A1 Verb Tenses 1 min read 쉬움

Be Going To: Plans and Predictions

Use be going to + base verb for plans you have already decided and for predictions based on what you can see now.

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'be going to' for plans you have already made or predictions based on clear evidence.

  • Use 'am/is/are' + 'going to' + base verb for plans. Example: I am going to study.
  • Use 'not' after 'am/is/are' for negatives. Example: She is not going to leave.
  • Put 'am/is/are' before the subject for questions. Example: Are you going to eat?
Subject + (am/is/are) + going to + Verb

Overview

## Be Going To: Plans and Predictions
Use be going to to talk about:
  1. 1Plans — things you have already decided to do
  2. 2Predictions — things you can see are about to happen
### Structure: Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb
| Subject | Form |
|---------|------|
| I | I am going to visit my friend. |
| He / She / It | She is going to start a new job. |
| You / We / They | They are going to travel to Spain. |
### Contractions
  • I\'m going to study tonight.
  • She\'s going to cook dinner.
  • We\'re going to watch a film.
### Negative
  • I\'m not going to eat meat.
  • He\'s not going to come.
### Question
  • Are you going to study tonight?
  • Is she going to cook dinner?
### Will vs Going to (simple A1 guide)
  • Going to → plan already decided: *I\'m going to visit my mum this weekend.* (I decided before)
  • Will → quick decision or prediction: *Oh, it\'s hot! I\'ll open the window.*

Verb 'To Be' + Going To

Subject Be Going To Verb
I
am
going to
work
You
are
going to
work
He/She/It
is
going to
work
We
are
going to
work
They
are
going to
work

Contractions

Full Form Contraction
I am going to
I'm gonna
You are going to
You're gonna
He is going to
He's gonna
We are going to
We're gonna

Meanings

This structure expresses future intentions made before the moment of speaking or predictions based on present evidence.

1

Prior Plans

Actions decided before the current moment.

“I am going to visit my grandmother tomorrow.”

“We are going to buy a new car.”

2

Evidence-based Prediction

Predicting an event based on current observable facts.

“The team is playing well; they are going to win.”

“She is studying hard; she is going to pass the test.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Be Going To: Plans and Predictions
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Sub + am/is/are + going to + V
I am going to eat.
Negative
Sub + am/is/are + not + going to + V
I am not going to eat.
Question
Am/Is/Are + Sub + going to + V?
Are you going to eat?
Short Yes
Yes, + Sub + am/is/are
Yes, I am.
Short No
No, + Sub + am/is/are + not
No, I am not.

격식 수준 스펙트럼

격식체
I am going to attend the meeting.

I am going to attend the meeting. (Professional)

중립
I am going to attend the meeting.

I am going to attend the meeting. (Professional)

비격식체
I'm gonna be at the meeting.

I'm gonna be at the meeting. (Professional)

속어
I'm gonna hit the meeting.

I'm gonna hit the meeting. (Professional)

Usage of Be Going To

Be Going To

Plans

  • Intentions Decided before now

Predictions

  • Evidence Based on what we see

Will vs. Be Going To

Will
Spontaneous I'll help you!
Be Going To
Planned I'm going to help.

Decision Flowchart

1

Is it a plan?

YES
Use 'be going to'
NO
Use 'will'

수준별 예문

1

I am going to play soccer.

...

2

She is going to study.

...

3

We are going to eat lunch.

...

4

They are going to travel.

...

1

I am not going to watch TV.

...

2

Are you going to visit him?

...

3

It is going to be sunny.

...

4

He is going to buy a gift.

...

1

I'm going to finish this project by Friday.

...

2

She's not going to accept the offer.

...

3

Are we going to need more supplies?

...

4

They're going to move to a new city.

...

1

Given the current data, the company is going to expand.

...

2

I am going to be working late tonight.

...

3

Are you going to have considered all options by then?

...

4

It is going to prove difficult to change their minds.

...

1

The evidence suggests the market is going to stabilize.

...

2

We are going to be implementing new policies next quarter.

...

3

It is going to require significant effort to succeed.

...

4

Are you going to be attending the gala?

...

1

The trajectory indicates that the system is going to collapse.

...

2

One is going to find that the results are consistent.

...

3

Are you going to have been waiting long by the time I arrive?

...

4

It is going to be a matter of time before they realize.

...

혼동하기 쉬운

Be Going To: Plans and Predictions Will vs. Be Going To

Learners often use them interchangeably.

Be Going To: Plans and Predictions Present Continuous vs. Be Going To

Both can talk about the future.

Be Going To: Plans and Predictions Present Simple vs. Be Going To

Present simple is for schedules.

자주 하는 실수

I going to eat.

I am going to eat.

Missing the verb 'to be'.

He is go to eat.

He is going to eat.

Incorrect form of 'go'.

I am going to eats.

I am going to eat.

Conjugating the base verb.

I go to eat.

I am going to eat.

Using present simple for future intent.

Are you go to eat?

Are you going to eat?

Incorrect question structure.

I not going to eat.

I am not going to eat.

Missing 'am' in negative.

She is going to to eat.

She is going to eat.

Double 'to'.

I will going to eat.

I am going to eat.

Mixing future forms.

It will be going to rain.

It is going to rain.

Redundant future markers.

I am going to have gone.

I am going to go.

Incorrect tense usage.

The plan is that we will be going to leave.

