Learn English: Be Going to...

Going to is used to show a future intention. For example:/'Going to' es usado para mostrar una intención futura/
- I'm going to go on vacation next summer. /Voy a ir de vacaciones el próximo verano/
- We're going to start our own business./vamos a empezar nuestro propio negocio/

Going to future sentences are made as follows: /las oraciones con Going to son hechas como sigue:/

Positive: Subject + verb "to be" + going to + infinitive verb + compl.

They are going to have dinner. -ellos van a cenar-

I am going to buy a car next year. -voy a comprar un carro el proximo año-

She is going to meet a new friend this night -ella va a conocer un nuevo amigo esta noche-

It is going to rain -va a llover-

Negative: Subject + 'To Be ' + NOT + going to + Infinitive verb + compl.

They are not going to have a dinner -ellos no van a cenar -

I am not going to buy a car next year

She is not going to meet a new friend this night

It is not going to rain

Interrogative: 'To Be' + Subject + going to + infinitive verb + compl. + ?

Are they going to have a dinner? -ellos van a cenar?-

Am I going to buy a new car next year?

Is she going to meet a new friend this night?

Is it going to rain?

Usage /usos/

Going to is used for future plans. For example:
- I'm going to see my friends this evening.
- He's going to write a book.
- What are you going to do?

Going to is also used to make a prediction based on present evidence /Predicción basada en una evidencia presente/. For example:
- He's going to fall over! (I can see he's in danger now.)
- She's going to win. (I can see she's winning now.)

Will and going to are both used for predictions and sometimes there is little difference in meaning. Compare:
- It will be sunny this afternoon. (A general prediction)
- It's going to be sunny this afternoon. (because it's getting warmer now)

Going to with the Past Simple of "to be" is often used for an intention or plan that wasn't actually done. /con el pasado simple de 'To Be' es a menudo usado para una intensión o plan que no se ha hecho/ For example:
- I was going to meet my friends but I didn't have time. /iba a reunirme con mis amigos pero no tuve tiempo/
- We were going to take a vacation but it was too expensive. /íbamos a tomar unas vacaciones pero estaba muy caro/

Going to is often contracted to gonna in spoken English /a menudo es contraido como 'gonna' cuando se habla/. For example:
- "I'm gonna buy a new computer."

Going to = Gonna

(más usado cuando se escribe) (más usado cuando se habla)

Ejercicios con 'be going to' 1

Ejercicios con 'be going to' 2

Time expressions used with 'be going to': expresiones de tiempo usadas con 'be going to'