Understanding the "Be Going To" Future Tense

This page provides a comprehensive overview of the "be going to" future tense, which is essential for talking about future plans and making predictions based on present evidence. The structure and usage of this tense are explained, along with key time expressions and examples.

Structure of "Be Going To"

The basic structure of the "be going to" future tense is:

Subject + am/is/are + going to + verb (base form)

Example: She is going to study for her exam tonight.

Usage

1. Predictions: Used to predict future events based on present evidence.

Example: Look at those black clouds in the sky. I think it's going to rain.

2. Planned Future Actions: Expresses intentions or plans made before the moment of speaking.

Example: Sonia is going to write her a postcard to celebrate her birthday.

3. Immediate Future: Often used for actions that are about to happen.

Example: I feel terrible. I think I'm going to be ill.

Future Time Expressions

The page lists various future time expressions commonly used with this tense:

• Tomorrow morning/afternoon/evening
• Next week/month/year
• In 2023/the 21st century
• This afternoon/evening/weekend

Highlight: Future time references usually appear at the beginning or end of the sentence.

Interchangeability with Present Progressive

The "be going to" future can often be used interchangeably with the present progressive for future events.

Example:

• Helen is going to have dinner with Bruce tomorrow evening.
• Helen is having dinner with Bruce tomorrow evening.

This comprehensive guide provides students with a solid foundation for using the "be going to" future tense in various contexts, enhancing their ability to discuss future plans and make predictions in English.