Going To: Complete Guide with Examples and Free Exercises
Learn when to use 'going to' for plans and predictions, how to build it, and how it differs from 'will' — with 5 exercises right on this page.
Quick reference
- Positive
- Subject + am/is/are + going to + V1 (base verb)
- Negative
- Subject + am/is/are + not + going to + V1
- Question
- Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + V1?
- Auxiliaries
- am (I), is (he/she/it), are (you/we/they)
- “I am going to start a new course next week.”
- “She is not going to join the meeting.”
- “Are you going to call your mum tonight?”
When to use Going To
Plans and intentions decided before the moment of speaking
“We are going to visit Lisbon in August.”
Use 'going to' when the decision is already made before you talk about it. The plan exists in your head before the conversation starts, so 'going to' signals intention rather than a fresh choice. This is the most common everyday use of the structure for personal plans, work plans, and travel plans.
Predictions based on present evidence
“Look at those clouds — it is going to rain.”
When something you can see, hear, or feel right now points to a future event, use 'going to'. The speaker is reading the situation, not guessing in the abstract. This is why weather, traffic, and accident predictions usually take 'going to' rather than 'will'.
Things that are clearly about to happen
“Be careful, the glass is going to fall!”
For events that look unavoidable in the next seconds or minutes, 'going to' is the natural choice. The structure works almost like a warning, because the action has already started moving toward the listener. Native speakers rarely use 'will' in these situations.
Confirming arrangements you already mentioned
“I am going to send the invoice on Monday, as we agreed.”
Use 'going to' to remind someone of a plan that you already discussed. It signals continuity with a previous conversation rather than a brand new idea. In emails and chats at work this use is extremely frequent and sounds professional but friendly.
Talking about life goals and longer-term intentions
“After university, I am going to work in tech for a few years.”
For bigger life plans like jobs, moves, or studies, 'going to' shows that you have thought about the future and made a choice. It does not mean the plan is fixed forever, only that it is your current intention. This is common in interviews, dating, and small talk about the future.
Going To forms
Positive
Subject + am/is/are + going to + V1
- “I am going to book the tickets tonight.”
- “He is going to fix the printer after lunch.”
- “They are going to open a small cafe next year.”
Negative
Subject + am/is/are + not + going to + V1
- “I am not going to answer that email today.”
- “She isn't going to take the train, she'll drive.”
- “We aren't going to stay at the hotel near the airport.”
Contractions: am not → 'm notis not → isn'tare not → aren't
Question
Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + V1?
- “Are you going to order food or cook?”
- “Is he going to apply for the new role?”
- “What are we going to tell the client?”
Short answers: “Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.”“Yes, she is. / No, she isn't.”“Yes, they are. / No, they aren't.”
Going To time markers
| Marker | Example |
|---|---|
| tomorrow | “I am going to update the dashboard tomorrow.” |
| tonight | “We are going to watch the new episode tonight.” |
| next week / month / year | “She is going to start yoga classes next month.” |
| soon | “The meeting is going to start soon.” |
| in a few minutes / hours / days | “The train is going to leave in a few minutes.” |
| this evening / weekend | “Are you going to cook this weekend?” |
| later | “I am going to call the bank later.” |
Common mistakes with Going To
✗I going to call him later.
✓I am going to call him later.
Never drop the auxiliary 'be'. The structure is always 'am/is/are + going to + V1', and without 'am/is/are' the sentence is ungrammatical even if the meaning is clear.
✗She is going to bought a new phone.
✓She is going to buy a new phone.
After 'going to' we always use the base form (V1), never the past or past participle. The future meaning comes from 'going to', so the main verb stays in its simple form.
✗Look out! The cup will fall.
✓Look out! The cup is going to fall.
When you can see evidence right now that something will happen, 'going to' sounds natural and 'will' sounds wrong. Use 'will' only for spontaneous decisions or general predictions without visible proof.
✗Are you going to the gym tomorrow morning?
✓Are you going to go to the gym tomorrow morning?
Be careful: 'going to' as a future structure needs a verb after it. 'Are you going to the gym?' is also correct, but it uses Present Continuous for an arrangement, not the 'going to' future. The two look similar but mean slightly different things.
✗He is going to studying medicine.
✓He is going to study medicine.
Do not add '-ing' to the main verb. After 'going to' use the bare infinitive, because the '-ing' part is already inside 'going'. Adding another '-ing' creates a double progressive that English does not allow.
Going To vs Future Simple
'Going to' is for plans you already made and predictions based on what you can see right now. Future Simple ('will') is for spontaneous decisions made at the moment of speaking, promises, offers, and predictions based only on opinion. If the plan exists in your head before the conversation, choose 'going to'; if you decide while you are speaking, choose 'will'. This single rule covers about ninety percent of real situations and is the fastest way to stop second-guessing your future tense.
| Context | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Plan made before speaking | Going To | “I am going to repaint the kitchen this weekend.” |
| Decision made right now | Future Simple | “OK, I'll repaint the kitchen, no problem.” |
| Prediction with visible evidence | Going To | “The battery is at 1% — my phone is going to die.” |
| Prediction based on opinion | Future Simple | “I think our team will win the league this year.” |
| Promise or offer | Future Simple | “Don't worry, I'll send the file tonight.” |
Going To exercises
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Practice Going To →Going To FAQ
What is the difference between 'going to' and 'will'?
'Going to' is used for plans made before the moment of speaking and for predictions based on something you can see right now. 'Will' is used for decisions made on the spot, promises, offers, and general predictions based on opinion. If the plan already exists in your head, pick 'going to'; if you decide while speaking, pick 'will'.
How do I form 'going to' in English?
Use the formula 'subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb'. For example: 'I am going to study tonight', 'She is going to call you', 'They are going to move next month'. The form of 'be' must match the subject.
When do I use 'going to' instead of Present Continuous for the future?
Use 'going to' for general plans, intentions, and predictions with evidence. Use Present Continuous for fixed arrangements with another person, especially when a time and place are already set, like 'I am meeting Anna at 7'. In many everyday cases both are possible and native speakers do not always make a strong distinction.
Can I use 'gonna' instead of 'going to'?
'Gonna' is the spoken, informal version of 'going to' and you will hear it constantly in conversations, songs, and films. In writing, especially at work or school, you should still write 'going to' in full. In chats with friends 'gonna' is fine.
Is 'going to' the same as 'be going somewhere'?
No. 'I am going to Paris' is Present Continuous and means a movement or arrangement to a place. 'I am going to visit Paris' uses the 'going to' future and means a plan or intention to do something. The key is whether a base verb follows 'going to' — if yes, it is the future structure.