Unit 7.1

Be going to


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Introduction

To be going to is a structure that refers to the future.

Form

To be going to has three forms: affirmative, negative and interrogative.

Affirmative

To be going to, in the affirmative form, has this structure:
Subject + to be + going to + verb + …

Subject To Be Going To Verb
I am going to work
You are going to work
He is going to work
She is going to work
It is going to work
We are going to work
You are going to work
They are going to work
  • Short form of the affirmative form is the same as the short form of to be: I’m – you’re – he’s…

Negative

To be going to, in the negative form, has this structure:
Subject + to be + not + going to + verb + …

Subject To Be + not Going To Verb
I am not going to work
You are not going to work
He is not going to work
She is not going to work
It is not going to work
We are not going to work
You are not going to work
They are not going to work
  • Short form of the negative form is the same as the short form of to be: I’m not – you’re not/you aren’t – he’s not/he isn’t…

Interrogative

To be going to, in the interrogative form, has this structure:
To be + subject + going to + verb + …?

To Be Subject Going To Verb Question
Mark
Am I going to work …?
Are you going to work …?
Is he going to work …?
Is she going to work …?
Is it going to work …?
Are we going to work …?
Are you going to work …?
Are they going to work …?

Example

Affirmative:

  • I am going to the shop.
  • When he grows up, he is going to be the boss.
  • We are going to visit your company today.

Negative:

  • You are not going to the gym. 
  • She is not going to be famous.
  • They are not going to help us. 

Interrogative:

  • Are you going to tell her the truth?
  • Is he going to be the okay?
  • Are we going to the cinema?

Use

We use be going to when we refer to intentions and future plans that have already been decided.

NOTE: We can use gonna instead of going to in informal contexts.

Summary

To be going to refers to intentions and future plans that have already been decided.

We can use it in its different forms:

  • affirmative: we start with the subject followed by to be followed by going to and the verb;
  • negative: we start with the subject followed by to be not followed by going to and the verb;
  • interrogative: we start with to be followed by the subject followed by going to and the verb (the sentence ends with a question mark).

For example:
— Affirmative: “I am going to go to work.”
— Negative: “I am not going to go to work, I am going to the shop.”
— Interrogative: “Are you going to go to work?”

Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.

Related

Be going to is used to speak about a future plant that has already been decided. If you want to speak about predictions, beliefs or intentions about the future you can use will.

  • In A2 level, you can learn more about Be going to (express commands, predictions, and things that are about to happen).

Exercises

External link to Be going to exercises (39).



More exercises

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