Are you learning English and want to talk about future plans and intentions? Understanding how to use “be going to” is essential. In this ultimate guide, we will explore everything you need to know about “be going to”. We’ll look at how to form sentences, when to use it, and provide plenty of examples and exercises to help you master this important grammar point.
By the end of this guide, you will feel confident using “be going to” in your daily conversations and writing.
What is “Be Going To”?
“Be going to” is a grammatical construction used in English to talk about the future. It helps us express plans, intentions, or predictions. Unlike other future forms, “be going to” is commonly used in everyday conversation and is essential for expressing future ideas clearly.
Understanding “be going to” is crucial because it allows you to:
- Talk about your future plans.
- Make predictions based on current evidence.
- Understand native speakers better.
- Improve your fluency in English.
How to Form “Be Going To” Sentences
To use “be going to” correctly, you need to know how to form sentences in different forms: affirmative, negative, and questions.
Affirmative Sentences
The basic structure is:
Subject + am/is/are + going to + base form of the verb
- Subject: I, you, he, she, it, we, they
- Am/Is/Are: The correct form of the verb “be” for the subject
- Going to: This remains the same
- Base form of the verb: The main verb without any endings
Examples:
- I am going to study tonight.
- She is going to travel to Japan.
- They are going to watch a movie.
Negative Sentences
To make a negative sentence, add “not” after the verb “be”.
Subject + am/is/are + not + going to + base form of the verb
Contractions can be used for negatives:
- am not = am not
- is not = isn’t
- are not = aren’t
Examples:
- I am not going to eat breakfast.
- He isn’t going to play soccer.
- We aren’t going to attend the meeting.
Questions
To form a question, invert the subject and the verb “be”.
Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base form of the verb?
Examples:
- Are you going to visit your parents?
- Is she going to buy a new car?
- Am I going to pass the exam?
When to Use “Be Going To”
There are two main situations when we use “be going to”.
Expressing Future Intentions
We use “be going to” to talk about plans or intentions for the future. These are actions we have already decided to do.
Examples:
- I’m going to start a new job next month.
- They are going to move to a new house.
- She is going to learn French.
Predicting the Future Based on Present Evidence
We also use “be going to” when we predict something because of evidence we can see now.
Examples:
- Look at those clouds! It is going to rain.
- He is driving too fast; he is going to crash.
- The team is playing well; they are going to win.
Differences Between “Be Going To”, “Will”, and Present Continuous
Understanding the differences between “be going to”, “will”, and the present continuous can help you express future events more accurately.
“Be Going To”
- Used for planned actions or intentions.
- Used for predictions based on present evidence.
Examples:
- I am going to visit my friend. (I have a plan.)
- Look out! The glass is going to fall. (I can see it’s about to fall.)
“Will”
- Used for spontaneous decisions made at the moment of speaking.
- Used for promises, offers, and general predictions without present evidence.
Examples:
- I will help you with your homework. (Decision made now.)
- She will probably be late. (Prediction without evidence.)
Present Continuous
- Used for fixed arrangements, usually with a time reference.
- Emphasizes that the arrangements are definite.
Examples:
- I am meeting my friend at 5 pm.
- They are leaving tomorrow morning.
Comparison Examples
- Be Going To: I’m going to buy a new laptop. (I have decided, and I intend to do it.)
- Will: I’ll buy a new laptop. (Decision made now.)
- Present Continuous: I’m buying a new laptop tomorrow. (It’s arranged.)
Pronunciation Tips: “Going to” vs. “Gonna”
In spoken English, “going to” is often pronounced as “gonna” in informal situations. Understanding this can help you comprehend native speakers better.
Examples:
- “I’m going to study tonight.” becomes “I’m gonna study tonight.”
- “She’s going to call you.” becomes “She’s gonna call you.”
Note: While “gonna” is common in spoken English, it is not appropriate for formal writing or speech.
