Meaning & use
to be going to
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
used to show a plan or intention to do something in the future
Grammar: Formed with am/is/are + going to + base verb: 'I am going to call her.'
Patterns
- be going to do something
- be going to be something
We are going to visit the museum tomorrow.
She is going to start a new job next month.
They are going to buy a house next year.
phrasefixed phrase
used to predict something based on what you can see or know now
Grammar: Often used when there is evidence: 'Look at those clouds! It's going to rain.'
Patterns
- be going to happen
- be going to be something
Look at the sky! It's going to rain.
She's going to have a baby in June.
The team is playing badly; they are going to lose.
Common combinations
- be going to happen
- No one knows what is going to happen next.
- be going to be
- It is going to be a hot day.
- be just going to
- I was just going to call you.
Synonyms and how they differ
- will
- Both can express the future, but 'will' is often used for decisions made at the moment of speaking, while 'going to' suggests a plan already made.
Commonly confused: to be going to or will?
to be going to vs will
Learners often mix up 'will' and 'going to'. Use 'going to' for plans and clear evidence; use 'will' for offers, promises, and instant decisions.
Practice
Which sentence talks about a plan already decided?
Choose one answer.
'Am going to' shows a plan or intention. 'Will' often suggests a decision made at the moment of speaking, not a pre-arranged plan.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “to be going to”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.