Future with Going to
Use "going to" (am/is/are + going to + base verb) for plans and intentions already decided before you speak, and for predictions based on evidence you can see right now.
Formula
Examples
Common Time Markers
Usage
- •Plans and intentions for the future
- •Predictions based on present evidence
- •Actions definitely decided before speaking
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Try 5 cards free — no signup →When do we use "going to"?
"Going to" describes a plan or intention decided before the moment of speaking: "I'm going to study medicine." "We are going to visit Italy next summer." The decision already exists — you're just reporting it.
It also describes predictions based on present evidence — something you can see, hear, or feel right now that points to the future: "Look at those clouds — it's going to rain." "She's going to have a baby."
"Going to" vs "will"
"Going to" is for plans made before now and predictions with visible evidence. "Will" is for decisions made at the moment of speaking (spontaneous offers, promises) and predictions based on opinion rather than evidence: "I think it will rain" (general belief) vs "It's going to rain" (dark clouds right now).
A classic contrast: "I'll get it!" (spontaneous, on-the-spot decision — "will") vs "I'm going to answer the phone in my office" (already planned — "going to").
Conjugation Table
| Pronoun | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am going to study | 'm not going to study (am not) | Am I going to study? |
| He / She / It | is going to study | isn't going to study (is not) | Is she going to study? |
| You / We / They | are going to study | aren't going to study (are not) | Are they going to study? |
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When to Use Future with Going to
Plans decided before now
We are going to visit Italy next summer.
Predictions from present evidence
Look at those clouds — it's going to rain.
Inevitable near-future outcomes
This is going to hurt.
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More Examples
I'm going to study medicine.
Something you really plan to do
Look at those clouds — it's going to rain.
Guess about the future based on what you see
She's going to have a baby.
Future event based on current evidence
Are you going to accept the job offer?
Question about someone's plans
Common Mistakes
- ✗❌ "I am going to to study" → ✓ "I am going to study" (no "to" before the infinitive again)
- ✗❌ "She going to call you" → ✓ "She is going to call you" (must include am/is/are)
- ✗❌ Using "going to" for on-the-spot decisions: "I'll get it!" (spontaneous) not "I'm going to get it"
Tips
- ✓Use "going to" when you have already made the decision BEFORE speaking.
- ✓For predictions with visible evidence, "going to" (not "will") is more natural.
Advanced Notes
In fast spoken English, "going to" almost always contracts to "gonna" — learners need to recognise this for listening even if they avoid it in production. The evidence-based prediction use is a key differentiator from "will": "Look at him — he's going to fall" (you can see it happening) vs "I think it will rain" (general opinion). "Going to" is also the natural choice when something is clearly inevitable: "This is going to hurt."
FAQ
"Going to" vs "will" — what's the difference?
Use "going to" for plans decided before you speak and predictions based on evidence you can see now. Use "will" for decisions made on the spot and predictions based on opinion rather than evidence. "I'm going to visit my parents this weekend" (already planned) vs "I'll call you later" (decided just now).
Why is "I am going to to study" wrong?
"Going to" is already followed directly by the base verb — there's no second "to". The correct form is "I am going to study," not "I am going to to study."
Why is "She going to call you" wrong?
The verb "to be" (am/is/are) can't be dropped before "going to" — it's a required auxiliary. The correct form is "She is going to call you."
Can you use "going to" for spontaneous decisions?
No — spontaneous, on-the-spot decisions use "will": "The phone is ringing — I'll get it!" "Going to" is for decisions already made before you speak, so it sounds wrong for something you're deciding right now.
How do you know if a prediction needs "going to" or "will"?
If you have visible evidence right now, use "going to": "Look at him — he's going to fall" (you can see it happening). If it's a general opinion or guess without direct evidence, use "will": "I think it will rain this weekend."
Practice
- 1.I study medicine — I decided last year.
- 2.Look at the sky — it rain.
- 3.She to accept the job offer, has she?
- 4.The phone is ringing — I get it!
- 5.It not going to rain today — the sky is clear.
Compare With
Other A2 Topics
Present Continuous
Used for actions happening now or temporary situations
Past Continuous
Used for interrupted past actions or background description
Comparatives and Superlatives
Used for comparing qualities between items or identifying the extreme
Prepositions of Time and Place
Used for time and location relationships using in, on, at
Can / Could
Expresses ability, possibility, or polite requests
Adverbs of Frequency
Used for stating how often something happens
Possessive 's
Used for showing ownership or association using apostrophe + s
Quantifiers: Some, Any, Much, Many, A Lot Of
Used for unspecified quantities in positive, negative, and question contexts
Basic Linkers: And, But, Or, Because, So
Used for connecting ideas within or between sentences
Object Pronouns: Me, You, Him, Her, It, Us, Them
Used for replacing nouns as the object of a verb or preposition
Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Countable nouns can be counted (a book, two books); uncountable nouns cannot (water, money).
Too and Enough
Say when something is more than needed (too) or exactly enough (enough).
Adverbs of Manner
Adverbs of manner describe how an action happens.