To Be Going To - Structure
We use the structure to talk about future actions and events that have some present reality. If we say that something in the future is going to happen, it is usually already planned or decided, or it is starting to happen, or we can see it coming now. The structure is very common in an informal style, especially in speech.
Table of Contents
1.Structure
1.1Structures Of Sentences
To form a sentence with to be going to structure, follow these basic rules:
S = Subject
QW = question word
Ving = main verb + ing
| Structure | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
| + | S + be (am/is/are) + going to + Verb + ... | I am going to call him. He is going to meet his parents. |
| - | S + be (am/is/are) + not + going to + Verb + ... | We are not going to help him anymore. She isn't going to take this exam. |
| ? | (QW) + be (am/is/are) + S + going to + Verb + ...? | What are you going to do next? Is he going to tell her about it? |
Practice Examples
I (be going to/visit) _____ the ancient ruins in Greece this summer.
They (be going to/launch) _____ their own startup by the end of the year.
He (be going to/write) _____ a book about his adventures in South America.
2.Use
2.1Intention
The be going to form expresses the subject's premeditated (planned) intention to perform a certain future action and often an intention + plan.
Actions expressed by the be going to form are therefore usually considered very likely to be performed, though there is not the same idea of definite future arrangement that we get from the present progressive.
| Example |
|---|
| I'm going to buy a bicycle. |
| She is not going to be there. |
| I am going to meet Tom at the station at six. |
| I'm going to play you a Bach fugue. |
| Is she going to help her sister? |
| We are not going to explain it yo you. |
Practice Examples
They (open) _____ a new restaurant in our neighborhood soon. (premeditated intention and plan for the future, suggests strong likelihood and preparation)
I (participate) _____ in a marathon for charity. (premeditated intention and plan for the future, suggests strong likelihood and preparation)
We (organize) _____ a charity event to raise funds for the local shelter. (premeditated intention and plan for the future, suggests strong likelihood and preparation)
2.2Predicition
We use be going to to predict the future on the basis of present evidence - to say, that a future action or event is on the way, or starting to happen. It implies that there are signs that something will happen.
The be going to form can express the speaker's prediction of the immediate/fairly immediate future . The time is usually not mentioned, but the action is expected to happen in the near or immediate future.
| Example | Sign or Evidence |
|---|---|
| Look at those clouds! It's going to rain. | We can see the clouds. |
| Listen to the wind. We 're going to have a rough crossing. | We can hear the wind. |
| Sarah is going to have another baby in August. | She is probably pregnant now. |
| Look out! We are going to crash! | We can see that the situation is dangerous. |
| How pale that girl is! She is going to faint. | She is pale now. |
| The lift is going to break down. | It is probably making strange noises or behaving in a strange way |
| He is going to get better. | There are signs of recovery. Perhaps his temperature has gone down. |
Practice Examples
We (have) _____ a great time at the party. (My prediction for the nearesy future. Everyone is already dancing and enjoying themselves.)
The weather (change) _____ . (There are dark clouds gathering in the sky.)
She (pass) _____ the exam. (She has been studying hard, and she knows the material well.)
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