

~つもりだった: meaning, usage and examples

~つもりだった means: I intended to... / I thought I... (but didn't).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. アイスは食たべないつもりだったけど、食たべちゃった。

   I was not going to eat ice cream but I ended up eating it.

2. 昨日きのうは買かい物ものに行いくつもりだったが、行いけなかった。

   I intended to go shopping yesterday, but I couldn't.

3. 早はやく寝ねるつもりだったのに、朝あさの三時さんじまで起おきていました。

   I meant to go to bed early, but I stayed up until three in the morning.

4. 鍵かぎをかけたつもりだったが、かかっていなかった。

   I thought I had locked the door, but it wasn't locked.

When to use it

つもりだった has two uses. After the dictionary or ない-form it means "I intended to", for a plan that did not happen: 行いくつもりだったが、行いけなかった. After the た-form or ている it means "I thought I had" or "I believed I was", for a belief that turned out wrong: 鍵かぎをかけたつもりだった (I thought I had locked it).

Nuance

Neutral; very common in conversation. It often comes before けど, が or のに, which show the result went against the plan. It can sound like a small excuse or regret. With the た-form, the speaker is admitting a mistake about what really happened.

Compare

つもりだ is a current plan: 来年らいねん留学りゅうがくするつもりです. つもりだった is a past plan or belief that did not work out. ようとする is an attempt that has actually started: 出でかけようとしたとき (just as I was about to go out). 予定よていだった is a schedule, not a personal intention.

Tip: See た-form + つもりだった? Read it as "I thought I had": 言いったつもりだった means "I thought I had told you".