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Unit 05
Going To
Future plans & intentions
What is "Going To" Used For?
We use be going to for (1) plans and intentions decided before the moment of speaking, and (2) predictions based on visible evidence — something you can see or feel right now.
Form
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb | I am going to visit my parents. |
| Negative | Subject + am/is/are + not going to + base verb | She isn't going to come. |
| Question | Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base verb? | Are you going to study tonight? |
| Short answer | Yes/No + subject + am/is/are | Yes, I am. / No, she isn't. |
Two Main Uses
| Use | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Plans & Intentions | Already decided before speaking | I'm going to start a new course next month. |
| Predictions with evidence | You can see / feel signs now | Look at those clouds! It's going to rain. |
Going To vs Will
| Going To | Will |
|---|---|
| Plan decided before speaking | Spontaneous decision at the moment of speaking |
| I'm going to call him tonight. (already decided) | Oh, the phone's ringing — I'll get it! (decided now) |
| Prediction with visible evidence: It's going to rain. | Prediction (opinion, no evidence): I think it will rain tomorrow. |
Useful Details
- Going to go is correct, but we often shorten it: I'm going to go to the gym → I'm going to the gym.
- In fast, informal speech, going to sounds like gonna: I'm gonna call you. Don't write "gonna" in exams or formal writing.
- Was / were going to = a past plan that didn't happen: I was going to call you, but my phone died.
Annotated Examples
Subject
Verb
Auxiliary
Object
Adjective
Adverb
Preposition
Hover over any word to see its role.
subjectSheauxiliaryisauxiliarygoing toverbstudyobjectmedicine.
↳ Long-term intention/plan.
subjectWeauxiliaryaren'tauxiliarygoing toverbtakeobjectthe car.
↳ Negative plan.
auxiliaryAresubjectyouauxiliarygoing toverbapplyprepositionforobjectthe job?
↳ Question about intentions.
Common Time Expressions with Going To
- tomorrow / next week / next month / next year
- soon / in two days / at the weekend
- this evening / tonight
- Example: I'm going to visit my parents next weekend.
Common Mistakes
She going to travel.
→
She is going to travel.
Don't forget "to be": is/am/are going to.
I'm going to visited Paris.
→
I'm going to visit Paris.
After "going to" always use the base form.
Are you going to studying tonight?
→
Are you going to study tonight?
After "going to" use base form, not -ing.
He is go to call you.
→
He is going to call you.
"Going to" not "go to" for future plans.
I was going to called you.
→
I was going to call you.
After "going to", always the base form — also in the past.
I gonna study tonight. (in an essay)
→
I'm going to study tonight.
"Gonna" is spoken slang, and it still needs "am/is/are".