subject + am/is/are + going to + base verbUse be before going to. The main action verb stays in base form after to.
Going To Future
A2Going to future talks about plans, intentions, and predictions with present evidence. Use am/is/are + going to + base verb.
What you'll learn
- Build future statements with am, is, or are going to.
- Match am, is, or are to the subject.
- Make negatives with be not going to + base verb.
- Ask yes/no questions with am, is, or are before the subject.
- Recognize future time markers like tomorrow and next week.
Structure
subject + am/is/are + not + going to + base verbPut not after be, not after going. Keep the action verb in base form.
Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base verb + ?Move be to the front to make the question. Do not add do or does.
Build a sentence
Subject
Verb
Heisgoing to visit
He is going to visit Anna tomorrow.
Use is with he, she, it.
When to use
Plans already decided
Use going to when the decision already exists before the moment of speaking. Anna is going to start a new course next month.
Intentions
Use it for what someone intends to do. Tom is going to call his parents tonight.
Prediction from evidence
Use going to when you can see signs now. Look at those clouds — it is going to rain.
Markers
tonighttomorrownext weeksoonthis weekendin a few minutes
In contrast
vs will-future
Going to often shows a plan already decided or a prediction from evidence now. Will often shows a decision made now, an offer, or a neutral prediction.
Common mistakes
Wrong
She going to call Maria tonight.
Correct
She is going to call Maria tonight.
Going to future needs be before going to.
Wrong
We are going leave early.
Correct
We are going to leave early.
After going, you need to before the base verb.
Wrong
They is going to travel tomorrow.
Correct
They are going to travel tomorrow.
They takes are, not is.
Wrong
She doesn't going to come.
Correct
She isn't going to come.
Going to negatives use be not, not do or does.
Wrong
He is going to buy a car?
Correct
Is he going to buy a car?
In a yes/no question, be goes before the subject.
Wrong
Does he going to buy a car?
Correct
Is he going to buy a car?
Going to questions start with am, is, or are — not do or does.
Common misconceptions
❝ All future sentences need will. ❞
English also uses going to for future meaning, especially for plans and intentions already decided.
❝ Going to is only for personal plans. ❞
Going to also works for predictions when something now gives clear evidence about the future.
Skills in this rule (7)
AFFIRMATIVE_BE_GOING_TOw5Build affirmative sentences with be going to + base verb
Use am, is, or are + going to + base verb to talk about future plans or expected future events.
CHOOSE_AM_IS_AREw5Choose am, is, or are to match the subject
Use am with I, is with he/she/it, and are with you/we/they before going to.
NEGATIVE_BE_NOT_GOING_TOw5Make negatives with be not going to + base verb
Put not after am, is, or are. The rest stays going to + base verb.
QUESTIONS_BE_SUBJECT_GOING_TOw5Ask yes or no questions with be + subject + going to
Start the question with am, is, or are, then add the subject, going to, and the base verb.
USE_FOR_PLANS_AND_INTENTIONSw4Use going to for plans and intentions
Use going to when a person has already decided to do something in the future.
USE_FOR_EVIDENCE_BASED_PREDICTIONSw4Use going to for predictions based on evidence now
Use going to when something in the present shows what will probably happen soon.
TIME_MARKERS_FUTURE_PLANw3Recognize future time markers with going to
Words like tonight, tomorrow, next week, and soon often appear with going to when talking about future plans or expected results.