Why do we use ‘Be Going To’ in English?

We use be going to for two main reasons when we talk about the future.

• To talk about future plans and intentions: These are things you have already decided to do. You have a plan in your mind.
• To make predictions based on present evidence: This means you see something now that tells you what will happen in the future.

How do we form sentences with ‘Be Going To’?

The basic structure for be going to is always the same:

• Subject + verb ‘to be’ (am/is/are) + going to + base form of the main verb

Let’s look at the different forms:

Positive Sentences

Use the correct form of to be (am, is, are) with going to.

• I am going to visit my grandparents next weekend.
• She is going to start a new job soon.
• They are going to buy a new car.

Negative Sentences

Add not after the verb to be.

• I am not going to watch TV tonight.
• He isn’t going to come to the party.
• We aren’t going to travel this summer.

Questions

Start the question with the verb to be (Am, Is, Are).

• Are you going to study for the exam?
• Is she going to call you later?
• What are they going to do tomorrow?

Short Answers

Use Yes/No + subject pronoun + am/is/are (or am not/isn’t/aren’t).

• Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
• Yes, she is. / No, she isn’t.
• Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t.

Examples

• I am going to learn to play the guitar. (Plan)
• Look at those dark clouds! It is going to rain. (Prediction based on evidence)
• They are going to have dinner at a restaurant tonight. (Plan)
• She isn’t going to finish her homework on time. (Prediction based on evidence)
• Are we going to visit the museum tomorrow? (Question about a plan)
• He is going to be late for work. (Prediction based on evidence)
• My brother is not going to help me with this project. (Intention/Plan)

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

Many Spanish speakers make similar mistakes with be going to. Watch out for these:

• Forgetting ‘to be’: In Spanish, you might say “Voy a estudiar.” But in English, you must include the verb to be.
  ✗ I going to study.
  ✓ I am going to study.
• Using ‘to’ twice: After going to, you use the base form of the verb. Do not add another to.
  ✗ She is going to to buy a new phone.
  ✓ She is going to buy a new phone.
• Confusing with ‘will’: For definite plans or predictions based on evidence, be going to is usually better than will at this level.
  ✗ I will visit my aunt next week. (If it’s a definite plan)
  ✓ I am going to visit my aunt next week.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between ‘be going to’ and ‘will’ for future?

For A2 learners, remember that be going to is for plans you have already made or predictions based on what you see now. Will is often used for spontaneous decisions or general predictions without clear evidence.

Can I use contractions with ‘be going to’?

Yes, absolutely! Contractions are very common in spoken English. For example, I’m going to, He’s going to, They’re going to. For negative forms, you can say isn’t going to or aren’t going to.

Is ‘be going to’ important for the A2 Key (KET) exam?

Yes, be going to is a key grammar point for the A2 Key exam. You might need to use it in the writing part to describe future plans or in the speaking part to talk about what you intend to do.

Related lessons

• Be going to (future)
• Be going to (future)
• Be going to (future)