Future with GOING TO

 Future with Going to

1. Future with Going to - form

This form is composed of three elements: the appropriate form of the verb 'to be' + going to + the infinitive of the main verb:

Subject 'to be' going to infinitive

She

is

going to

leave

2. Functions

The use of 'going to' to refer to future events suggests a very strong association with the present. The time is not important - it is later than now, but the attitude is that the event depends on a present situation, that we know about. So it is used:

  • To refer to our plans and intentions: 
    We're going to move to London next year. (= the plan is in our minds now.)
  • To make predictions based on present evidence: 
    Look at those clouds - it's going to pour with rain! (= It's clear from what I can see now.)

Note: In everyday speech, 'going to' is often shortened to 'gonna', especially in American English.

 

1. Plans and intentions:

We use be going to to talk about future plans and intentions. Usually the decision about the future plans has already been made:

  • Is Freddy going to buy a new car soon?
  • Are John and Pam going to visit Milan when they are in Italy?
  • I think Nigel and Mary are going to have a party next week.

NOTE: It is unusual to say 'I'm going to go to...'
Instead, we use 'going to' + a place or event:

Examples

  • We are going to the beach tomorrow.
  • She is going to the ballet tonight.
  • Are you going to the party tomorrow night?

2. Predictions based on present evidence:

We use be going to to predict something that we think is certain to happen or which we have evidence for now:

  • There's going to be a terrible accident!
  • He's going to be a brilliant politician.
  • I'm going to have terrible indigestion.

3. Commands

We use be going to when we give commands or state that something is obligatory:

  • You’re going to pick up all of those toys right now. This room is a mess!

Be going to or will?

Will is often used in a similar way to be going to. Will is used when we are talking about something with absolute certainty. Be going to is used when we want to emphasise our decision or the evidence in the present:

[An ‘A’ road is a main road. A ‘B’ road is a smaller road.]

  • We are now very late so we’re going to take the ‘B’ road. (the speaker refers to the present and emphasises the decision)
  • I know the ‘B’ road will be quicker at this time of day. (the speaker states a fact)