How to use the Future tense with ‘be going to’
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The simple future has two different forms in English: we use either ‘will‘ or ‘be+going to‘. Although they can be used in the same way, they often have a different meaning.
With a little practice their difference will seem clearer to you. Both options refer to a specific time in the future.
In this lesson we will focus on the simple future with be + going to
To see the first part (future with Will) click here.
1/ Construction
Be + going to + verb to the present tense
| Â Affirmative | Â Negative | Â Question | |
| I am he / she / it is We / you / they are |
I am going to … He is going to … You are going to … |
I am not going to … He is not going to … You are not going to … |
Am I going to …? He is going to …? Are you going to …? |
- (+) You are going to wash the car.
- (?) Are you going to wash the car ?
- (-) You are not going to wash the car.
2/ Use of ‘be going to’
* To express an intention, an activity that you want to achieve or that is already underway:
- I’m going to spend my hollydays in Italy.
- She’s going to text him right now about the news.
- Tom is going to break up with his girlfriend.
- I wonder how he’s going to tell her the news.
- She’s going to cry when she will know that.
- They are going to travel around Canada.
- Who are you going to invite to the barbecue ?
* To predict future events (you can also use’will’):
- My wife is going to have a baby.
- Don’t worry, the plane is not going to crash.
- Look at the sky, it’s going to rain.
- The next Star Wars movie is going to be awesome !
3/ Notes
👉 About to
If the action is really imminent, we can use ‘to be + about to‘.
- I’m about to leave soon, this party is too boring.
- He’s about to cry.
- I just saw Natalie at the club, I’m sure she’s about to cheat on her boyfriend.
- Open the toilets! I’m about to puke !
👉 Adverbs such as always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc. are placed before going to:Â
- You are never going to ask him.
- Are you ever going to ask him ?
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