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Learn about the basic facts about the English tenses.

"Be going to" form

Be going to is another form to express the future. We mainly use it to talk about planned actions or to make predictions.

Present Simple vs. Going to

Be going to form is very similar to the Future Simple.  Both forms can express prediction, however those predictions are not the same.

You can read about the difference between the two here.

Use
  1. Planned actions, intentions (like in the Present Continuous)
  2. Prediction based on observing the present situation *

* Use Will form to express predictions based on experience or intuition

** Sometimes you may encounter the form gonna, which is an abbreviation of going to.
Gonna is informal so be careful when using it!

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Worth knowing

You should avoid combining going to with motion verbs, especially with come and go. Instead, the Present Continuous should be used.

Form
Declarative sentences:
Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb
I/a dog etc. is/are going to go/take etc.
  • This team is definitely going to win the competition.  (Use 2)
  • I'm going to visit my grandma next week. (Use 1)
  • Sheila is going to give birth in a couple of weeks. (Use 2)
Questions:

Auxiliary verb + Subject + Auxiliary verb + Verb
is/are I/a dog etc. going to go/take etc.
  • Is he going to apologise to Mary for his behavior? (Use 1)
  • Is the USA going to close down military bases in Western Europe? (Use 2 or Use 1)
  • I can see dark clouds in the sky. Is it going to rain? (Use 2)

Negative sentences:

Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb
I/a dog etc. isn't/aren't going to go/take

 

  • The Government is not going to lower the taxes. (Use 1 or Use 2)
  • "Record is not going to change me," says Mark. (Use 1)
  • I'm not going to take my driving test this year. (Use 1)

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