いこうと思っています

[Leng Chuan]

What is the difference between using:


アメリカに行こうと思っています。


and


アメリカに行くと思っています。

[QuackingShoe]

行こう is volitional, so you use it when it makes sense to be volitional, such as with yourself when you're thinking about (considering) actually doing something (volitionally). You might use 行く when you're talking about thinking about going generally (like "when I think about going there, I..."), and things like that.
You don't generally use the volitional with other people. It's generally too presumptious, especially in Japanese, to state what other people are thinking.

[hatch_jp]

アメリカに行こうと思っています。
This sentence is a main sentence omitted the subject.
　（私[が／は]）アメリカに行こうと思っています。
　（彼[が／は]）アメリカに行こうと思っています。
　 subject think(s) of going to America.


アメリカに行くと思っています。
This sentence is a subordinate clause omitted both the main subject and the subject in the subordinate clause.
examples;
　（私は、あなた[が／は]）アメリカに行くと思っています。
　（彼は、私[が／は]）アメリカに行くと思っています。
　（彼女は、あなた[が／は]）アメリカに行くと思っています。
　 main subject think(s) that sub subject is going to America.

[Leng Chuan]

So, the following sentence,

私はアメリカに行こうと思っています。
彼／彼女はアメリカに行こうと思っています。

are correct, because the subject is considering going to America.


But I cannot say plainly

私はアメリカに行くと思っています。

Is that it?



But can I say, for example,

私はアメリカに行くと思うと緊張になります。　－＞Is this sentence structure correct?
（I become nervous when I think of going to America.)

or plainly

彼はアメリカに行くと思っています。 (without making the phrase a subordinate clause)

[hatch_jp]

But I cannot say plainly

私はアメリカに行くと思っています。

Is that it?

It's not that you can't say it.
This sentence can be considered that the subject either in the main sentence or in the subordinate clause is omiｔted.
（主語は／が）アメリカに行くと思っています。
私は（副主語は／が）アメリカに行くと思っています。

Both the following sentences are natural conversations.
case 1 example : The subject in the main sentence is omitted.
　Ａ：彼はあなた[が／は]どこに行くと思ってるの？(Where does he think you're going?)
　Ｂ：私はアメリカに行くと思っています。(He thinks that I'm going to America.)

case 2 example : The subject in the subordinate clause is omitted.
　Ａ：（あなたは）彼[が／は]どこに行くと思う？(Where do you think he's going?)
　Ｂ：私はアメリカに行くと思っています。 (I think that he's going to America.)

But can I say, for example,

私はアメリカに行くと思うと緊張になります。　－＞Is this sentence structure correct?
（I become nervous when I think of going to America.)

Yes, you can say that way. "(私が)アメリカに行くと思うと" is the subordinate clause in this sentence.
私はアメリカに行くと思うと緊張します。 is correct though.

彼はアメリカに行くと思っています。 (without making the phrase a subordinate clause)

This sentence also can be considered that the subject either in the main sentence or in the subordinate clause is omiｔted.
Both the following sentences are natural conversations.
case 1 example : The subject in the main sentence is omitted.
　Ａ：（あなたは）彼[が／は]どこに行くと思う？ (Where do you think he's going?)
　Ｂ：彼はアメリカに行くと思っています。(I think that he is going to Ameria.)

case 2 example : The subject in the subordinate clause is omitted.
　Ａ：彼はあなた[が／は]どこに行くと思ってるの？(Where does he think you're going?)
　Ｂ：彼はアメリカに行くと思っています。(He thinks that I'm going to America.)


You need to carefully follow the conversation to figure out which subject is omitted.
I hope you won't get confused.

[Leng Chuan]

Yes, I think I understood. My problem was that having learnt the form 'と思う’, I assumed that thinking of doing something simply means attaching と思っています to the dictionary form of the verb.

As a result I tend to translate:

I'm thinking of going to America

to

私はアメリカに行くと持っています。



I didn't know that I need to use a volitional form when talking about an intention until now, and your explanation just happens to teach me the usage of いくと思っている as well.


Thanks a lot!:D