Be Going To

Future: “Be Going To”

Introduction

In English, there are many ways of expressing future time. One of the most common is the "be going to" construction. This page will explain the main meaning of “be going to” and show you how to use “be going to” in sentences and questions.

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1. How to form "be going to" sentences

To make a verb form with “be going to”, you first put “be” into the correct form to agree with the subject, and then add “going to” + the simple form of the verb. Note also that the “be” form is often shortened. This table lists the main forms:

                                                                       

Subject	Statement	Question	Negative
I	I am going to leave.	Am I going to leave?	I am NOT going to leave.
You	You____________leave.	______  you ____________leave?	You _______________leave.
He	He _______________leave.	______  he ____________leave?	He ________________leave.
She	She ______________leave.	______  she ____________leave?	She ________________ leave.
It	It _______________leave..	______  it ____________leave?	It __________________leave.
We	We _____________leave.	______  we ____________leave?	We _______________ leave.
They	They _____________leave.	_____ they ____________leave?	They ________________leave.

2. The meaning of “be going to” future forms

“Be going to” is usually used when something is already planned or definite. Look at the difference between these sentences:

I'll make the supper tonight.
(Making a decision/volunteering to do something.)

I'm going to make the supper every Wednesday.
(This is already planned and organized.)

Complete the sentences with the Past Simple or going to form of the verbs. Use short forms where possible.

1 They _________________________ a baby next year. (have)

2 He _________________________ Italian last year. (study)

3 Take an umbrella! It _________________________ . (rain)

4 She _________________________ Paris next month. (visit)

5 They _________________________ to Paris last autumn. (go)

6 We _________________________ dinner in a nice restaurant yesterday. (have)

GOING TO

Many people make New Year's resolutions. A resolution is something that you are going to do or change, for example:

I'm going to do my homework the same day that I get it.

I'm not going to eat too much chocolate.

What are your New Year's resolutions? Are you going to do many new things? Write them down.

Are you going to travel?

Are you going to study more?

How many books are you going to read?

THIS WEEKEND…

	This is my mum Sarah. She never cooks, but this weekend she ____________ (bake) a chocolate cake. QUESTION: _________________________________?
	This is my father Paul. He always plays with me, but this weekend he __________________ (not/ play) hide and seek with us. He _______________ (travel) to London. QUESTION: _________________________________?
	These are my sisters Angelina and Sophie. They love playing with dolls. This weekend they ___________ (play) with Lily, the new doll my grandmother gave them last month. QUESTION: _________________________________?
	This is my cousin Fred. He ______________ (not/play) with me this weekend, because he is sick. QUESTION: _________________________________?