Form
Positive
| Subject | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | am going to + base verb | I am going to travel to London. |
| he / she / it | is going to + base verb | She is going to study medicine. |
| you / we / they | are going to + base verb | They are going to move soon. |
Negative
| Subject | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | am not going to + base verb | I am not going to eat meat. |
| he / she / it | isn't going to + base verb | He isn't going to come. |
| you / we / they | aren't going to + base verb | We aren't going to win. |
Questions
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yes/No | Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base verb? | Are you going to call him? |
| Wh- | Wh- + am/is/are + subject + going to? | What are you going to do? |
Going to = am/is/are + going to:
It uses the verb BE (conjugated), not will. Common contractions: I'm going to, she's going to, we're going to. In spoken English, "going to" is often said as "gonna" — but write it in full in exams.
Use
| Use | Examples |
|---|---|
| Plans and intentions (decided before the moment of speaking) |
I'm going to start a new course next month. (I already decided)
They're going to get married in June.
|
| Predictions with evidence (you can see or hear something that tells you what will happen) |
Look at those clouds — it's going to rain.
He's driving too fast — he's going to crash!
|
Will vs. Going To:
"Going to" = pre-made plan or visible evidence. "Will" = spontaneous decision or general prediction. See the comparison page for full details.
Will or Going To? →
Going To vs. Present Continuous (for plans):
Both talk about the future, but Present Continuous is for plans that are already arranged with someone or something fixed (a time, place, booking). "Going to" is for a decision or intention that isn't necessarily arranged with anyone yet.
Signal words
tonight / tomorrow
next week / month / year
in + time
this weekend
soon
Look! / Look at…!
I plan to / I intend to
Exercises
Exercise 1 — Fill in the blank
Use the correct form of going to + the verb in brackets.
1.
My parents (move) to a new house next month.
2.
Look at that sky! It (rain).
3.
I (not / eat) fast food anymore.
4.
(you / study?) for the test tonight?
5.
Careful! That glass (fall)!
Exercise 2 — Plan or evidence?
Why is going to used? Choose the reason.
1. "She's going to quit her job."
2. "Look at him — he's going to drop those bags!"
3. "We're going to adopt a dog next year."