Going to-future

In English, there are multiple ways to talk about the future and the ‘going to-future’ is one way of doing that. On this page, you have a complete overview of when to use this tense, how to form it and you will also find some examples and exercises.

Going to-future

The going to-future is one of the tenses you can use to talk about the future. You have more information below about the situations in which you can use this tense.

Prediction about the future.

  • She is pregnant so she is going to have a baby soon.

When you want to talk about an intention or plans you made to do something in the future.

  • I am going to buy a new car next week.

When you want to talk about something that is a logical consequence of something else.

  • That tree doesn’t look healthy. It is going to fall down sooner or later.
Going to-future - use Taalhulp Engels

How to form the going to-future

Going to-future positive

Forming positive sentences in the going to-future is fairly easy. You conjugate the verb ‘to be’, followed by ‘going to’ and the infinitive of the main verb.

to be + going to + infinitive of the main verb

I am going to drink beer tonight
We are going to make dinner tonight
I am going to surprise my girlfriend

Instead of saying ‘I am going to surprise’, you could also use the short form “I’m”. This becomes “I’m going to surprise”. This can be used in written English but it is used a lot more in spoken English.

A short form for ‘going to’ is ‘gonna’. This one is not used in written English and you should only use it in informal and spoken English.

Going to-future - Form Taalhulp Engels

Going to-future negative

You form the negative form of the going to-future by using:

to be + not + going to + infinitive of the main verb

I am not going to drink beer tonight
We are not going to make dinner tonight
I am not going to surprise my girlfriend

Going to-future questions

If you want to form questions, you always need 4 elements in a particular order:

to be + subject + going to + infinitive of the main verb

Am I going to drink beer tonight?
Are we going to make dinner tonight?
Am I going to surprise my girlfriend?

Examples

PositiveNegativeQuestions
I am going to buy
He is going to drink
They are going to be
I am not going to buy
He is not going to drink
They are not going to be
Am I going to buy?
Is he going to drink?
Are they going to be?

Exercises

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