Construction to be going to in english

In English, there are many grammatical constructions that can confuse or mislead. One of them is to be going to. Let us consider in more detail how and why it should be used.

Translation and meaning to be going to

The main purpose of using the construction is to express the future through the present, i.e. the action has not happened yet, but we are sure that it will happen or will not happen. In other words, we use turnover to talk about our immediate plans, to express our previous intentions, or to predict the event that will happen. This turnover can also be used in some designs, for example, in orders, prohibitions and refusals.

With respect to plans or intent, the literal translation of the phrase to be going to sounds like “going to do.” If we are talking about an upcoming event, then depending on the context for the translation, you can use expressions like "something will happen now", "is about to happen" and so on. Do not try to translate the sentence from going to as Present Continious, focusing on the ending ing: it just does not make sense.

Examples of using

We’ll take a closer look at situations in which the use of the to be going to construction in English is appropriate and give examples.

Plans for the near future: in the most general case, with the help of a design, we report on what we are going to do right now or in the near future. For instance:

• We are going to have dinner right now. Would you like to join us? “We're going to have dinner right now.”
• I'm going to visit my Granny tomorrow. - Tomorrow I visit my grandmother.

A long-standing intention: we talk about a decision that was made in advance, long before the moment of conversation.

• She is going to become a doctor. “She's going to be a doctor.”

Prediction of an extremely probable or expected event: we report an event that will happen with a high degree of probability. We are sure of its coming, because we have reliable information or have the prerequisites for its expectation. Most often, the design is used in a conversation about the weather, but may also relate to a specific situation occurring in parallel with the moment of the conversation.

• Look at these clouds - it's going to rain. - Take a look at these clouds - it will rain now.
• Watch out! You are going to fall! - Caution! You will fall now!

Orders and requirements. Another use of the design is the desire to insist on the performance or non-performance of the action in incentive and narrative sentences.

• You are going to study there whether you want it or not. “You will study there, whether you want it or not.”
• You are going to eat your breakfast, otherwise you will stay hungry till tomorrow! “You will eat your breakfast, otherwise you will remain hungry until tomorrow!”

Failures: in this case, we expressly reject the action. We recommend that you be careful in using to be going to to protest, because such a sentence may sound harsh or rude.

• I am not going to stay at home even if you mind my leaving. “I'm not going to stay home, even if you mind my leaving.”

How is the structure formed?

Affirmative form. The future in the present is formed by combining the verb to be in the necessary form, the turn going to and the verb of action.

Please note that only the first part to be changed, the rest - always remain in their original form.

Negative form. If we are sure that the action will not happen, we do not plan to do something, refuse or forbid to do something, we should use the negative form of the going to construct. The particle not follows the verb to be before going (but not between going and to).

Examples:

• I'm not going to do it anymore. “I'm not going to do this anymore.”
• It's not going to finish. - It will not end.

Interrogative form. The word order in the interrogative sentence from going to changes in the usual way: first comes the interrogative word, if any, then the verb to be, then the subject, then going to and the action verb.

Examples:

• Are you going to do your homework today? “Are you going to do your homework today?”
• Is she going to visit us today? “Is she going to visit us today?”
• When are you going to call him? “When are you going to call him?”

Shortened form gonna

In English songs and films, you can often hear gonna instead of going to. This is an abbreviated form used only in colloquial speech. It is formed as follows:

to be + gonna + verb

In this case, the to particle between the gonna and the action verb is no longer put.

Examples:

• I'm gonna talk to him when I see him. “I'm going to talk to him when I see him.”
• I am gonna be with you - I will be with you.

Construction was / were going to

The construction under consideration is also formed in the past tense. In this case, the construction to be going o expresses a past that has not come true. For its formation, it is enough to put the verb to be in the second form, depending on the number of subject.

For instance:

• I was going to read a book but she got me outside. “I was going to read a book, but it pulled me out into the street.”
• We were going to marry but suddenly I realized that I hadn't loved him anymore. “We were about to get married, but I suddenly realized that I no longer loved him.”

It is possible to use the was / were going to construct in negative form. In this case, the expression describes an action that did not happen according to plan or did not happen as we expected. For the formation of negation, it is enough to put a particle not between the verb was or were and going to.

For instance:

• I was not going to spend more than a week in the seaside, but I loved this place very much and stayed there till the end of the summer. - I was not going to spend more than a week on the coast, but I really fell in love with this place and stayed there until the end of the summer.

As with the present tense form, it is appropriate in colloquial speech to replace going to with gonna.

• I was gonna call you but simply forgot. “I was going to call you, but I just forgot.”

To be going to with verbs of motion

It should be noted that the construction to be going to is not used with the verbs of motion. Categorically this is not prohibited, sometimes such use is found, but it will be grammatically more correct to avoid this. To express the future through the present, you just need to put the verb of action (in this case, movement) in the form of a long time (Present Continuous):

• Are you coming for a cup of coffee on Saturday? - Have a look at a cup of coffee on Saturday?
• I am going to London this summer. - In the summer I am going to London.
• We are meeting them tomorrow. “We will meet with them tomorrow.”

Remember the main verbs of movement that you should not use the construction to be going to:

• to go - go, go
• to come - come
• to run - run
• to meet - meet
• to hurry - hurry, hurry
• to move - move, move
• to walk - walk
• to arrive - arrive, come

Design exercises to be going to

To consolidate the material, we offer simple exercises to use to be going to.

Exercise 1: translate sentences into English:

1. I'm not going to hear that anymore.
2. He was about to come to the party, but mixed up the time.
3. You will stay home anyway.
4. I will become an actress.
5. Look at mom, are you not going to help her?
6. Winter is about to come.
7. I'm going to go to johnny today. Let's go together?
8. It will rain now. Take an umbrella.
9. Where are you going to spend the summer?
10. I'm going to marry him.

Exercise 2: correct errors in sentences:

1. I am going to go to New York next year.
2. Listen! She going to sing a song.
3. I gonna to call you.
4. You are not going wear wear this dress.
5. We are going to not spend all our life in this city.
6. I not going to loose my mind.