Going to

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Going to

1. Formation of the future with going to

1.1 Going to





AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE QUESTION (+) QUESTION (-)
Im going to study. Im not going to study. Am I going to study? Arent I going to study?
He/Shes going to
work.
He/She isnt going to
work.
Is he/she going to
work?
Isnt he/she going to work?
Youre going to sleep. youre not going to sleep. Are you going to sleep? Arent you going to sleep?


Pay attention!
come: Im coming to see you tomorrow (NOT Im going to come)
go: Were going on holiday (NOT we are going to go)


2 Use of going to

2.1 Use going to to talk about future plans and intentions that have already been
made (planned action in the future).







Present continuous form of the verb to go +infinitive (with to)
PAST PRESENT FUTURE



Going to

2

Eg: Im going to learn English in Australia.
He is going to meet Anne tonight.
Is Georgia going to buy a new car?
You are going to play with me next time.


2.2 Use going to to describe something that is inevitable in the opinion of the
speaker (personal certainty that something is going to happen in the future)









Eg: You are very intelligent, you are going to pass the exam. (maybe its not true)
I think that the next president is going to be a woman. (maybe its not true)
In my opinion you are going to miss the train! (maybe its not true)



2.3 Use going to to make a prediction based on evidence









PAST PRESENT FUTURE

PAST PRESENT FUTURE
Physical evidence
(eg: cloud)
Prediction
(eg:rain)

Going to

3
Eg: A cold wind is blowing. Its going to snow! (meteorological evidence)
Look at that black cloud! Its going to rain! (physical evidence)
Alice doesnt work well and she is always late; she is going to lose her job. (prediction based on
facts)