GOING TO

USES
BY LIC VERA LANDIVAR
Be going to: form

We use be going to + the base form of the verb:

• I’m going to take a few exams at the end of the year.

• It’s going to be difficult to get a job during the summer as the tourist industry is
suffering from the economic downturn.

Be going to is commonly used in informal styles.

USES OF "BE GOING TO"
• 1. Future planned action:
We can use "going to" to describe a planned action that will happen in the near
future. In this situation, we've already decided or planned this action.

• I'm really tired so I'm going to sleep early tonight.

• Next week I'm going to start a new diet.
• My daughter's going to study law at college next year.
• He's not going to speak at the conference.
• Are you going to come to my party tomorrow?
• What are you going to wear to the dance?
• Let's also get some beer. My boyfriend's not going to drink wine.
USES OF "BE GOING TO"

• Note:
Sometimes learners wonder if the verb "go" can be used with "be going to"
because it seems strange to repeat "go" twice. Yes, it is correct to use either form
with the verb "go."

• We are going to go to Japan to see the Olympic Games.

• We are going to Japan to see the Olympic Games.

The only real difference is that using the present continuous (going to) is shorter
than saying "going to go."
USES OF "BE GOING TO"
• 2. Prediction based on present situation:
We can use "going to" to express a prediction (a guess or estimate) about what may
happen in the future based on what is happening right now.

Examples:

• It's 7 PM and the sun is going down. It's going to be dark soon.
• Look at the line. It's going to take a long time to get a table.
• The sun is coming out. It's going to be a beautiful day after all.
• Only five people signed up? My boss is not going to speak to such a small audience.
• I got a D on my exam. My parents are going to kill me.
OTHER USES

• Intentions:

We use be going to to talk about future plans and intentions.

Usually, the decision about the future plans has already been made:

• She’s going to be a professional dancer when she grows up.

• I’m going to look for a new place to live next month.
• Is Freddy going to buy a new car soon?
• Are John and Pam going to visit Milan when they are in Italy?
 OTHER USES

• Commands

We use be going to when we give commands or state that something is obligatory:

For example:
[parent to a child] You’re going to pick up all of those toys right now. This room is a mess!

• You are going to meet the boss tomorrow. ok?

• I am telling you. You are going to do it. You don’t have a choice.
GONNA
Sometimes when we speak quickly, GOING TO sounds like GONNA. While it is
grammatically incorrect, it is used a lot in very informal English.
You will also occasionally see the word Gonna written in song titles or in song lyrics.

• I'm gonna go to the beach tomorrow.

• = I'm going to go to the beach tomorrow.

• He's gonna bring his girlfriend to the party.

• = He's going to bring his girlfriend to the party.
EXERCISES
Use the correct form of going to and the verbs in
brackets.
'm going to take
1. I ……………………………… (take) some photos at the weekend.
're going to order
2. They …………………………… (order) a pizza for dinner.
aren't going to play
3. We ………………………………… (not play) football tomorrow.
's going to get
4. Paul ……………....………… (get) a summer job.
Are you going to phone
5. …………..…….………………..… (you / phone) me tonight?
isn't going to buy
6. Molly ………………..…………… (not buy) a new skirt for the party.
Is Greg going to start
7. ………………..……..…..…… (Greg / start) university next year?
'm going to study
8. I …………….…….…….……… (study) tonight.
The weekend starts tomorrow, and Sam is going to be very busy.
Write sentences using the picture prompts and ‘going to’.
He’s going to get up at six o’clock.
1. ______________________________________

He’s going to drink a cup of coffee.

2. _____________________________________

He’s going to go swimming

3. _____________________________________

He’s going to have breakfast

4. _____________________________________

He’s going to go on-line

5. _____________________________________
He’s going to go to a bookstore.
6. _____________________________________
He’s going to walk his dog
7. _____________________________________
He’s going to meet his friends.
8. _____________________________________
He’s going to eat pizza.
9. _____________________________________
He’s going to see a movie.
10. ____________________________________
Answer the questions about you. Use the future with
‘going to’ in your answers.
1. What time are you going to go to bed tonight?

2. What time are you going to get up tomorrow?

3. What are you going to do after class?

4. What are you going to do tomorrow morning?

5. Where are you going to go on the weekend?

6. How much money are you going to spend tomorrow?

7. Who are you going to talk to tomorrow?

8. Are you going to travel to another country/city this year?

 Complete the email with the verbs in the box + going to
tell change move not buy like find not travel kill not tidy work
Hi, Ben!
am going to move to Devon. I can't wait
I'm writing to you to let you know that I ..................................
is going to change in my life. We want to live in a house near the
anymore! Everything ................................
are not going to buy a big house, because we ................................
sea. We ................................. are not going to tidy it all
weekends. Do you know Devon? If not, you must come to see us. I'm sure
are.............................
you going to like it there.
are going to find new jobs too, because Brighton is too far away and
My wife and I .............................
weare....................................
not going to travel are..............................
to work for hours every day. We going to work
somewhere near our home. My boss doesn't know about amit,
going
but to tell
I .............................
is going
him soon.toHe kill........................... me!
I have to go now. Please, write back soon.
Bye for now,
Sam
Use the words in brackets and "going to" to complete these
sentences:
Are you going to cut the grass?
1. (you | cut) ..........................................
I am not going to work
2. (I | not work) ......................................... in the garden.
I am going to clean
3. (I | clean) .......................................... the windows.
Are the Scotts going to build
4. (the Scotts | build) ................................................. a new house?
They are not going to have
5. (they | not have) ................................................ a house.
They are going to rent
6. (they | rent) ........................................... a flat.
Is your dad going to watch
7. (your dad | watch) ............................................... the football match?
He is not going to stay
8. (he | not stay) .......................................... at home.
My parents are going to do
9. (My parents | do) ................................................ some shopping.
Use the following sentences to respond to situations.

1 Look at the clouds. 7 He is going to win.

…..

2 Why don't you learn for the test? 2 You are going to fail.
…..

3 I'm so tired. 3 I'm going to be ill.

……

4 The sun is shining. 4 It isn't going to rain.

…..

5 You are learning so hard. 6 I'm not going to be ill.

…..

6 I'm OK. 5 You aren't going to fail.

……

7 He is playing so well. 1 It's going to rain.

…….

8 He is the worst tennis player of all. 8 He isn't going to win.

…….
PREDICTIONS. Read the following sentences and add another one
using “going to” and your own ideas.
Ex. She has a bad toothache. She’s going to call the dentist.
or She’s going to take an aspirin.

1. He doesn’t understand the meaning of that word.

2. She wants to see the new movie but doesn’t know what time it starts.
3. Bill wants to change jobs.
4. Grandma feels very tired.
5. Carla is baking a cake and just ran out of sugar.
6. Howard needs to mail a package.
7. Rita and Martin are thinking about taking a holiday but don’t know where to go.
8. Someone stole our car last night.
9. Margaret gained ten kilos in the past month.
SUMMARY