BE GOING TO

BE GOING TO

The future tense with going to, also simple future, expresses a logical prediction for the future or an intention or plan which has already been decided.

This tense is constructed with: 

be + going to + infinitive.

EXAMPLES:

- Mrs Lucky is going to meet a friend in town.

- I'm going to go the beach on sunday.

Use the future with going to for:

1. Plans and intentions for the future when a decision has already been made.

Example:

- Mrs Lucky is going to meet a friend in town.

2. predictions for the future that are based on present evidence.

Example:

- The sky is blue - it is not going to rain. So Mrs Lucky is going to leave her umbrella at home.

Intentions

We use  be going to when we have the intention to do something before we speak. We have already made a decision before speaking. Look at these examples:

- Johan has won the lottery. He says he's going to buy a Porsche.

- We're not going to paint our bedroom tomorrow.

- When are you going to go on holiday?

In these examples, we had an intention or plan before speaking. The decision was made before speaking.

Predictions

We often use be going to to make a prediction about the future. Our prediction is based on present evidence. We are saying what we think will happen. Here are some examples:

- The sky is very black. It's going to snow.

- It's 8.30! You're going to miss your train!

- I crashed the company car. My boss isn't going to be very happy!

In these examples, the present situation (black sky, the time, damaged car) gives us a good idea of what is going to happen.

TIME EXPRESSIONS

The following words indicate the use of a future tense:

in one year, next week, tomorrow

Multiple Choice

__ Lucy ____ __ go to England next year?

• Is ... going to ...

• Are ... going to ...

• Am ... going to ...

Multiple Choice

(A) … the plane going to land soon? (B) Yes, it ….

• Are / is

• Is / is

• Are / are

Multiple Choice

My friend … a birthday party next week.

• is going to has

• going to have

• is going to have

Multiple Choice

(A)… you going to see the movie?

(B) Yes, I ….

• Do / am

• Are / are

• Are / am

Multiple Choice

What ... your brother going to do tomorrow?

• are

• is

• does

Multiple Choice

What is she going to do?

• I am eating a hamburguer

• She is playing soccer

• She is going to eat a hamburguer

• I am going to eat a hamburguer

Multiple Choice

Mathew and Lora ______ _____ __ ______ to the news next weekend.

• going to listen

• aren't going to listen

• isn't going to listen

Multiple Choice

My father _____ _____ __ ___ us a new car next month.

• is not going buy

• is not going to buy

• is not buy

Multiple Choice

It is going to _____________ today.

• rain

• rained

• raining

Multiple Choice

I ___ _______ __ eat ice-cream tomorrow.

• are going to

• is going to

• am going to