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The future, part 1 of 5

Going To: Affirmative Sentences (I'm going to study)

For plans and for things you can see coming: am, is, or are + going to + verb. I'm going to cook tonight.

A1 · 12 minBefore:Verb to be: affirmative

The idea

What going to is

It talks about what you already decided to do or what you can see is going to happen.

  1. A plan. I'm going to call the dentist.
  2. What you can see coming. Watch out! You're going to drop it.
  3. The verb stays as it is. He is going to wash the car.

When to use it

To talk about your plans and warn about what you can see is going to happen. These expressions go with it:

Plans

  • I'm going to stay home
  • we're going to move
  • she's going to have a baby

What you can see coming

  • it's going to rain
  • you're going to fall
  • it's going to be late

With when

  • tonight
  • this weekend
  • next year
  • soon

Examples

  • A plan

    I'm going to learn to drive.

  • Someone else's plan

    My sister is going to study law.

  • What you can see coming

    Look at those clouds. It's going to pour.

  • The weekend

    We're going to visit my aunt.

  • A decision already made

    They are going to sell their car.

How to build it

3 steps

  1. Add am, is, or areThe one that goes with the subject:She is
  2. Add going toAlways the same, with any subject:She is going to
  3. The verb as it isNo -s and no -ing:She is going to call you.

Affirmative

  1. SubjectWe
  2. am / is / areare
  3. going togoing to
  4. base verbpaint
  5. complementthe kitchen.

The rule

With each subject

SubjectLong formShort form
II am going toI'm going to
he, she, itshe is going toshe's going to
you, we, theythey are going tothey're going to

How to pronounce it

  • going to

    /ˈɡoʊɪŋ tu/

    The o is /oʊ/; to is short: /tə/ in fast speech.

  • gonna

    /ˈɡɑnə/

    This is how going to sounds in fast speech. In writing, use going to.

Check

My parents (blank) buy a new car. Which one goes in the blank?

Don't confuse it with will

I'm going to call her tonight.

Plan: already decided

OK, I'll call her.

Decided right now

Going to is for plans you already made. Will is for what you decide right now.

Will

In real life

In speech, going to sounds like gonna: I'm gonna call you. That is how it sounds; in writing, use going to.

Frequently asked questions

Is going to only for plans?

For plans and for things you can see coming: Look at the sky. It's going to rain.

Can you say I'm going to go?

Yes: I'm going to go to the bank. It is normal, even if it sounds repetitive. People often just say I'm going to the bank.

What is gonna?

The fast spoken form of going to. You see it in messages and songs, but not in formal writing.

In short

  • Am, is, or are + going to + verb.
  • For plans: I'm going to study.
  • For what you can see coming: it's going to be hot.
  • The verb stays as it is: going to cook.
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