The expression going to in English. Design be going to. Theory. Difference from Future Simple and Present Continuous. Interrogative form be going to

There is a turnover in English to be going to, which is frequently used, respectively, you need to know the rules of how and when it is used. This construction has nothing to do with the direct meaning of the word to go (to go), as, for example, in the sentence I am going to the cinema (I'm going to the cinema) - here we use the Present Continuous tense to emphasize that this is happening at the moment speech, i.e. right now. turnover to be going to will be used to express an event in the future tense, so after it you need to indicate the action - to be going to do something - I'm going to do something, i.e. add the action that you intend to take soon. But the future tense in English can be expressed through the auxiliary verb will, i.e. use the Future Simple tense. Indeed, the use of the construction be going to and similar situations, but there are differences. Therefore, in this article we will consider in which cases sentences with to be going to will be used, and give examples.

Turnover to be going to: grammar

In English, this grammatical construction can be used in the present and past tenses, but in Russian its meaning will refer to the future: "to gather, intend, plan to do something."

When used to be going to

In present time:

when talking about plans and intentions to do something in the future. This action was planned even before it was reported, even before the moment of speaking.

For example

We are going to see a play this evening.

I 'm going to buy some books tomorrow.

Sarah is going to sell her car.

I' m not going to have breakfast this morning. I'm not hungry.

What are you going to wear to the party tonight?

‘Your hands are dirty’ ‘Yes, I know. I 'm going to wash them.

Are you going to invite John to your party?

If the decision was made at the time of speech, then you need to use the Future Simple (will).

For example

‘Gary phoned while you were out.’ - ‘OK, I will call him back.'

when predicting future events based on present facts. Certain events indicate what is about to happen. Now we see something that makes us think about what will happen in the future. Often we are talking about what will happen just about, right now, in the near future.

For example

Look at those black clouds. It is going to rain.

Oh dear! It's 9 o'clock and I'm not ready. I 'm going to be late.

I feel terrible. I think I 'm going to be sick.

look! Leo 's going to win the race!

The economic situation is bad now and things are going to get worse.

Mum's car's making a strange noise. It 's going to break down.

look! The dog 's going to catch the ball.

In the past time:

when they talk about actions that they were going to do, but did not do.

For example

We were going to travel by train, but then we decided to go by car instead.

Peter was going to do the exam, but he changed his mind.

I was just going to cross the road when somebody shouted ‘Stop’.

I was going to buy some new clothes yesterday, but I was very busy and didn't have time to go to the shop.

Martin and I were going to play tennis last week, but he was injured.

I was going to phone Jane, but I decided to email her instead.

We were going to have a party last week, but some of our friends couldn't come, so we cancelled it.

when they talk about events that they were sure would happen, but they did not happen.

For example

I thought it was going to rain, but it didn't rain.

Education design to be going to

turnover to be going to… can be used in affirmation, negation and question. It consists of a verb to be, which will vary depending on the person and number of the subject, and going to, which does not change. Then comes the infinitive of the semantic verb.

Present tense verb to be has 3 forms: am, is and are.

am used with a pronoun I.
is he, she, it or with singular nouns.
are used with pronouns we, you, they

Past tense verb to be has 2 forms: was and were.

was used with pronouns I, he, she, it or with nouns in singular. h.
were used with pronouns we, you, they or with plural nouns.

Education table

affirmative form

present time
		going to


past tense
		going to

Negative form

present time
		not going to


past tense
		not going to

Interrogative form and short answer

present time
	going to	Yes, I am.	no, I 'm not.
		Yes, he is. Yes, she is. Yes, it is.	No, he isn't. No, she isn't. No, it isn't.
		Yes, we are. Yes, you are. Yes, they are.	No, we aren't. No, you aren't. No, they aren't.
past tense
	going to	Yes, I was. Yes, he was. Yes, she was. Yes, it was.	no, I wasn't. No, he wasn't. No, she wasn't. No, it wasn't.
		Yes, we were. Yes, you were. Yes, they were.	No, we weren't. No, you weren't. No, they weren't.

Briefly answer the question, repeat going to no need.

Are you going to come? - Yes, I am. / no, I "m not.

Special interrogative form

present time
			going to


past tense
			going to

Download table of education designs to be going to in English:

to be gonna - short version of to be going to

In colloquial speech, in informal communication, in songs, films, you can often hear a simplified version of this construction - to be gonna.

For example

I 'm gonna buy this cake.

We aren't gonna do that.

The construction to be going to in English is present in order to be able to grammatically correctly convey your plans for the future, to talk about some business. Find out from the interlocutor about his plans, or vice versa, clarify what the person does not intend to do.