Examples of “Be Going To” in Sentences
Here are more examples to help you understand how “be going to” is used.
- Affirmative Sentences
- We are going to have a party this weekend.
- She is going to start her own business.
- I am going to finish my project today.
- Negative Sentences
- They are not going to come to the concert.
- He isn’t going to join the club.
- I am not going to eat dessert.
- Questions
- Are you going to watch the game?
- Is it going to snow tomorrow?
- Am I going to see you at the event?
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Understanding common errors can help you avoid making them.
Using the Wrong Form of “Be”
- Incorrect: She are going to travel.
- Correct: She is going to travel.
Using “To” Before the Verb “Be”
- Incorrect: I to going to study.
- Correct: I am going to study.
Forgetting “Going To”
- Incorrect: They are visit the museum.
- Correct: They are going to visit the museum.
Using the -ing Form of the Main Verb
- Incorrect: He is going to playing soccer.
- Correct: He is going to play soccer.
Practice Dialogues Using “Be Going To”
Dialogue 1
Anna: What are you going to do this weekend?
Ben: I’m going to visit my grandparents. How about you?
Anna: I’m going to go hiking with some friends.
Dialogue 2
Teacher: Is everyone going to attend the workshop tomorrow?
Students: Yes, we are going to be there.
Teacher: Great! It’s going to be informative.
Dialogue 3
Friend 1: Look at those dark clouds.
Friend 2: Yes, it’s going to rain soon.
Exercises to Practice “Be Going To”
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “be going to”.
- I ____ (buy) a new book.
- She ____ (not/attend) the class tomorrow.
- ____ they ____ (play) soccer this evening?
- We ____ (have) a picnic on Sunday.
- He ____ (not/watch) the game tonight.
Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentences
Rewrite the following sentences using “be going to”.
- They plan to open a new store.
- I intend to learn to play the guitar.
- She has decided to adopt a puppy.
- We are planning to paint the house.
- He wants to start a blog.
Exercise 3: Make Questions
Form questions using “be going to”.
- (you / visit / the museum)
- (she / call / me later)
- (they / participate / in the competition)
- (we / watch / the movie tonight)
- (he / take / the exam)
Exercise 4: Correct the Mistakes
Find and correct the mistakes in the following sentences.
- They is going to travel next week.
- I am go to study English.
- Is she going to visits her friend?
- We are not going cook dinner.
- He are going to buy a car.
Exercise 5: Complete the Dialogue
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “be going to”.
John: What ____ you ____ (do) after work?
Lisa: I ____ (meet) a friend for coffee. How about you?
John: I ____ (go) to the gym.
Lisa: That sounds good. Maybe I ____ (join) you next time.
Answers to Exercises
Exercise 1 Answers
- I am going to buy a new book.
- She is not going to attend the class tomorrow.
- Are they going to play soccer this evening?
- We are going to have a picnic on Sunday.
- He is not going to watch the game tonight.
Exercise 2 Answers
- They are going to open a new store.
- I am going to learn to play the guitar.
- She is going to adopt a puppy.
- We are going to paint the house.
- He is going to start a blog.
Exercise 3 Answers
- Are you going to visit the museum?
- Is she going to call me later?
- Are they going to participate in the competition?
- Are we going to watch the movie tonight?
- Is he going to take the exam?
Exercise 4 Answers
- They are going to travel next week.
- I am going to study English.
- Is she going to visit her friend?
- We are not going to cook dinner.
- He is going to buy a car.
Exercise 5 Answers
John: What are you going to do after work?
Lisa: I am going to meet a friend for coffee. How about you?
John: I am going to go to the gym.
Lisa: That sounds good. Maybe I am going to join you next time.
Conclusion
Understanding how to use “be going to” is essential for expressing future plans and making predictions based on present evidence in English. Remember to use the correct form of the verb “be” (am/is/are), followed by “going to”, and then the base form of the main verb.
Now, you’re ready to talk about your future plans in English!