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
| Affirmative | Negative | Contraction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | am/is/are + going to + base verb | am/is/are + not + going to + base verb | Subject + BE Verb + n’t + going to + base verb |
| I | am going to play | am not going to play | I'm not going to play |
| You | are going to play | are not going to play | You're not/You aren't going to play. |
| He/She/It | is going to play | is not going to play |
He's/She/'s/It's not going to play. He/She/It isn't going to play. |
| We | are going to play | are not going to play | We're not/We aren't going to play. |
| They | are going to play | are not going to play | They're not/They aren't going to play. |
Yes/No Questions with Short Answers
| Yes/No Question | Short Answer (Affirmative) | Short Answer (Negative) |
|---|---|---|
| BE Verb + Subject + going to + Verb | ||
| Are you going to study? | Yes, I am. | No, I’m not. |
| Is she going to travel? | Yes, she is. | No, she isn’t. |
| Are they going to play soccer? | Yes, they are. | No, they aren’t. |
Wh-Questions Questions about the Subject
| Wh word+BE Verb Subject+going to + Verb | Responses | Wh word + BE Verb + going to + Verb | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|
| What are you going to do tomorrow? | I am going to read a book tomorrow. | Who is going to come tomorrow? | Joe is going to come. |
| Where is she going to go for vacation? | She is going to visit Paris for vacation. | What is going to happen this evening? | We are going to have a party. |
| Why are they going to leave early? | They are going to leave early because of the weather. |
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 to make general predictions as well as predictions 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. |
I think our team is going to win
Something smells good. Dinner is going to be delicious. |
The speaker is making a general prediction about a future outcome. 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 to talk about future events which have already been planned. |
This year we are going to take a cruise to Alaska. After work I'm going to play tennis with a friend. | The speaker is talking about a planned event. |
| For informal situations — We use be going to 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. |
Exercise 1.1:Fill-in-the-Blanks
Directions: Use the correct form of be (am/ is/ are) + going to + verb in the following sentences.
- 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 Harbor Bridge when traveling to Sydney, Australia next year. (visit)
- _________ Diego and Sacha _____________________ a house in a small town? (buy)
- This summer, Sam and his brother ____________________ martial arts to help defend themselves. (learn)
- _________ you ______________________ your mother's house after work? (stop by)
- My sister ______________________ from college in psychology in May. (graduate)
- _________ Linh ______________________ 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)
- What time ___________________________ (you / call) me?
- Where ____________________________ (we / eat) tonight?
- Who _____________________________ (carry) the groceries for me?
Exercise 1.2:Making Sentences
Directions: Make sentences with the verb phrases below about yourself using be going to. Write positive or negative answers. 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
Exercise 1.3: Interviewing a Partner
Directions: What are your plans for next week? (Or your next vacation?) Make five sentences using be going to + verb. Then share with your partner about your plan. Write your partner's answers in Part 2. Don't forget to change the subject from "I" to "he" or "she" and make the verb agree.
Example: I’m going to see my dentist next Monday.
Part 1: Write about your plans.
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
Part 2: Ask your partner about his or her plans. Write the answers here.
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________
Writing
Use the answers in Practice 3 to write about your partner. Write in a paragraph form. Use "and" or some transitions like: first,/ next, /then/ also, /after that/ in addition, /finally to connect your thoughts. You can begin with a sentence like "I talked to <name of your partner> and she/he told me what her plans were for <next week / his/her next vacation>. First,.......
You must have five or more sentences. The paragraph should look like this:
<your name>
Professor Marceau
Intermediate Grammar
<date>
My Partner's Plans
I talked to <name of your partner> and she/he told me what her plans were for <next week / his/her next vacation>. First,.......
He/She is also.....and,......Then, ...
This page adapted from Grammar Slides for English Learners (Ferguson) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sara Ferguson.