Turnover to be going to - translated means "to be going to do something." This design is used:

if there is already a plan of action in advance (he is going to read a car magazine, she is going to visit a friend)
if we are talking about the fact that something must happen, and there is evidence of this (probably a heavy downpour is going on, the sky is all in dark clouds)

How affirmative sentences are formed

The construction to be going to is divided into two halves, one of which changes, the other remains unchanged.

The first half is to be, which can change depending on the person performing the action. In Present Simple (present) to be has three forms:

1) am - works with the pronoun I

2) is - works with pronouns she, he, it

3) are - works with pronouns you, they, we

The second half is going to - never changes

It is very later, and she is going to sleep. - It's very late and she's going to bed.

They are going to take part in this party. - They are going to attend the party.

I am going to wear this beautiful dress on the last school's bell.- I'm going to wear this beautiful dress on the last school bell.

My sister is now busy, but in the evening she is going to join us at the party. - My sister is a bit busy now, but she is going to join us for the party tonight.

Be fast! You are going to miss your plane. - Hurry up! You will miss your plane.

Negative form

In order to use the turnover to be going to in the form of negation in speech, we need a particle not, which is affixed to the verb to be.

He is not going to write the composition in English. He is not going to write an essay in English.

They are not going to refuse to cooperate. - They are not going to refuse cooperation.

I am not going to participate in this dangerous matter. - I'm not going to participate in this dangerous business.

Interrogative form

If we need to ask a question to find out if someone is going to do or not do something, we need to be brought forward. In interrogative sentences, the sentence begins with it.

Is he going to visit his little brother at the hospital? - Is he going to visit his little brother in the hospital?

Are we going to make a report about wild animals? - Are we going to do a report about wild animals?

Are you going to participate in the adult chess tournament? - Are you going to take part in the adult chess tournament?

Is your grandfather going to release his new book? - Is your grandfather going to release his new book?

Are you going to buy me a ticket for this singer's concert? - Are you going to buy me a ticket for this singer's concert?

Special questions

If we need to ask a special question, then this will require special question words: what?, where?, how many/long?, which?, who?, whom?, when? why? for what?

These words are placed at the beginning of the sentence, and the further scheme of the interrogative sentence is preserved.

On what topic are students going to write an essay? - On what topic are students going to write an essay?

When an electrician is going to come and repair the wiring? - When is the electrician going to come and fix the wiring?

How long are your parents going to rest in Turkey? - How long are your parents going to rest in Turkey.

How the phrase to be going to is used in the past tense

This construction can also be used for the past tense. When it comes to the fact that we are going to perform some action, but for some reason we did not do it. To form such a sentence, it is necessary to put to be in the past tense.

In the past tense, the speech turnover to be going to works the same way as in the present.

Even those who have never studied English know that go is "to go". But not everything is as simple as it seems, because the verb go not always used in this sense. In this article, we will not consider the numerous semantic meanings of the verb go (of which, by the way, there are more than forty), we will also not understand stable combinations with the verb go (the number of which is difficult to imagine). In this article we will talk about the going to construction, which, although it includes the form of the verb go, serves to express completely different meanings.

So when we first see the construction be going to in a sentence, the first thought is ordinary. For example:

I am going to buy a new camera.

Those who are not yet familiar with the functions of the design going to, translate like this: I'm going to buy a new camera (right now). Everything seems logical, there is no doubt about the correctness of the translation.

However, when more information comes in, it becomes more difficult:

He is going to publish his new book next year.

The scientists are going to launch a new space project soon.

In fact, everything is simple, you just need to understand one rule: no one goes anywhere!

going to- a construction that is used to express plans, intentions, forecasts for the future. Respectively:

I am going to buy a new camera. - I'm going to buy a new camera.

He is going to publish his new book next year. He is going to publish a new book next year.

The scientists are going to launch a new space project soon. - Scientists are planning to launch a new space program soon.

Before we take a closer look at the functions of the construction and its grammatical features, let's remember once and for all how to distinguish it from other forms. Let's compare two sentences:

I am going to school now.

I am going to meet my friends tomorrow.

In the first sentence, going to is followed by a noun, so to- a preposition of movement that indicates the direction where I actually go now.

In the second sentence after going stands infinitive with a particle to, which is a verb. This verb shows what I'm going to do.

And of course, don't forget the context! He is your indispensable assistant, because sometimes only the context allows you to fully understand the meaning of the statement.

Now more about forms.

The constructions be going to are always preceded by a verb to be, and, as you know, it changes by gender and number:

I am going to tell you about my last holiday. - I'm going to tell you about my last vacation.

She is going to call you today. - She's going to call you today.

They are going to sell their car. They are going to sell their car.

If someone is not going to do something, a negative form is built. to the verb to be add a negative particle not:

I am not going to read this book. - I'm not going to read this book.

He is not going to play with us. - He's not going to play with us.

We are not going to discuss this question. - We are not going to discuss this issue.