The plan is that we are going to leave.

Unnecessary complexity.

It is going to be happen.

It is going to happen.

Grammar error with 'be'.

I am going to be finish.

I am going to finish.

Incorrect passive/active usage.

문장 패턴

I am going to ___.

Are you going to ___?

She is not going to ___.

We are going to be ___.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

I'm gonna be 5 mins late.

Job Interview common

I am going to focus on growth.

Travel very common

We are going to visit the museum.

Food Delivery common

I'm going to order pizza.

Social Media common

I'm gonna share my journey!

Academic common

This paper is going to analyze the data.

💡

Use 'gonna' carefully

Only use 'gonna' in speech or informal text. Never use it in formal writing.
⚠️

Don't forget the 'be'

Always include 'am', 'is', or 'are'. It is the most common error.
🎯

Evidence is key

When predicting, ask yourself: 'Do I see evidence?' If yes, use 'be going to'.
💬

Regional variations

In some dialects, 'going to' is always 'gonna'. Don't be surprised if you hear it everywhere.

Smart Tips

Ask yourself: 'Did I decide this before now?' If yes, use 'be going to'.

I will go to the gym. I am going to go to the gym.

Use 'be going to' for predictions based on what you see right now.

It will rain. It is going to rain (look at those clouds!).

Always write out 'going to' fully.

I'm gonna finish my report. I am going to finish my report.

Put the 'be' verb at the very start.

You are going to help me? Are you going to help me?

발음

/ˈɡənə/

Gonna

In fast speech, 'going to' often sounds like 'gonna'.

Rising for questions

Are you going to ↗go?

Indicates a yes/no question.

암기하기

기억법

G-O-I-N-G: Goal, Organized, Intentional, Now, Going to.

시각적 연상

Imagine a person holding a map (Plan) and pointing at a dark cloud (Evidence). The map and the cloud are both labeled 'Going To'.

Rhyme

If you have a plan, 'going to' is the man. If you see the sign, it's 'going to' every time.

Story

Sarah had a plan. She said, 'I am going to bake a cake.' She saw the flour and eggs on the counter. 'It is going to be delicious,' she thought.

Word Web

PlanIntentionEvidenceFutureDecisionPrediction

챌린지

Write down 3 things you are going to do tomorrow and 1 prediction about the weather.

문화 노트

Americans use 'gonna' very frequently in casual speech.

British speakers use 'be going to' but may be slightly more formal in business.

Australians often use 'gonna' and may shorten other words too.

The construction evolved from the verb 'go' used as a movement toward a goal.

대화 시작하기

What are you going to do this weekend?

Are you going to travel soon?

What is the company going to do about the budget?

How are you going to approach this challenge?

일기 주제

Write about your plans for tomorrow.
Describe a prediction you have for the future of technology.
Write a short plan for your next vacation.
Explain how you are going to achieve your career goals.

자주 하는 실수

Incorrect

정답


Incorrect

정답


Incorrect

정답


Incorrect

정답

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

I ___ going to study.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: am
I takes am.
Choose the correct sentence. 객관식

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He is going to eat.
Correct structure is be + going to + verb.
Find the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

She are going to leave.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: are
She takes is.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I am going to sleep
Subject + be + going to + verb.
Translate to English. 번역

Voy a comer.

Answer starts with: I a...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I am going to eat
Voy a = I am going to.
Match the sentence to the meaning. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Prediction
Based on evidence.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Are you going to go? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yes, I am.
Short answer matches the auxiliary.
Conjugate for 'They'. Conjugation Drill

They ___ going to work.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: are
They takes are.

Score: /8

연습 문제

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form.

I ___ going to study.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: am
I takes am.
Choose the correct sentence. 객관식

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He is going to eat.
Correct structure is be + going to + verb.
Find the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

She are going to leave.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: are
She takes is.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

to / going / I / am / sleep

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I am going to sleep
Subject + be + going to + verb.
Translate to English. 번역

Voy a comer.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I am going to eat
Voy a = I am going to.
Match the sentence to the meaning. Match Pairs

It is going to rain.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Prediction
Based on evidence.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Are you going to go? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yes, I am.
Short answer matches the auxiliary.
Conjugate for 'They'. Conjugation Drill

They ___ going to work.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: are
They takes are.

Score: /8

자주 묻는 질문 (8)

No, 'gonna' is strictly informal. Use 'going to' in all academic or professional writing.

Yes, it is a future tense construction. It links a present state to a future action.

The verb 'to be' acts as the auxiliary that carries the tense. Without it, the sentence is incomplete.

If you don't have a plan, use 'will' for spontaneous decisions.

You can use 'was/were going to' to talk about a past plan that didn't happen.

No, 'will' is for spontaneous decisions, 'be going to' is for pre-planned intentions.

Add 'not' after the verb 'to be'. Example: 'I am not going to go'.

No, 'going to' stays the same. Only the verb 'to be' changes.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Ir a + infinitive

The conjugation of 'ir' is more complex than 'to be'.

French high

Aller + infinitive

French uses it for immediate future more strictly.

German low

Werden + infinitive

German does not use a motion verb for future.

Japanese moderate

Tsumori

Japanese does not use motion verbs for future.

Arabic low

Sa- or Sawfa

Arabic uses morphology rather than a verb phrase.

Chinese moderate

Yào

Chinese has no verb conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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