Mastering the Future with ‘To Be Going To’.

Hello everyone!

Today, we are going to dive into one of the pillars of the English future: the structure ‘to be going to’. I know that sometimes the future can be a bit confusing with so many options (will, present continuous, etc.), but don't worry. ‘To be going to’ is not just a grammar rule; it is a very useful tool to talk about your intentions, plans and even to predict things based on what we see.

From Global 4 Languages, we will guide you step by step through every corner of ‘to be going to’. We'll see how it's formed, when to use it (which is key!), and I'll give you the secret recipe to differentiate it from will, which is the million-dollar question. Ready to unravel the mysteries of this construction and take your English to the next level? Let's get to it!

What is ‘To Be Going To’ and how did we form it?

Before launching into the examples, let's understand how this versatile expression is constructed. The formula is simple, promise!

The verb ‘to be’ conjugated: This means am, is or are, depending on who is doing the action (the subject).
‘Going to’: This is the part that does not change, the part that tells us that something is ‘going to’ happen.
The main verb in its base form (infinitive without ‘to’): This is where you put the action you want to express (study, visit, play...).

So, the magic structure is:

Subject + am/is/are/are + going to + Verb in base form

Let's take a look at a few quick examples to make it clear:

Voy a estudiar para mi examen. (Voy a estudiar para mi examen.)
She is going to visit She is going to visit her grandmother.
They are going to play They are going to play football this afternoon.

And how do we make sentences in the affirmative, negative and interrogative?

Easy as pie! Once you understand the basics, constructing any kind of sentence is a piece of cake.

In Affirmative:

I'm going to travel to London next year.
He's going to buy He is going to buy a new car.
We're going to have a big party (Let's have a big party).

In Negative:

To say that something is "not going to" happen, we simply add not right after the verb to beIt's as simple as that!

I'm not going to eat I'm not going to have dinner tonight.
She isn't going to come She is not coming to the meeting.
They aren't going to finish They are not going to finish the project on time.

Interrogative (to ask questions):

Here we only have to swap the order of the subject and the verb. to beMagic!

Are you going to watch the game?
Is he going to call her? (Is he going to call her?)
Are we going to meet tomorrow? (Are we meeting tomorrow?)

When do we use ‘To Be Going To’?

The beauty of ‘to be going to’ is that it helps us to express two very specific types of future. Pay attention, this is the crux of the matter!

1. For your already decided plans and intentions

This is undoubtedly the most common use and the one you will use the most. We use "to be going to"to talk about plans that we have already decided do before you speak. It is not a spur-of-the-moment occurrence, but something you have already thought of or planned!

Imagine someone asks you: "What are you going to do this weekend? If you already have everything organised in your head, you would use ‘to be going to’:

I'm going to visit I'm going to visit my parents on Saturday. The decision has been made, it's already on my mental agenda!
She's going to start a new diet next Monday. It is something she has already planned and decided.
We're going to paint the living room this summer - and we are going to paint the living room this summer. They have already discussed and organised to do so.

This usage emphasises that the future action is the result of a decision or preparation that occurred before we opened our mouths to say it.

2. For evidence-based predictions Clear

The second major use of ‘to be going to’ is to make predictions about the future, but with one very important condition: those predictions must be backed up by something we are seeing or hearing in the present. There is ‘evidence’ that makes us think that something is going to happen.

Think about these day-to-day situations:

"Look at those dark clouds! It's going to rain." (Look at those dark clouds! It's going to rain.) - The evidence (the black, heavy clouds) is crystal clear: rain in sight!
"He's driving too fast. He's going to crash(He's driving too fast. He's going to crash!) - "He's driving too fast. He's going to crash! His driving is evidence of an impending accident.
"The baby is crying. She's going to wake up her parents." (The baby is crying. She's going to wake her parents up. The baby's cry is the unmistakable sign that the parents will soon be awake.

In these cases, we are not simply guessing or giving a random opinion; we are basing our prediction on current events or situations that make the future outcome very, very likely.

‘To Be Going To’ vs. ‘Will’: Goodbye to confusion!

Here comes one of the million dollar questions! When do I use ‘to be going to’ and when do I use will? Both speak of the future, yes, but the key is the timing of the decision and whether there is present evidence.

