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Going To: Plans, Intentions, and Predictions
Be + going to + verb is used for plans already decided and for predictions based on something you see right now.
Written by Bryan López, Profesor de inglés · Updated
Going to is formed with the verb to be + going to + the main verb in its base form: "I am going to study tonight." It's used for plans already decided before speaking and for predictions based on present evidence.
Affirmative
Negative and questions
The 2 uses of going to
Plans or intentions already decided before speaking: "I'm going to study medicine" (you decided this before the conversation). Predictions based on evidence you see right now: "Look at those clouds! It's going to rain" (you see the clouds now, that's why you're predicting it).
The shortcut with 'going'
When the main verb is "go," you can drop one of the two: "I'm going shopping this afternoon" means exactly the same as "I'm going to go shopping this afternoon."
Common mistakes with going to
Using "will" for a plan you already decided earlier, when it should be "going to." Many languages don't always distinguish between a decision already made and a spontaneous prediction, which creates confusion between will/going to. It's also common to forget the verb be before going to: "I going to study" is wrong, it should be "I am going to study."
Plans and predictions with evidence
"Going to" has two main jobs. First, it expresses plans you decided before speaking: "I'm going to study medicine." Second, it makes predictions based on something you can see now: "Look at those clouds, it's going to rain." In both cases, the future feels close and connected to the present. That connection is what separates it from "will."
Practice going to with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
Going to in four forms
Time expressions that go well with going to
Going to appears often with: tonight, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, this weekend, soon, and in an hour. "We're going to travel next summer." "She's going to start her new job in September." These phrases do not change the structure, they only place the plan in time.
Examples of going to
- I'm going to learn to play the guitar this year.
- They're going to move to a bigger house.
- It's going to be a hot day.
- Are you going to watch the match tonight?
- She isn't going to finish on time.
Forgetting the verb to be
Incorrect
I going to call you later.
Correct
I'm going to call you later.
going to in a real conversation
A: "What are you going to do this weekend?" B: "I'm going to visit my grandparents. And you?" A: "I'm going to stay home. I'm tired, and it's going to rain anyway."
Past form: was going to
When a plan did not happen, English uses "was going to" or "were going to": "I was going to call you, but I forgot." "They were going to travel, but the flight was canceled." This is a very natural way to explain a change of plans, and it shows up often in conversation and stories.
Frequently asked questions
How is going to formed?
With the verb to be (am/is/are) + going to + the main verb in its base form: I am going to travel.
What is going to used for?
For plans or intentions already decided before speaking, and for predictions based on evidence you see in the moment.
How do you make going to negative?
By adding not after am/is/are: I'm not going to go, she isn't going to come.
How do you ask questions with going to?
By putting am/is/are at the front: Are you going to come? Is she going to travel?
Can I use going to with the verb go?
You can, but it sounds repetitive, so most people use the Present Continuous: "I'm going to the cinema" instead of "I'm going to go to the cinema."
How is going to pronounced in fast speech?
Often as gonna: "I'm gonna call you." It is normal in speech and songs, but not in formal writing.
What is the difference between going to and the Present Continuous for the future?
Both work for plans, but the Present Continuous usually means the plan is already arranged (a booking, an appointment). Going to is more general and expresses intention.
Does going to change with he, she, and it?
Only the verb to be changes: I am going to, she is going to, they are going to. The phrase "going to" stays the same: "She is going to call you."
Is going to formal or informal?
Going to is neutral and works in both speech and writing. "Gonna" is the informal spoken form, so avoid it in formal writing.
Practice going to with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
Keep learning
- Going To vs. Will: Which One to Use for the FutureGoing to is for plans already decided, will is for decisions you make right at the moment of speaking.
- Will: Spontaneous Decisions, Predictions, and PromisesWill + base verb never changes form, no matter the subject: I will, she will, they will.
- Present Continuous in English: Affirmative, Negative, and QuestionsThe tense for what's happening right now: be + verb-ing.