GRAMMAR DETAIL
に
Follows an action noun or verb stem before a movement verb to express the purpose of the movement.
Examples
週末は町へ買い物に出かける。
I go downtown to shop on the weekend.
Words used
午後は図書館へ本を返しに行く。
I am going to the library to return a book this afternoon.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Put
にafter a verb form withますremoved or after an activity noun, then add a movement verb. - Basic usage:
本を返しに行くidentifies returning a book as the purpose of the trip.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Attachment and destination
- The form changes as in
返します → 返しに行く. In図書館へ本を返しに行く,図書館へis the destination and返しにthe purpose.
- The form changes as in
- Activity nouns and verbs
- An activity noun also works, as in
買い物に出かける. In本を買いに行く, the object markerをremains inside the purpose phrase.
- An activity noun also works, as in