'Going to' for Future Plans and Intentions
Use 'to be' + going to + the base verb to talk about plans and intentions you have already decided on, like "I'm going to call her." You also use it for predictions based on evidence you can see right now: "It's going to rain." Always keep the form of 'to be' (am/is/are) — saying "I going to study" is incorrect. To ask about someone's plans, move 'to be' to the front: "Are you going to come?"
Examples
- I'm going to call her. the speaker intends to call her
- It's going to rain. rain is predicted from the evidence
- Are you going to come? asking about someone's plan
The full lesson
Everything in the video, in text.
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I going to study tonight. One tiny word is missing — and it's the giveaway that you're still a beginner. Let's fix it for good.
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When English speakers talk about what they've decided to do, they reach for one easy pattern. Master it and you'll sound natural straight away.
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It comes in three pieces. First the verb to be — am, is, or are. Then going to. Then the plain base verb. Three slots, every time.
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Use it for a plan you've already decided on. You made the choice — now you state it. I'm going to study tonight.
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It works for any decided intention — big or small. Here the speaker has already made up their mind to phone someone. I'm going to call her.
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There's a second job too: a prediction based on what you can see right now. Look at the evidence, then predict. It's going to rain.
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To ask about someone's plan, just move the be to the front. Are you going to come? — same pattern, flipped for a question. Are you going to come?
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Now the big mistake. Never drop the be. I going to study is wrong — there's no verb holding it up. You always need am, is, or are.
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And don't confuse it with the present continuous. I'm going home is movement happening now. I'm going to clean is a plan. The to plus a verb is the signal.
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In everyday speech it shrinks to gonna. You'll hear it constantly — it's casual, but completely natural. We're going to win.
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So: be plus going to plus a base verb — for decided plans and for predictions you can see coming. Keep the be, and you're set.