Will: Spontaneous Decisions and More Subjective Predictions

Spontaneous (on the spot) decisions: We use will for those decisions that we make "on the fly", without thinking long and hard beforehand.
- "I'm thirsty. I 'll get a glass of water." (I'm thirsty. I'll get a glass of water. Decision taken on the spot.
General predictions or simple opinions: Will is perfect for when we give our opinion about the future, without having clear evidence to back it up right now.
- "I think it will be sunny tomorrow." - "I think it will be sunny tomorrow. It's an opinion, I'm not looking at the sun right now to predict it.
Promises, offers, requests and threats: For these speech acts, will is your best ally.
- "I will help you with your homework." (I will help you with your homework. It is a promise.

The most important difference:

The main distinction between the two lies in the timing of the decision and the existence of evidence:

‘To be going to’: We use it for plans you already had in mind (the decision was made before you spoke) and for predictions based on something you see or know now.
‘Will’: We use it for decisions you make at the very moment of speaking and for preaching that is more of an opinion or assumption without obvious present evidence.

Compare these examples and you will see more clearly!

Situation	`Will`	`To Be Going To`
Last minute decision	"Oh, the phone is ringing. I 'll answer it."	(Not applicable, it is a spontaneous decision)
Previously decided plan	(Not applicable, not a spontaneous decision)	"I 'm going to cook dinner tonight."
Prediction without evidence	"I think humans will live on Mars someday."	(Not applicable, no evidence present)
Prediction with evidence	(Not applicable, `will` would imply an assumption)	"Look! The cat is going to jump on the table."

Extending the use of ‘To Be Going To’.

In addition to the two main uses we have already seen, ‘to be going to’ can appear in other contexts that enrich its meaning:

To ask about intentions:

It is very natural to use ‘to be going to’ in questions when we want to know someone's plans or intentions.

"What are you going to do after graduation?" What are you going to do after graduation?
"Where are they going to spend their holidays?" (Where are they going to spend their holidays?)

To give firm orders or instructions (watch your tone!):

In a very direct and sometimes a bit authoritative tone, ‘to be going to’ can be used to indicate that something must happen or that someone is going to do something. It is less common, but you will see it!

"You 're going to finish your homework before you go out." (You are going to finish your homework before you go out.) - Sounds like "no argument!"
"The company is going to implement The company is going to implement the new policy next month - the new policy next month. It indicates a firm and undeniable decision.

Avoid these common mistakes!

If you know them, it will be easier to avoid them:

Forget the verb ‘to be’: This is number one! Remember that we always, always, always need the am, is o are.
- ❌ Wrong: “I going to travel”.
- ✅Correct: ‘I am going to travel
Conjugate "going": The part going to is fixed. The only verb we conjugate is to be.
- ❌ Wrong: «She is goes to study.»
- ✅ Correct: «She is going to study.»
Use ‘to’ before the main verb: The main verb is always in its base form, no other! to ahead!
- ❌ Incorrect: "They are going to play."
- ✅ Correct: "They are going to play."
Confuse with Present Continuous for the future: Both forms are used for plans, but there is a nuance."To be going to"focuses on the intention or the prediction with evidence. The Present Continuous is more for arrangements or appointments already confirmed (as an appointment in the calendar).
- "I am meeting John at 7 PM." - "I have an appointment with John at 7 PM. It is a closed arrangement.
- "I am going to meet John to discuss the project. (I'm going to meet with John to discuss the project. This is my intention or plan.

Practice!

The best way to make it stick is to use it, so let's get on with it! Here are some ideas for integrating ‘to be going to’ into your everyday life:

Talk about your plans: Every morning, think of three things you are ‘going to do’ during the day. For example: "I'm going to finish this report. I'm going to call my sister. I'm going to cook pasta for dinner."
Haz predicciones: Observa a tu alrededor y haz predicciones basadas en lo que ves. «Mira el cielo, va a hacer un día precioso». «Ese coche va muy rápido, le van a multar».
Write your plans: Write a short paragraph about your plans for the next month or year, using only ‘to be going to’!
Create dialogues: Imagine conversations with friends or family and practice how you would use ‘to be going to’ to ask and answer about plans.

Remember that it is not just about memorising the formula, but about understanding the intention and the evidence behind what you want to express. By mastering its uses for plans already decided and for predictions based on what you see, you will unlock a fundamental part of English!

The key, as always, is constant practice and paying attention to those little nuances between ‘to be going to’ and will. With this guide, you have all the tools to use this structure with confidence and accuracy, greatly improving your ability to communicate in English.

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