Be Going To

A1 · BeginnerFuture Forms

Be going to talks about the future in two ways: plans you've already made, and things you can already see coming.

What you'll learn

  • Formed with am/is/are + going to + base verb
  • Used for plans and intentions decided before the moment of speaking
  • Used for predictions based on present evidence (something you can see or feel now)
  • Negatives: am/is/are + not + going to; questions: Am/Is/Are + subject + going to

Plans decided before now

Be going to describes something you've already decided to do — the decision was made before this moment, not on the spot.

"I'm going to visit my parents this weekend. (already planned)"
"She's going to start a new job next month."

Predictions based on evidence

Be going to is also used for predictions when there's visible evidence right now that something is about to happen.

"Look at those clouds — it's going to rain."
"Careful, that glass is going to fall!"

Going to vs. will

Going to signals a plan already in place or evidence you can see now; will is for decisions made in the moment or predictions based on opinion rather than visible evidence.

"I'm going to call her tomorrow. (already decided)"
"I think I'll call her later. (deciding now)"

Real English

"We're going to renovate the kitchen this summer."
"I'm not going to make it to the meeting on time."
"Is he going to apply for that job?"
"Watch out, you're going to spill that!"

Watch out

✗I'm going to going to the store.
✓I'm going to go to the store.

Going to is followed by the base verb — with go itself, that means going to go, not a repeated going to.

✗She going to start a new job.
✓She's going to start a new job.

Be going to needs the auxiliary am/is/are — it can't be dropped.

✗Do you going to tell him?
✓Are you going to tell him?

Be going to forms its own questions with am/is/are, not do.

Real life — Talking about weekend plans

"What are you going to do this weekend?"

"We're going to visit my sister in the countryside."

"That sounds nice. Are you going to stay overnight?"

"Yes, we're going to stay until Sunday."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — a plan already decided before now.

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — a prediction based on visible evidence.

Exercise 3 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 4 · Choose the correct negative

Choose the correct negative.

Exercise 5 · Choose the correct question

Choose the correct question.

Exercise 6 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 7 · Choose the correct answer

Which best describes 'be going to'?

Exercise 8 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 9 · Complete the sentence

Complete: 'I ___ (be going to) call the plumber tomorrow.' (planned intention)

Exercise 10 · Complete the sentence

Complete: 'Careful, that glass ___ (be going to) fall!' (evidence-based prediction)

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

I'm going to study abroad next year.
Look, he's going to trip!
We're going to redecorate the kitchen.
It's going to snow — look at the sky.

0 / 4 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correct sentence.

You learned

  • Be going to is formed with am/is/are + going to + base verb.
  • It describes plans decided before now, or predictions based on visible evidence.
  • It contrasts with will, which is for decisions made on the spot.
  • Questions and negatives use am/is/are, not do.

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