Listen First
Liam:
What are you going to do after work today?
What are you going to do after work today?
Olivia:
I am going to meet my friend, Sarah. We are going to have dinner.
I am going to meet my friend, Sarah. We are going to have dinner.
Liam:
That sounds nice. Where are you going to go?
That sounds nice. Where are you going to go?
Olivia:
We are going to try that new pizza place. What about you? What are you going to do?
We are going to try that new pizza place. What about you? What are you going to do?
Liam:
I am going to go home. I am going to watch the football match.
I am going to go home. I am going to watch the football match.
Olivia:
Oh, I am going to watch that too! My team is playing.
Oh, I am going to watch that too! My team is playing.
Liam:
Great! What are you going to do this weekend?
Great! What are you going to do this weekend?
Olivia:
I am going to visit my parents on Saturday. And you?
I am going to visit my parents on Saturday. And you?
Liam:
I am going to relax. I am not going to do anything special.
I am going to relax. I am not going to do anything special.
How do you talk about your plans and intentions for the future? The “going to” form is the perfect way to share decisions you have already made. It’s how you tell friends about your weekend, your next vacation, or your goals! 🗓️
Function & Usage
We use “going to” to talk about the future, but specifically for things we decided *before* the moment of speaking. It shows a plan or a firm intention.
- Future Plans & Intentions: To describe something you have already decided to do.
Example: I am going to start my new job on Monday. They are going to move to a new apartment next month. - Predictions Based on Evidence: To say what you think will happen based on something you can see now.
Example: Look at those dark clouds! It is going to rain.
The Structure (Form)
The structure is very regular. You just need to combine the verb ‘to be’ with “going to” and the main verb.
| Subject | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | am + going to + verb | I am going to call him. |
| He / She / It | is + going to + verb | She is going to study. |
| You / We / They | are + going to + verb | We are going to eat soon. |
| Negative (-) | ‘to be’ + not + going to | He is not going to come. |
| Question (?) | ‘to be’ + Subject + going to | Are you going to watch it? |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting the verb “to be”: This is the most common error. Incorrect: “He going to the store.” Correct: “He is going to the store.”
- Adding “-ing” to the main verb: After “going to,” always use the simple, base form of the verb. Incorrect: “We are going to visiting our family.” Correct: “We are going to visit our family.”
