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8.3: Grammar

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    Grammar Focus: Simple Future Tense with Be Going to

    Affirmative Form

    Subject + Be + going to + base form of verb 

    • Use be (am, is, are) + going to + base form of verb to talk about future activities. We often use be going to with these time expressions: tonight, tomorrow, later, next week, this week, this month, this year, etc.

    Examples:

    1. He is going to move to a new place in October. 
    2. I am going to visit my mom this weekend.
    3. They are going to transfer to a four-year university next month.  

    Contractions: Study the contractions.

    1. He's going to move to a new place in October.  (He is = He's)
    2. I'm going to visit my mom this weekend. (I am = I'm)
    3. They're going to transfer to a four-year university next month. (They are = They're)

    Negative Form

    • To make a negative statement, put not after be: 

    Subject + be (am, is, are) + not + going to + base form of verb

    Examples:

    Contractions: Study the contractions.

    Interrogative Form

    Yes/No Questions

    • To make yes/no questions, put be before the subject: 

    Be (am, is, are) + subject + going to + base form of verb?

    Examples:

    • To answer Yes/No questions, we can use a short form: 

    Yes, subject + be

    No, subject + be + not

    Wh- Questions

    • To make Wh-questions, follow the form below:

    Wh-word + be (am, is, are) + subject + going to + base form of verb?

    Examples:

    1. Where are we going to eat tonight?       We are going to eat at the El Jardin Restaurant tonight.
    2. What time are you going to call me tomorrow?      I am going to call you at 10 am tomorrow.   
    3. What is he going to do this weekend?    He is going to watch a movie this weekend.

    Grammar Practice

    Directions:  Use the correct form of be (am/ is/ are) + going to + verb in the following sentences.

    Example:  They are going to host a party next week. (host) 

    1.  Wendy ______________________ an interview for a new job next week. (have)

    2.  Richard ______________________ anything if he isn’t sure about it. (not say)  

    3.  I ______________________ the Opera House and Harbour Bridge when traveling to Sydney, Australia next year. (visit)

    4.  _________ Diego and Malu ______________________ a house in a small town? (buy)

    5.  This summer, Sam and his brother ______________________ martial arts to help defend themselves. (study) 

    6.  _________ you ______________________ a post office to send the package? (stop by) 

    7.  My sister ______________________ from college in psychology in May. (graduate)

    8.  _________ Binh ______________________ the job offer? (accept)

    9.  What _________ you ___________________________ after class today? (do)

    10. __________ it ___________________________ soon? (rain)

    11. Where ________ Maria ________________________ her next birthday? (celebrate)

    12. We ______________________ dinner with our classmates tonight. (not have) 

    Practice 2

    Directions:  Make sentences with the verb phrases below about yourself using be going to, then share with a partner.

    Example:  get a new job 🡪 I’m not going to get a new job.

    1.  take a vacation

    2.  move to a new city

    3.  finish my degree next year

    4.  cook dinner tonight 

    5.  travel abroad next summer

    6.  eat out with my family this weekend

    7.  buy a new car next year

    8.  study another language

    9.  have a meeting tomorrow

    10. celebrate my birthday this year

    Directions:  What are your plans for next week? Make five sentences using be going to + verb. Then share with your partner about your plan. 

    Example:  I’m going to see my dentist next Monday.   

    You

    1. ____________________________________________________

    2. ____________________________________________________

    3. ____________________________________________________

    4. ____________________________________________________

    5. ____________________________________________________

    Your partner

    1. ____________________________________________________

    2. ____________________________________________________

    3. ____________________________________________________

    4. ____________________________________________________

    5. ____________________________________________________

    Affirmative Form

    Subject + will + base form of verb

    Examples:

    1. Yumi's wedding will be in a church.
    2. Hoang will buy a gift.
    3. Angela will study biology.

    Negative Form

    Subject + will + not + base form of verb

    Examples:

    1. Yumi's wedding will not be in a church.
    2. Hoang will not buy a gift.
    3. Angela will not study biology.

    Interrogative Form

    Yes/No Questions

    Will + subject + base form of verb?

    Examples:

    1. Will he arrive late?
    2. Will they rent a limousine?
    3. Will she wear a black dress?
    • To answer Yes/No questions, we can use the form below:
    1. Will he arrive late?                         Yes, he will.           No, he will not.
    2. Will they rent a limousine?              Yes, they will.        No, they will not.
    3. Will she wear a black dress?            Yes, she will.         No, she will not.

    Wh- Questions

    Wh-word + will + subject + base form of verb?

    Examples:

    1. What will you need for the party?
    2. What will she buy for Yumi's birthday?
    3. When will the party begin?
    • To answer wh-questions, we can use the form below:
    1. What will you need for the party?            I will need a lot of food for the party.
    2. What will she buy for Yumi's birthday?     She will buy a cake for Yumi's birthday.
    3. When will the party begin?                     The party will begin in 10 minutes.

    Using Will or Be Going To

    Will or Be Going To
    Explanation Will Be Going To
    For a prediction The teacher will come soon. The teacher is going to come soon.
    For a fact about the future The next class will be in room AC-15. The next class is going to be in room AC-15.
    For a promise He will call you in 5 minutes.  
    For an offer to help  I will carry this heavy box for you.  
    At the time of speaking without a previous plan Q: What would you like to order?
    A: I think I will have the chicken.    		  
    For a future action that will happen soon   He is going to teach at a university next month.
    For a planned action   My son and his wife are going to adopt a child.

    Practice 4

    Directions:  Use "will" or "be going to" to fill in the blank. In some sentences, you can use both.

    1. I love you very much. I _____________________________ you. (always/love)
    2. We're hungry. We _____________________________ after class. (get something to eat)
    3. It's hot in here. I _____________________________ a window. (open) 
    4. People _____________________________ more free time in the next 20 years. (have)
    5. Marco is tired. He _____________________________ at home tonight. (eat dinner)
    6. (A): I have to move next Sunday.  (B): I _____________________________ you pack. (help)
    7. Ping is not happy with her job. She _____________________________ another one. (look for)
    8. I think Americans _____________________________ longer in the future. (live)
    9. (A): I don't want to cook tonight.  (B): Take a break. I _____________________________ tonight. (cook)
    10. Anh doesn't understand this word. She _____________________________ in the dictionary. (look it up)

     

    This page titled 8.3: Grammar is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Maria Antonini de Pino, Erika Bourne Lawson, Huong Pham, Rebecca Kallen Reddy, Kelly N. Nguyễn-Jardin, Pradeep Reddy, Richard Lawson, and Adam Bloom (Open Educational Resource Initiative at Evergreen Valley College) .