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たつもりでActing on an imagined completed premise

This pattern means deliberately acting as though something had already happened, while knowing that it did not really happen. The imagined event or role becomes the basis for the action that follows.

The first action is not a real event

Although the first verb is in the completed た-form, it does not report an actual past event here. The person consciously imagines that the event has happened and lets that fiction guide a real action. The action after つもりで is therefore essential.

欲ほしかった靴くつを買かったつもりで、同おなじ金きん額がくを貯ちょ金きんした。

I treated it as though I had bought the shoes I wanted and saved the same amount.

Analyze

The shoes were not actually bought; the imaginary purchase provides a concrete amount to save.

How the parts connect

The で here is the connecting form of だ. It links the adopted premise to what the person then does, rather than ending the sentence at the imagined premise.

Practical strategies and role-taking

The premise can be an imaginary expense or experience, or it can be a role whose viewpoint helps with a task.

旅りょ行こうに行いったつもりで、使つかう予よ定ていだった十じゅう万まん円えんを貯ちょ金きんに回まわした。

I acted as though I had taken the trip and put the 100,000 yen I had planned to spend into savings.

Analyze

あなたが市し長ちょうになったつもりで、町まちの交こう通つう問もん題だいをどう解かい決けつするか考かんがえてください。

Imagine that you have become the mayor and consider how you would solve the town's traffic problems.

Analyze

Keep the purpose of the fiction clear

たつもりで sets up a knowingly imaginary premise that guides the next action. By contrast, るつもりだ normally states a future intention; the mismatch use of たつもりだ describes a sincere belief that does not match reality; ふりをする emphasizes outward pretense; and たことにする chooses to treat or record an event as having happened.

More examples

弁べん当とうを持じ参さんし、レストランで昼ちゅう食しょくを食たべたつもりで、千せん五ご百ひゃく円えんを貯ちょ金きん箱ばこに入いれた。

I brought lunch and put 1,500 yen in my savings box as though I had eaten at a restaurant.

Analyze

読どく者しゃになったつもりで、自じ分ぶんの文ぶん章しょうを読よみ直なおした。

I reread my writing from the viewpoint of a reader.

Analyze

初はじめてこの町まちを訪おとずれたつもりで、案あん内ない標ひょう識しきを確かく認にんした。

I checked the guide signs as though I were visiting this town for the first time.

Analyze

面めん接せつ官かんになったつもりで、自じ分ぶんの答こたえを厳きびしくチェックしてみよう。

Let's examine our answers critically from an interviewer's point of view.

Analyze

本ほん番ばんで一いち度ど失しっ敗ぱいしたつもりで、計けい画かくの弱じゃく点てんを今いまのうちに洗あらい出だそう。

Let's act as though we have already failed once in the real event and identify the plan's weaknesses now.

Analyze

宝たからくじに当あたったつもりで、百ひゃく万まん円えんの使つかい道みちを考かんがえてみた。

I imagined that I had won the lottery and thought about how I would use one million yen.

Analyze