What are you going to do when you grow up? This is a popular question we get asked as children. But it's a difficult question to answer. You might still not know the answer to that question! But in this English vocabulary blog we will look at how and when we use the verb tense ‘be going to’ when learning English.
When do we use this structure?
We can use 'be going to' in English grammar to express a future meaning. Although there are lots of ways to express different future ideas in English, we use this for two main functions.
Firstly, we use it to talk about plans for the future. It reflects the speaker's intentions about the future. But it does not necessarily mean they’ve made specific arrangements – or that these things will happen.
When I'm older, I'm going to be an astronaut!
In a year’s time, I'm going to move to Madrid and study fashion design.
Next weekend I'm going to sleep until late!
We can also use 'be going to' to make predictions, based on what we can see in the present.
If she's not careful she's going to knock over that glass of water
It's very cold outside - I think it's going to snow
Clare's birthday party is going to be great - she was showing me the restaurant online.
Rules to use ‘going to’
Here’s how to use this phrase in your English vocabulary:
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subject +(be) going to |
+infinitive |
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Affirmative |
I'm going to |
go to the beach this weekend |
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She's going to |
have spaghetti for dinner tonight |
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They're going to |
release a new album next year |
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Negative |
I'm not going to |
study medicine anymore - it's too hard! |
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He's not going to |
listen to what you say |
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We're not going to |
go to the wedding because we have to work |
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Questions |
Am I going to |
finish the project on time? |
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Are you going to |
come to the party on Sunday? |
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Is it going to |
rain tomorrow? |
'Be going to' is often used in informal contexts, so we almost always use English contractions with this structure, like I'm, he's, it's, we're, they're.
Exceptions and variations
Very often, my students at my classes in the British Council will give written English compositions with sentences like "This weekend I'm gonna go to the beach''. They may have seen this spelling written in song lyrics or in the subtitles of their favourite film.
Teachers often encourage students to watch movies with subtitles to learn more English vocabulary words, so what's the problem with using “I’m gonna go to the beach” instead of “I’m going to the beach”? The problem is that “gonna” is not standard English spelling or standard English writing. You can’t use it in a business email. So please keep watching films and listening to music in English – but don't learn how to spell from them!
It can also be helpful to take an English course that includes writing and spelling.See here https://www.britishcouncil.sg/english-courses/adults
We often use the present continuous in English to talk about future plans - that is, things we have organised:
Tonight I'm going to have dinner with Tom.
Tonight I'm having dinner with Tom.
She's going to the cinema on Friday.
She's going to go to the cinema on Friday.
In the examples above, both sentences are correct. But the present continuous is easier to use, and we might avoid saying 'going to go' just because it sounds a bit repetitive.
Common grammar errors using the English phrase “going to”
It is common for English learners to get confused between the different ways to talk about the future.
When we make predictions, we can use either 'will' or 'be going to '. What's the difference? Usually, we use 'going to' when there is some evidence for our prediction… but both are possible.
It's very cloudy - I think it's going to rain.
It's very cloudy - I think it'll rain.
When we talk about the future in general, we often use will. It’s also often used when speaking spontaneously; we haven't already made a specific plan.
What are you doing tonight?
I think I will meet Dave after work. (Here, the speaker has just thought of this plan)
What are you doing tonight?
I'm going to meet Dave after work. (Here, the speaker has already planned to do this).
The general rule for when to use going to and when to use will : Use will if you are making the decision at the same time as you are speaking:
The phone's ringing - I will get it! ✓
The phone's ringing - I'm going to get it! ✗
Famous examples of “going to” in songs
There are lots of songs that talk about future plans, so lots of songs use this structure!
Bizarre Inc's 'I'm gonna get you' is a dance classic about a determined woman who asks 'Why waste your time? You know you're going to be mine!'
Scottish favourites The Proclaimers' "I'm gonna be'' leaves us in no doubt about their intentions as they tell us "When I wake up, I know I'm going to be the one who wakes up next to you''
In Martin Scorsese's classic mafia movie The Godfather, we hear the line 'I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse' - not something you want to hear from a mafia boss!
Find the errors in these sentences and correct them.
1. I've got the tickets so this weekend I will see the big match!
2. She's gonna have a surprise when she gets home tonight!
3. I don't really have plans tonight, maybe I'm going to go to the cinema.
4. When Adriana finishes her studies, she going to live in London.
5. "This jumper is gorgeous! I'm going to buy it!"
Answers:
1. I've got the tickets so this weekend I'm going to see the big match!
2. She's going to have a surprise when she gets home tonight!
3. I don't really have plans tonight, maybe I'll go to the cinema.
4. When Adriana finishes her studies, she's going to live in London.