What Be Going To Is
Be going to talks about the future in two ways. The first is a plan: something you decided to do before you started speaking. The second is a prediction: you can see a sign now, so you can guess what is coming.
A PLANDecided before now
You decided before now. The action is in the future.
We are going to paint the kitchen this weekend.
We decided last week. The painting is at the weekend.
A PREDICTIONThe sign is right there
Look at those dark clouds. It's going to rain.
The dark clouds are the sign.
NOT PLANNING TODecided not to
She isn't going to take the job.
She decided to say no to the job.
Am / is / are + going to + base verb talks about something already planned, or something you can see coming. The base verb is the dictionary form.
A word like tomorrow is not enough on its own. Tomorrow I visit my grandma is still the present simple.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"My sister study in Japan next year."
- Question 2
"Be careful! That glass fall."
The four shapes
POSITIVE
Sam / is / aregoing toV
He is going to sell his bike.
Be agrees with the subject; going to never changes; the verb is the base form.
NEGATIVE
Sam / is / arenotgoing toV
They aren't going to come.
Not goes after be: I'm not, isn't, aren't.
QUESTION
Am / Is / AreSgoing toV?
Is Nam going to drive? — Yes, he is.
Be moves to the front. Short answers repeat be only: Yes, he is. / No, he isn't.
WH- QUESTION
What / When…am / is / areSgoing toV?
When are they going to arrive?
Question word first, then be, then the subject.
AM / IS / ARE + GOING TO
- Iam going to
- sheis going to
- weare going to
- my dadis going to
- the kidsare going to
I → am going to · he / she / it and singular nouns → is going to · you / we / they and plural nouns → are going to
am / is / are + going to + base verb. Leave out one part and the sentence is wrong.
In fast speech, going to often sounds like gonna. In an essay or an email, write going to.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"I buy a new phone. This one is fine."
- Question 2
" going to cook dinner tonight?"
- Question 3
"Where stay in Hà Nội?"
When to use it
Your own plans
I'm going to join a gym next month.
A decision you made before now.
Signal words: tomorrow · next week · this weekend · soon
Asking about plans
Are you going to visit your parents at Tết?
Asking about someone's plans.
Signal words: Are you going to…? · What are you going to…?
Predictions from signs
Hurry up! We're going to miss the bus.
The bus is at the stop, and you are still far away.
Signal words: Look! · Be careful! · Hurry up!
Saying what you are not going to do
Don't worry. I'm not going to tell anyone.
A decision not to do something.
Signal words: I'm not going to… · She isn't going to…
Going to + verb vs. going to + place
At A1 you met the present continuous: I'm going to school usually means I am on my way to school now. That sentence also has going to, but the meaning is different.
Look at the word straight after to. A place after it: going is the verb go. A verb after it: the sentence is about the future.
| GOING TO + PLACE | GOING TO + VERB | |
|---|---|---|
| the market | I'm going to the market. — on my way now | I'm going to buy some fish. — my plan |
| the library | She's going to the library. | She's going to return her books. |
| a question | Are they going to the beach? | Are they going to swim? |
The two can meet in one sentence: I'm going to go to the bank means the bank is part of my plan.
TRY IT
- Question 1
Which sentence only says where you are going? " "
- Question 2
Which sentence is about a plan? " "
Common mistakes
Incorrect:I going to travel to Nha Trang in July.
Correct:I'm going to travel to Nha Trang in July.
Going to cannot work alone. It needs am, is or are in front of it.
Incorrect:They're going to visiting their uncle.
Correct:They're going to visit their uncle.
The verb after going to is the base form; the only -ing belongs to going.
Incorrect:Tomorrow I clean my room.
Correct:Tomorrow I'm going to clean my room.
A time word does not change the verb. I clean is still the present simple.
Incorrect:You are going to come to the party?
Correct:Are you going to come to the party?
A rising voice is not enough. In a question, are moves in front of the subject.
Incorrect:Where she is going to put the new sofa?
Correct:Where is she going to put the new sofa?
After a question word, is must come before the subject.
Incorrect:I don't going to buy that bag.
Correct:I'm not going to buy that bag.
Going to works with be, so the negative puts not after be. Don't is not used.
Quick check · 7 questions
Choose the correct sentence:
My cousins are going to move to Đà Nẵng next month.
- A. are going to — Correct
- B. going to
- C. is going to
Answer: A. are going to
My cousins is plural, so the verb is are. Leaving out be, as in B, is a very common mistake.
Choose the correct form of the verb:
I'm going to wash the dishes after dinner.
- A. wash — Correct
- B. washing
- C. washed
Answer: A. wash
The -ing is already on going, so the verb after to stays in its base form: no -ing, no -ed.
Yesterday you decided to call your uncle tomorrow. Choose the correct sentence:
I'm going to call my uncle tomorrow.
- A. I'm going to call my uncle tomorrow. — Correct
- B. I call my uncle tomorrow.
- C. I calling my uncle tomorrow.
Answer: A. I'm going to call my uncle tomorrow.
Tomorrow does not change the verb. I call in B is still the present simple. C is missing be and going to.
Choose the correct sentence:
The baby is yawning and rubbing her eyes. She is going to fall asleep.
- A. is going to — Correct
- B. goes to
- C. is going
Answer: A. is going to
Yawning and rubbing her eyes are signs you can see now, so is going to says what is about to happen. C is missing to.
Choose the correct sentence:
We aren't going to stay long. We have to get up early tomorrow.
- A. aren't going to — Correct
- B. don't going to
- C. not going to
Answer: A. aren't going to
Going to works with be, so the negative is are not, shortened to aren't. Don't does not go with going to.
Choose the correct question:
How are you going to get to the airport?
- A. are you going to — Correct
- B. you are going to
- C. are you going
Answer: A. are you going to
After how, are moves in front of you. C is missing to, so it cannot connect to get.
Which sentence says what she plans to do, not where she is going?
She's going to send a letter.
- A. She's going to send a letter. — Correct
- B. She's going to the post office.
Answer: A. She's going to send a letter.
In A a verb follows going to, so the sentence is about a plan. In B a place follows to, so going just means moving there.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 12 questions