Be going to
Plans and predictions about the future: I'm going to change my job, it's going to rain.
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We use be going to + verb to talk about the future in two cases: when we have already decided to do something, and when something we can see now shows what will happen.
Positive and negative
The form is am, is or are + going to + the verb with no ending. Only be changes with the subject.
Subject | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
I | I'm going to stay | I'm not going to stay |
he, she, it | she's going to stay | she isn't going to stay |
you, we, they | they're going to stay | they aren't going to stay |
- I'm going to buy a new laptop next month.
- Elena is going to study law.
- We aren't going to sell the flat.
- Incorrect: I going to visit my parents at the weekend.
- Correct: I'm going to visit my parents at the weekend.Going to always needs am, is or are before it.
- Incorrect: She is going visit her parents.
- Correct: She is going to visit her parents.Don't leave out to.
The verb after going to
After going to, use the infinitive: no -s, no -ing, no past form.
- He's going to start a new course in September.
- Incorrect: He's going to starts a new course.
- Correct: He's going to start a new course.
- Incorrect: We're going to buying a car.
- Correct: We're going to buy a car.
With the verbs go and come we often leave out the second verb and use the present continuous: I'm going to the bank this afternoon is more common than I'm going to go to the bank. Both are correct.
Questions and short answers
Put am, is or are before the subject. Short answers use only be.
Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
Are you going to tell him? | Yes, I am. | No, I'm not. |
Is she going to come? | Yes, she is. | No, she isn't. |
- Are you going to apply for the job?
- What are you going to do after the course?
- When is Victor going to call us?
- Incorrect: Do you going to come with us?
- Correct: Are you going to come with us?The question is made with am, is or are, not with do.
Plans and intentions
Use be going to for something you have already decided to do. The decision was made before the moment of speaking.
- I'm going to learn to drive this year.
- We've talked about it, and we're going to move to a bigger flat.
- Elena isn't going to take the job in Leeds. It's too far from her family.
- I'm going to have an early night. I've got an interview tomorrow.
We often use it with future time words: tomorrow, tonight, this weekend, next week, next year, soon, in the summer.
Predictions from what we can see
Use be going to when something in the present situation shows what will happen next. You have a reason for your prediction now.
- It's only eight o'clock and it's already 28 degrees. It's going to be a hot day.
- It's ten to nine and you're still at home. You're going to be late.
- Careful with that cup. You're going to drop it.
- Our team is playing really well. I think we're going to win.
Speaking and writing
In fast speech going to often sounds like "gonna". You will hear it in films and songs. In writing, use the full form going to.
Don't mix up the two meanings of going to. In I'm going to the station, go is the main verb and there is a place after to. In I'm going to drive, going to shows the future and there is a verb after it.
- I'm going to the dentist's.
(Now, or as an arrangement: go + to + place.)
- I'm going to see the dentist next week.
(A plan: going to + verb.)