And finally, to ask a question, the verb to be moves to the beginning of the sentence:

In addition, the construction be going to is notable for the fact that it can be used in the past tense. To do this, remember that in the past tense the verb to be has only two forms: was And were. And affirmative, negative and interrogative statements are built on the same principle:

I was going to ask you out. - I was going to invite you somewhere.

It was going to rain so I took my umbrella. - It was going to rain, so I took an umbrella.

We were going to have a picnic by the river. We were going to have a picnic by the river.

I was not going to buy new shoes. I don "t know how it happened! - I was not going to buy new shoes. I don't know how it happened!

She was not going to help us. She wasn't going to help us.

They were not going to listen to me. They weren't going to listen to me.

Everything is clear with the forms, now it's time to learn about the meanings of the construction be going to:

1. Planned actions (Plans).

Use be going to when talking about what you have planned, what you want to do in the future. Be going to used more in informal communication, in more formal situations use the verb to plan (to plan).

What are you going to do on holiday? - I am going to visit my parents and spend some time in the countryside. - What are you going to do on vacation? I'm going to visit my parents and spend a few days out of town.

They were going to leave, but I persuaded them to stay. - They intended to leave, but I persuaded them to stay.

2. Decisions and intentions (Decisions and Intentions).

If you use be going to, your interlocutor understands that you made a decision in advance, not at the time of the conversation. Be going to also serves to express intent:

Jim and Mary are going to get married. - Jim and Mary are going (decided) to get married.

He is going to become a lawyer like his father. - He is going (intends) to become a lawyer, like his father.

3. Predictions Based on Evidence.

This wording may not be entirely clear. Let's look at an example. You look out the window and see black clouds, hear thunder. What prediction will you make? You will most likely say: "Now it's going to rain (And I, as always, without an umbrella!)".

To express such an assumption in English, you will have to use nothing more than the be going to construction:

It is going to rain.

Or you notice how a person slipped on the street and is about to fall. You say:

He is going to fall.

Be going to should be used to express actions that will definitely happen in the near future, as we can judge from what we see and hear.

Please note that in sentences with be going to the subject can be inanimate, for example it:

It is going to snow. - It will snow.

These are the three main meanings of the be going to construction in which it is used most often. If your level is average, even above average, then these values will be quite enough for you to communicate. For an advanced level, you can add a couple more.

4. Commands (Orders).

Be going to is sometimes used to insist that someone do something, or, conversely, not do it:

You are not going to wear this dress! - You will not wear this dress!

You are going to stay at home whether you want it or not. You stay at home whether you like it or not.

5. Failures (Refusals).

In Russian, if we really don't want to do something, we say: "I'm not going to do it!". So, in English, the same story, if you flatly refuse to do anything, you can say: "I am not going to do it!". Such a sentence sounds very emotional and even a little rude, so be careful, use it to the point so as not to offend anyone:

I am not going to do your work! You get paid for it! - I'm not going to do your job! You get paid for it!

I am not going to solve your problems! You "ve made your bed, now you can lie on it!" - I'm not going to solve your problems!

It is important to remember that the be going to construction is not used with verbs. go And come, as well as with some other verbs denoting movement. Instead of going to with these verbs is used:

I am going to the seaside tomorrow. (NOT am going to go) - I'm going to go / going to the sea tomorrow.

My friends are coming for dinner on Sunday. (NOT are going to come) - My friends are going to come/come to dinner on Sunday.

I would also like to note that in colloquial communication, the pronunciation going to is often simplified to gonna ["g(ə)nə]. In films and songs you have repeatedly heard: I'm gonna, you're gonna and so on. So, know that gonna is an informal, colloquial version of the construction going to. Auxiliary verb in negatives to be (am not, are not, is not) also "simplified" and pronounced as . Read more about abbreviations.

Bon Jovi in his song It's My Life sings the following:

It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever

This is my life
Now or never
I won't live forever.

Very good idea, by the way! It is worth heeding the advice of Bon Jovi:

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As you can see, the variable part of this construction is the verb to be, and therefore, it is precisely thanks to that that the construction be going to is consistent with the subject and has the forms of the present and past simple tenses.

Be going to PRESENT SIMPLE.

Consider the use of be going to in Present Simple.

Be going to PAST SIMPLE.

Consider the use of be going to in Past Simple.

Usually, use be going to limited to the two times described above - Present Simple and Past Simple.

Basic rules and features of the use of be going to.

The use of be going to often overlaps with the use of verbs in the Future Simple or Present Continuous. Consider these cases, as they often cause difficulties.

The difference between be going to and Future Simple.

Be going to means ‘going to do something’, while the verbs in Future Simple indicate spontaneity / momentary decision. Compare:

Polly's going to visit her granny on Sunday. - Polly is going to visit her grandmother on Sunday.

