Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N5 · Beginner 1
go somewhere to do something
Use 「〜へ〜に行きます」 to name a destination and the action you go there to do.
What is he going to the café to do? This pattern links the place you go to with what you want to do there.
「カフェへ」 tells us where he is going. 「へ」 marks the destination and is pronounced 「え」 when used as a particle.
「飲みに」 explains the purpose: he goes to drink coffee. Use 「に」 after the action.
First remove 「ます」 from the end of the verb, then add 「に行きます」: 飲みます→飲みに行きます.
For 「買い物します」 in the example, removing 「ます」 leaves 「買い物し」. Then add 「に行きます」.
The purpose of going to the park is to exercise. 「運動しに行きます」 states that purpose; it does not mean the exercise is already finished.
I go to the supermarket to shop.
I go to the park to exercise.
A: Where are you going?
B: I'm going to the library to study.
A: When are you going?
B: I'm going in the afternoon.
B: I'm going to the cafe to drink coffee.
A: Are you going alone?
B: I'm going to the supermarket to shop.
A: What are you buying?
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
I will go to the library to study.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
あとでスーパー 行きます。
I'll go to the supermarket to shop later.
B: No, I'm going with a friend.
B: I'm buying vegetables and fruit.
