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Ch 20

Going-to Future

I am going to study · plans and predictions

What is "going to"?

Use going to + verb to talk about future plans and predictions based on what you see now.

Plan / intention
I'm going to study tonight.
Future arrangement
She's going to visit Paris next month.
Prediction (evidence)
Look at those clouds — it's going to rain.
Going to is for plans you have ALREADY decided. For decisions made at the moment of speaking, use will (covered in Ch 21).

Form: be + going to + base verb

Three parts: am/is/are + going to + verb

subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb  →  I am going to study. ✓
I
I am going to study. / I'm going to study.
He / She / It
She is going to study. / She's going to study.
You / We / They
They are going to study. / They're going to study.
After "going to" always use the base verb (eat, go, study) — never -ing or to.

Negative form

Add not after am/is/are

I
I am not going to study. / I'm not going to study.
He / She / It
She isn't going to come.
You / We / They
They aren't going to agree.
I'm not going to drive.
She isn't going to wait.
They aren't going to call.

Questions and short answers

Move am/is/are to the front

Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + verb?  →  Are you going to study? ✓
Yes answer
Yes, I am. / Yes, she is. / Yes, they are.
No answer
No, I'm not. / No, she isn't. / No, they aren't.
What time?
What time are you going to leave?

Two uses: plan vs prediction

Both look the same but the meaning is different

Plan / intention
I'm going to start a new job on Monday.
I've decided already
She's going to move to Madrid.
It's her plan
Prediction (evidence)
It's going to rain.
I can see clouds
She's going to fall!
She's slipping right now

Common mistakes

She is going to studies.
→
She is going to study.
Base verb after going to
I going to call her.
→
I am going to call her.
Don't forget am/is/are
She is going to studying.
→
She is going to study.
No -ing after going to

Recap

Positive
am/is/are + going to + base
I am going to study.
Negative
am/is/are + not + going to + base
She isn't going to come.
Question
Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base?
Are you going to study?
Uses
plan + prediction with evidence
I'm going to / It's going to rain
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