watashi wa muryou no ibento ni moushikomu tsumori desu.

I plan to sign up for a free event.

Breakdown of watashi wa muryou no ibento ni moushikomu tsumori desu.

• は: topic particle
• です: to be
• 私わたし: I
• の: possessive case particle
• に: target particle
• イベント: event
• つもり: plan; intention
• 無料むりょう: free (no charge)
• 申もうし込こむ: to sign up

Questions & Answers about watashi wa muryou no ibento ni moushikomu tsumori desu.

Why is は used after 私 instead of が?

• は marks the topic: what we’re talking about. Here, the sentence is framed as “As for me, …”
• が would mark the grammatical subject with a focus like “It is I (not someone else) who intend to apply,” which sounds contrastive/emphatic.
• In a neutral statement about your own plans, 私は is the natural topic choice. Often, you can drop 私 entirely (see next Q).

Do I need to say 私 at all?

• No. Japanese usually omits pronouns when context makes them clear.
• You can simply say: 無料のイベントに申し込むつもりです。
• Keep 私 when you need contrast or clarity: 私は申し込むつもりですが、彼は行かないそうです。

Why is の used in 無料のイベント? Can I say 無料なイベント?

• 無料 is primarily a noun (and works like a “no-adjective”), so it modifies another noun with の: 無料のイベント.
• 無料なイベント sounds odd/unnatural in modern usage. Prefer 無料のイベント.
• You’ll also see the compound style 無料イベント (no particle) in ads/headlines; it’s fine but a bit headline-y.

What’s the difference between 無料, ただ, and 無償? And why is ただのイベント wrong here?

• 無料: “free of charge,” neutral and standard for prices. Perfect here.
• ただ: casual “free.” As an adjective before a noun, ただの means “mere/just,” not “free.” So ただのイベント = “just an event,” not “a free event.”
• 無償: formal “without compensation/at no cost.” Common in legal/official contexts, e.g., 無償サポート.

Why is に used after イベント? Could I use で or へ?

• 申し込む takes に to mark the target you apply/register “to/for”: イベントに申し込む.
• で marks location/means, not the target, so it’s wrong here.
• へ isn’t used with the verb 申し込む. However, with the noun form you can say イベントへの申し込み (“application to the event”).

Can I use を with 申し込む?

• Yes, but the pattern changes:
  • Target/event → use に: 講座に申し込む, イベントに申し込む.
  • The thing you request/apply for as a concrete item → use を: クレジットカードを申し込む, 試用版を申し込む.
• For events and classes, 〜に申し込む is the normal choice. イベントを申し込む sounds unnatural.

Why is the verb in plain form before つもり? Is 申し込みますつもり wrong?

• Rule: plain/dictionary form + つもりだ/です.
  • Affirmative: 申し込むつもりです
  • Negative: 申し込まないつもりです
  • Past intention: 申し込むつもりでした
• 申し込みますつもり is ungrammatical. Politeness goes on です/ます after つもり, not on the verb before it.

What’s the nuance difference between つもり, たい, 予定, and the volitional + 思う?

• 〜つもりだ/です: intention/resolve (“I intend to”). About your will.
• 〜たい: desire (“I want to”). About your wish/feeling.
• 〜予定だ/です: schedule/plan on the books (“It’s planned/scheduled”). Feels more fixed or arranged.
• 〜(よ)うと思う／思っています: “I think I’ll … / I’m thinking of …” Softer/tentative.
  • Ex: 申し込もうと思っています sounds less assertive than 申し込むつもりです.

Is つもりです polite enough? How can I soften it in business?

• 〜つもりです is polite, but can sound firm/decisive.
• To soften:
  • 申し込む予定です (scheduled/plan)
  • 申し込みたいと思っております (I’d like to apply)
  • 申し込むつもりでおります (kept humble with おります)
  • Email opener: 申し込みを検討しております (we are considering applying)

Why use 申し込む instead of 参加する, 予約する, 登録する, 応募する, or 申請する?

• 申し込む: sign up/apply (general). Events, classes, services. Ex: セミナーに申し込む.
• 参加する: to participate/attend (the actual taking part). After you’re accepted: イベントに参加する.
• 予約する: to reserve/book (seats, times, tables). Ex: 席を予約する.
• 登録する: to register (create an account/listing). Ex: サイトに登録する; sometimes used for events in IT contexts.
• 応募する: to apply to a recruitment/call with selection (jobs, contests). Ex: コンテストに応募する.
• 申請する: to apply for official permission/documents. Ex: ビザを申請する.

Is 申し込む a humble form because it contains 申?

• No. 申し込む is just a lexical compound meaning “to apply.” It’s not an honorific/humble verb.
• The humble verb is 申し上げる (to say/humbly state), unrelated to “apply.”
• For polite requests about applications, use forms like お申し込みください (please apply) or 申し込みたいのですが….

Can I say 申し込みする instead of 申し込む?

• Acceptable but less natural in conversation. Options:
  • Verb: 申し込む (best default)
  • Noun + する: 申し込みをする (formal/bureaucratic flavor)
  • Noun: 申し込み (e.g., 申し込みは明日まで “Applications are open until tomorrow”)

How do I say related things like “I was going to apply,” “I’m not going to apply,” or ask “Are you going to apply?”

• Was going to (but maybe didn’t): 申し込むつもりでした／だった
• Not going to: 申し込むつもりはありません or 申し込まないつもりです
• Are you going to apply?: 申し込むつもりですか。 (softer: 申し込む予定ですか／申し込むおつもりはありますか)
• Tentative: 申し込もうと思っています (“I’m thinking of applying”)

Can I move 私は later in the sentence?

• You can, but it’s usually best at the start. 無料のイベントに私は申し込むつもりです is grammatical yet marked; it emphasizes “I (as opposed to others).”
• Most natural: 私は無料のイベントに申し込むつもりです or simply drop 私: 無料のイベントに申し込むつもりです.

Which spelling is right: 申し込む or 申込む? And 申し込み or 申込み?

• Common modern style: 申し込む (verb) and 申し込み (noun).
• You’ll also see 申込/申込み in forms/IT systems. They’re widely accepted variants, but many style guides prefer 申し込む／申し込み.

How should I read/pronounce the whole sentence?

• Kana: わたしは むりょうの イベントに もうしこむ つもりです。
• Romaji: Watashi wa muryou no ibento ni moushikomu tsumori desu.
• Notes: Long vowels in muryou and moushikomu; the し in もうしこむ is “shi.”

Can I use つもり about someone else’s intentions?

• Be cautious: claiming another person’s intention can sound presumptuous unless you have their statement.
• Safer:
  • Reported speech: 彼は申し込むつもりだと言っていました。 (“He said he intends to apply.”)
  • Hearsay/guess: 彼は申し込むつもりのようです。 / 申し込むつもりらしいです。