Wondered about the difference between V-려고 하다 and V-기로 하다 when they mean "to plan something"? Look no further!
This post focuses on the two constructs when they mean "to plan something."
- Simply put, V-(으)려고 했다 (했어요) means "to have planned something (but the plan did not go through)." The idea of "intention" is communicated with this pattern.
- Simply put, V-기로 했다 (했어요) also means "to have planned something." The idea of "decision" is communicated with this pattern.
Both expressions are most often used with 하다 conjugated in the past tense, so V-(으)려고 했다 and V-기로 했다. However, V-(으)려고 했다 means the plan has not been completed, were canceled, abandoned, etc.; because of that it is often followed by -ㄴ/는데 or -지만 (V-(으)려고 했는데 / V-(으)려고 했지만).
V-기로 했다 is used for plans regardless of completion. V-기로 했다 does not have a negative connotation, whereas V-(으)려고 했다 does. However, plans already completed will usually be expressed with the past tense, V-았/었다.
Examples:
1) 친구들이랑 점심을 먹으려고 했어요.
I planned to eat lunch with my friends (but, depending on the context, did not eat it or canceled it).
2) 친구들이랑 점심을 먹기로 했어요.
I planned to eat lunch with my friends (and have not had lunch with my friends yet, i.e. the plan is upcoming, is not canceled).
2bis) 친구들이랑 점심을 먹었어요.
I ate lunch with my friends.
Read the rest of the article for nuances and other examples!