Masu-Stem Ni Iku: Go Somewhere to Do Something

The ます-stem followed by に and a movement verb states the purpose of a trip: 本を買いに行きます. A destination can also appear with に or へ. The two に phrases have different roles, even in one sentence.

Formation and use

Remove ます from the polite form: 買います→買い, 食べます→食べ, 見ます→見. Then add に行く. Do not use the full dictionary form as 買うに行く.

The object stays with the purpose action: 本を買いに行きます. In 図書館に本を借りに行きます, the first に marks the destination and the second marks the purpose.

Comparisons and common errors

する activities can use a stem expression such as 勉強しに行く. Activity nouns also occur in patterns like 買い物に行く, but not every noun can be substituted without a suitable movement-purpose meaning.

The final movement verb carries tense: 食べに行きました is a past trip. Going with the purpose of eating does not by itself guarantee that the meal was successfully eaten.

Practise with explanations

Try the 10 questions below, or open the practice set. Check each answer or the whole set, read the explanation, and retry mistakes. First-attempt results are kept separately on this device.

Connected lessons

• Japanese Masu Form: Polite Present, Negative, and Past
• Ni and E
• The Particle Wo