What you'll learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to talk about plans and intentions, and react to things you can already see happening, using be going to.
When do I use it?
Use be going to when you already made a plan or an intention before speaking: "I am going to visit my grandmother" (a plan). You also use it when you have evidence that something is about to happen: "Look at those clouds, it's going to rain." For decisions made at the moment of speaking, English prefers "will".
How do I form it?
Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb
- I am going to study tonight. (plan)
- She is going to buy a new phone. (intention)
- They are going to play football. (arrangement)
- Look! He is going to fall. (evidence right now)
| I am | going to cook |
|---|---|
| You/We/They are | going to cook |
| He/She/It is | going to cook |
The 'am/is/are' part changes with the subject, but 'going to + base verb' never changes.
Common mistakes for Spanish speakers
Because Spanish does not have this structure, speakers miss the "be" part: "I going to travel" is wrong — you need "I am going to travel". Also, after "going to", use the base verb, not the -ing form: "going to eat", not "going to eating". Do not confuse it with "will": if the decision was made beforehand, "be going to" is the natural choice.
Always include am/is/are before "going to". After "going to" the verb is base form, never -ing.
Practice
Multiple Choice
A1Which sentence expresses a plan made before speaking?
Fill in the Blank
A1Their plane arrives at five, so she going to pick them up.
Hint: 'She' takes 'is' before 'going to'.
Find the Error
A1Sentence Transformation
A1Task: Rewrite using be going to for a plan
Hint: Use 'are going to' + base verb.
Practice Speaking
Apply what you've learned in a real conversation with AI feedback.
Level: A1