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The future, part 2 of 5
Going To: Negatives and Questions (Are you going to?)
To make it negative, put not after am, is, or are: I'm not going to go. To ask, put am, is, or are first: Are you going to come?
The idea
What negatives and questions with going to are
They work like to be: not after am, is, or are for a negative, and am, is, or are at the start for a question.
- To make it negative. We're not going to stay late.
- To ask. Is she going to call back?
- With a question word. What are they going to sell?
When to use it
To say what you are not going to do, ask about plans, and give short answers. These expressions go with it:
To ask about plans
- What are you going to do?
- Are you going to come?
- When are they going to arrive?
To say no
- I'm not going to lie
- it isn't going to fit
- we aren't going to make it
To talk about plans
- Any plans for the weekend?
- not this time
- maybe next week
- I'm not sure yet
Examples
- What you are not going to do
I'm not going to buy it.
- Asking about a plan
Are you going to stay for dinner?
- Asking what
What are you going to wear?
- Something that will not happen
The store isn't going to open today.
- Short answers
No, she isn't.
How to build it
3 steps
- Negative: not after am, is, or areGoing to comes next:She is not going to
- Question: am, is, or are firstBefore the subject:Is she going to
- The rest stays the sameGoing to and the base verb:Is she going to call?
Negative
- SubjectHe
- am / is / are + notis not
- going togoing to
- base verbswim.
Question
- Am / Is / AreAre
- subjectthey
- going togoing to
- base verb ?sing?
With where, what, when
- What / Where / WhenWhere
- am / is / areis
- subjecthe
- going to + verb ?going to sleep?
The rule
Short answers
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Are you going to drive? | Yes, I am. | No, I'm not. |
| Is it going to hail? | Yes, it is. | No, it isn't. |
How to pronounce it
going to
/ˈɡoʊɪŋ tu/It does not change in negatives or questions; in fast speech it sounds like gonna.
not
/nɑt/It goes between am, is, or are and going to; in speech it joins: isn't, aren't.
Check
(blank) your parents going to come? Which word goes in the blank?
Don't confuse it with won't
I'm not going to tell him.
Going to: already decided
I won't tell him.
Will: a promise
Going to takes not: I'm not going to. Will takes won't: I won't.
Won't and Will you...?In real life
The short answer repeats am, is, or are, with no going to: Are you going to come? Yes, I am.
Frequently asked questions
Can you contract it?
Yes: I'm not going to, she isn't going to, they aren't going to. That is normal in speech.
How do you ask what someone is going to do?
What are you going to do? The question word comes first, then are.
How do you give a short answer?
With am, is, or are: Yes, I am. No, she isn't. No need to repeat going to.
In short
- Negative: am, is, or are + not + going to.
- Question: Are you going to...?
- With where or what: Where are you going to eat?
- Short answer: Yes, I am. No, it isn't.