Future: be going to
A1 18 / 50
In short
Use be going to + base verb to talk about plans you decided before now, and predictions you can already see coming. The form is am/is/are + going to + base form.
The rule
We use be going to in two main ways:
-
Plans and intentions - things you already decided before the moment of speaking.
- I’m going to study medicine. (I decided this earlier.)
- We’re going to paint the kitchen this weekend.
-
Predictions from present evidence - you can see or feel that something will happen.
- Look at those clouds - it’s going to rain.
- She’s going to have a baby. (You can see it now.)
The first part (am/is/are) changes with the subject. The verb after going to is always the base form (no -s, no -ed, no -ing).
To make a negative, add not to be. To make a question, put be before the subject.
| Type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | subject + be + going to + base verb | She is going to call you. |
| Negative | subject + be + not + going to + base verb | She isn’t going to come. |
| Question | be + subject + going to + base verb? | Are you going to help? |
Forms & patterns
| Subject | be | + going to + base form |
|---|---|---|
| I | am (‘m) | going to leave |
| You / We / They | are (‘re) | going to leave |
| He / She / It | is (‘s) | going to leave |
With there, be agrees with the noun that comes after it: There is going to be a delay. There are going to be delays.
Short forms:
| Long | Short |
|---|---|
| I am going to | I’m going to |
| He is not going to | He isn’t going to / He’s not going to |
| They are not going to | They aren’t going to / They’re not going to |
Short answers use only be:
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Are you going to help? | Yes, I am. | No, I’m not. |
| Is he going to drive? | Yes, he is. | No, he isn’t. |
In if- and when-clauses, use the present simple for future time - We are going to get wet if it rains. We are going to start when everyone is here. Keep be going to after if when the clause reports a plan already made: If you are going to sell the piano, tell me first. In a when question, direct or reported, be going to is normal: When are you going to decide? (More in Zero & first conditional.)
Examples
| English | Note |
|---|---|
| I am going to visit my grandmother on Sunday. | A plan decided before now. |
| Watch out - you are going to drop that glass! | Prediction from what you see now. |
| We are going to move to a new flat next month. | A future intention. |
| He isn’t going to finish the work today. | Negative: not added to be. |
| Are they going to buy the car? | Question: be before the subject. |
| The sky is grey; it is going to snow. | Evidence right now points to it. |
| She ‘s going to start a new job in July. | Contraction ‘s = is. |
| What are you going to cook tonight? | Wh- question + be going to. |
Common mistakes
- I going to call him. -> I’m going to call him. - you must keep am/is/are.
- She is going to calls you. -> She is going to call you. - use the base form, never -s.
- He is going to wrote a letter. -> He is going to write a letter. - base form, not past.
- Are you going help? -> Are you going to help? - don’t drop to.
- It goes to rain. -> It is going to rain. - it’s be going to, not go to.
Tips
- In fast speech going to often sounds like “gonna” - that’s fine to hear, but write the full going to.
- If a plan is already decided, or you can see the evidence now, choose be going to. If you decide while speaking, use will (see lesson 19).
- going to go and going to come are correct, but people often shorten them: I’m going to the cinema instead of I’m going to go to the cinema.
- A time word like tomorrow, next week, or tonight often signals this future.