5.1.1: Future with 'Be Going To'
- Page ID
- 271169
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This chart provides a quick reference for forming sentences in affirmative, negative, and question forms using "be going to."
Be Going To
| Form | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | am/is/are + going to + base verb | am/is/are + not + going to + base verb | Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base verb? |
| I | am going to play | am not going to play | Am I going to play? |
| You | are going to play | are not going to play | Are you going to play? |
| He/She/It | is going to play | is not going to play | Is he/she/it going to play? |
| We | are going to play | are not going to play | Are we going to play? |
| They | are going to play | are not going to play | Are they going to play? |
We often use "Be Going to" with these time expressions: tonight, tomorrow, later, next week, this week, this month, this year, etc.
Examples:
- He is going to move to a new place in October.
- I am going to visit my mom this weekend.
- They are going to transfer to a four-year university next month.
- We're going to study future forms this week.
Meaning: "Be Going To" + Base Form
- It's going to rain this afternoon
- We're going to conduct a survey on happiness this semester
Which sentence is about a plan? Which sentence is about a prediction?
Answers
- The first sentence is about a prediction
- The second sentence is about a plan
"Be going to" is used for both plans and predictions
Which of these events are usually planned?
- Getting a cold
- Having a party
- Doing your homework
- The weather
- Winning the lottery
- Visiting a friend
- Traveling
Answers
- Having a party
- Doing your homework
- Visiting a friend
- Traveling
Using Be Going To
We use be going to + the base form of the main verb in these situations.
| Use “Be Going To” | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| For prediction — We use be going to + the base form of the main verb to make a prediction about the future based on our sense of sight, smell, taste, hearing or touch. In other words, something about the present causes us to think an action will happen very soon or immediately. |
Something smells good. Dinner is going to be delicious. | The speaker is making a prediction about a future meal based on what his sense of smell tells him in the present. |
| The sun is shining and there's not a single cloud in the sky. It's going to be a nice day. | The speaker is making a prediction based on what (s)he sees. | |
| For a plan — We use be going to + the base form of the main verb to talk about future events which have already been planned. |
Last year we went to Hawaii for our vacation. This year we are going to take a cruise to Alaska. After work I'm going to play squash with a friend. | The speaker is talking about a planned event. |
| For informal situations — We use be going to + the base form of the main verb when we talk about informal situations involving future actions. |
Mom and Dad are going to be angry when they see the mess you've made. You'd better clean it up before they get home. | This is an informal situation between two siblings. |
Grammar Practice-Be Going to
Practice 1
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)
- Wendy ______________________ an interview for a new job next week. (have)
- Richard ______________________ anything if he isn’t sure about it. (not say)
- I ______________________ the Opera House and Harbour Bridge when traveling to Sydney, Australia next year. (visit)
- _________ Diego and Malu ______________________ a house in a small town? (buy)
- This summer, Sam and his brother ______________________ martial arts to help defend themselves. (learn)
- _________ you ______________________ a post office to send the package? (stop by)
- My sister ______________________ from college in psychology in May. (graduate)
- _________ Binh ______________________ the job offer? (accept)
- What _________ you ___________________________ after class today? (do)
- __________ it ___________________________ soon? (rain)
- Where ________ Maria ________________________ her next birthday? (celebrate)
- 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.
- take a vacation
- move to a new city
- finish my degree next year
- cook dinner tonight
- travel abroad next summer
- eat out with my family this weekend
- buy a new car next year
- study another language
- have a meeting tomorrow
- celebrate my birthday this year
Practice 3
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
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
Your partner
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
This page titled Grammar Slides for English Learners (Ferguson) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sara Ferguson.