When it comes to expressing future actions in English, there are several ways to do so, but one of the most common structures is “be going to.” This construction is versatile, easy to use, and widely used in everyday conversations.
What Does “Be Going To” Mean?
The phrase “be going to” is used to talk about future plans, intentions, or predictions based on current evidence. It’s often used when you’ve already made a decision or when something seems likely to happen based on what you can see or know.
For example:
- Future Plans: “I’m going to visit Paris next summer.”
- Intentions: “She’s going to start learning Spanish soon.”
- Predictions Based on Evidence: “Look at those dark clouds—it’s going to rain.”
How to Form “Be Going To”
The structure of “be going to” is straightforward:
- Subject + Be (am/is/are) + Going To + Base Verb
Here’s how it works in practice:
- Singular Subjects:
- I am going to travel.
- He is going to study.
- She is going to cook dinner.
- Plural Subjects:
- We are going to watch a movie.
- They are going to play soccer.
- You are going to have a great time.
The verb “be” changes depending on the subject (am/is/are), but the rest of the structure stays the same.
When to Use “Be Going To”
1. For Future Plans and Intentions
If you’ve already decided to do something or have an intention to act in a certain way, use “be going to.” This is different from “will,” which is often used for spontaneous decisions.
- Example 1: “I’ve booked my flight—I’m going to visit Japan in December.”
- Example 2: “He says he’s going to quit his job and start a business.”
2. For Predictions Based on Evidence
When you can see or know something that makes you believe a future event is likely, use “be going to.”
- Example 1: “The baby is crying. She’s going to need a diaper change.”
- Example 2: “That car is driving too fast—it’s going to crash!”
This is different from using “will” for predictions, which are often based on general beliefs rather than immediate evidence.
“Be Going To” vs. “Will”
While both “be going to” and “will” refer to the future, they serve slightly different purposes. Here’s how to decide which one to use:
| Feature | “Be Going To” | “Will” |
|---|---|---|
| Plans/Intentions | Used for pre-decided plans or intentions | Used for spontaneous decisions |
| Predictions | Based on current evidence | Based on general beliefs or assumptions |
| Examples | “I’m going to call her later.” | “I think I’ll call her later.” |
| “It’s going to snow tonight.” | “I think it will snow tonight.” |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing “Going To” with “Go To”
- “Be going to” refers to the future, while “go to” talks about movement or attending places.
- Correct: “I’m going to go to the park later.” (Future plan)
- Incorrect: “I’m going to the park later.” (Unless you mean right now)
- Using “Will” for Pre-Decided Plans
- If you’ve already planned something, stick with “be going to.”
- Correct: “We’re going to meet at 7 PM.”
- Incorrect: “We will meet at 7 PM.” (Unless deciding spontaneously)
- Forgetting the Verb After “Going To”
- Always include the base form of the verb after “going to.”
- Correct: “She’s going to study hard.”
- Incorrect: “She’s going to studying hard.”