MOTHER: Polly, your granny's just phoned. She feels bad.

POLLY: OK, I will visit her on Sunday.

(MOM: Polly, Grandma called. She doesn't feel well.

POLLY: Okay, I'll visit her on Sunday)

In the first case, we are talking about a deliberate intention, and in the second, a momentary decision caused by circumstances.

The difference between be going to and Present Continuous.

One of the meanings of Present Continuous is an indication of an action planned for the future.

Polly is visiting her granny on Sunday. Polly plans to visit her grandmother on Sunday.

Then What is the difference between be going and Present Continuous? There is a difference, although it is not always obvious.

The use of Present Continuos for planned activities usually means:

having an agreement with someone
availability of pre-purchased tickets or any other preparations for future action.

Be going to only expresses personal intention perform some action.

Thus:

Polly is visiting her granny on Sunday. (Polly plans to visit her grandmother on Sunday. She made arrangements with her grandmother, perhaps bought tickets, bought her a present, or something like that.)

Polly is going to visit her granny on Sunday. (On Sunday, Polly plans to visit her grandmother. Polly decided this without agreeing with anyone.)

It is worth emphasizing once again that the difference between be going and Present Continuous can be obvious only from the context. Without context, both sentences - Polly is visiting her granny on Sunday and Polly is going to visit her granny on Sunday - will be true and we will not be able to stop at one specific option.

Note!

Be going, as a rule, is not used with the verbs go and come. If in Russian "I'm going to go" is a perfectly acceptable phrase, then in English 'I'm going to go' does not sound quite correct. Instead of 'I'm going to go' (I'm going to go) and 'I'm going to come' (I'm going to come) should just use 'I'm going' and 'I'm coming'.

Be going can mean inevitability, great probability, evidence of a future event. As a rule, the context describes signs that the event will occur.

Polly "s missed the bus. She's going to be late. - Polly missed her bus. She will probably be late.

You will probably also find the article useful, where you will find not only theory, but also exercises on this topic.

There are several ways to talk about plans for the future, about dreams, about upcoming events. This is where the snag comes in. After all, it can be both the present tense and the future, and a special design to be going to. It is the latter that we will talk about.

If you know exactly what you are going to do, then use to be going to, which in Russian (relative to the future tense) will sound like “I'm going, I intend”. The action refers to the future, the nearest, almost exact. To see the use and all the differences from other times will help our rules and exercises on to be going to.

Conjugation construction to be going to

The verb be is revealed according to the conjugation, the usual forms in the present tense. And after to there is always one more action.

affirmative	negative	interrogative
I am going to sleep	I am not going to sleep	Am I going to sleep?
She (he, it) is going to sleep	She (he, it) is not going to sleep	Is she (he, it) going to sleep?
We are going to sleep	We are not going to sleep	Are we going to sleep?
You are going to sleep	You are not going to sleep	Are you going to sleep?
They are going to sleep	They are not going to sleep	Are they going to sleep?

Well abbreviated form, used in both spoken and written language.

I am \u003d I am \u003d am not - not reduced

She is= she's= isn't

We are = we're = aren't

They are = they're = aren't

Use

1. Not to be confused with Present Continuous ( in the meaning of go - where the process is emphasized), pay attention to the infinitive after to. The first tells you where you are going, and the second tells you what you are going to do. Well, what to say, let's see examples:

I am going to the theatre. - I am going to the theater.

I am going to do shopping. — I'm going shopping.

She is not going by bus now. She is not riding the bus now.

She is not going to get out of the bus. She is not going to get off the bus.

2. To be going to is often confused with Future Simple where the future is expressed with will be. The second tense speaks of a proposed action, that you expect, plan, believe, predict future actions, but you don’t know for sure. Or, if you decide to do something at the moment of the conversation, based on the situation, then we use will be. But if your intention was previously far-fetched, then - to be going to.

We haven't any sugar. I will take some. We don't have sugar. I'll take some. (The action occurred at the time of the conversation)

I am going to buy some sugar because we haven't any. I'm going to buy sugar since we don't have any. (It has already been decided what to buy, and I'm already going to buy)

Are you sure that he will get this place? "Are you sure he'll get the job?" (assumption)

It's 4 o'clock. We are going to be late. - Four o'clock. We will be late (the current situation suggests that we are going to be late in the near future, this is almost certain)

look! the sky is grey. It is going to rain. - Look! Grey sky. It's going to rain now (almost certainly, the results of the present say so)

I have seen the forecast. It will be rainy tomorrow. — I looked at the weather forecast. It will rain tomorrow (probably)

The first part of the plan was completed. Familiarize yourself with the rule. And now it's time to move on to the exercises on to be going to. After them, you will see that there is nothing complicated in this design. Your task is to carefully look at the sentence and its meaning, and the rest is a matter of practice. Get started!