Forming ‘be going to’
The ‘be going to’ future tense is formed by using the appropriate form of the verb ‘to be’ followed by the word ‘going’ and the base form of the main verb. The verb ‘be’ changes according to the subject of the sentence. Here is the structure:
- I am going to + base verb
- You are going to + base verb
- He/She/It is going to + base verb
- We are going to + base verb
- They are going to + base verb
For example:
- I am going to visit my grandparents next weekend.
- She is going to start a new job next month.
- We are going to have a picnic in the park.
Usage of ‘be going to’
The ‘be going to’ future tense is commonly used to talk about plans, intentions, and predictions based on present evidence. It suggests that there is a strong intention or plan in place to carry out the future action. Here are some common situations where ‘be going to’ is used:
- To talk about intentions: I am going to learn a new language this year.
- To talk about future plans: They are going to travel to Europe next summer.
- To make predictions: It looks like it’s going to rain.
- To talk about predictions based on current evidence: The team is playing really well. They are going to win the match.
Negative and interrogative forms
To form negative sentences with the ‘be going to’ future tense, simply add ‘not’ after the verb ‘be’. For interrogative sentences, invert the subject and the verb ‘be’. Here are some examples:
- Negative: She is not going to attend the meeting.
- Interrogative: Are they going to arrive on time?
The ‘be going to’ future tense is a versatile and commonly used way to talk about future events in English. By following the simple structure of ‘be + going + base verb’, you can express your intentions, plans, and predictions with ease. Start using this tense today and enhance your English communication skills!