BE GOING TO
Be going to is technically used in two main situations which are prediction and plan. It sounds quite confusing with modal verb will, right? It is literally different from one another. Be going to is used for the prediction which is based on concrete evidence or proof so it is quite certain than the prediction with will which is based on the speaker’s opinion so it is less certain. When it comes to plan, be going to is used to talk about future plans that have already been made while will is for the plan or decision which is made at the time of speaking. Now let’s explore in details the forms, usages and examples to get better understanding on how to grammatically use “ be going to.
Positive: Sub + be going to + base verb.
- She is going to have a trip next month with her best friends.
- The sky is so dark and the wind is so strong. It is going to rain.
Negative: Sub + be + not going to + base verb.
- We are not going to play soccer this weekend.
- He is very lazy. He rarely reviews the lesson and the exam is tomorrow. He is not going to pass the exam.
Yes/ No: Be + sub + going to + base verb?
- Is she going to have a trip next month with her friend next month?
- Is it going to rain because the sky is so dark?
Wh-question : Wh-word + be + sub + going to + base verb?
- When is she going to have a trip with her friends?
- Why are we going to finish this work by this weekend?
Usages
Future plan
“be going to” is used to talk about plans that have already planned before it is spread to the others.
- I am going to visit my hometown this weekend. (I already planned and talked about it with my family.)
- She is going to get married next 3 months. (She already planned where to get married, how many people to invite with her family.)
- We are going to eat out this evening. (We already agreed on this.)
- They are going to play football this weekend.
- My brother is going to study abroad when he finish grade 12.
Prediction
“be going to” is used to make a prediction which is based on concrete evidence of proof.
- It hasn’t rained for 8 months. All my plants and trees are going to die soon.
- They are very hardworking students. They are going to pass the exam with good a good grade.
- He is wasted and driving fast. He is going to cause an accident.
- An old man is blind and he is walking toward a big hole in front of him. He is going to fall in the hole. - A large monkey is jumping on a small branch of that tree. The branch is going to break.
