“Be going to” Future Tense – With Pictures Dialogue and Examples

“Be going to” future tense is used to talk about future intentions or predictions. Like simple future tense (will) you can also use future time adverbs here. Infinitive form of a verb is used in “be going to” future tense.

Formation of “be going to” future tense

For affirmative sentences we use “am/is/are going to” + “verb”. For negative sentences we use “not” after “am/is/are”. See the animated sentences below to learn the structure of “be going to” future tense.

  Is Why isWhen is

John

is going to buyis going to weargoing to wearis not going to weargoing to weargoing to wear

a shirt.

Timeline of Be going to future tense
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Positive (Affirmative) sentences

  • I am going to live in Germany.
  • He is going to buy a car.
  • Jack is going to start a new business.
  • We are going to be in Istanbul tomorrow.

Negative sentences

  • We aren’t going to leave tomorrow.
  • I am not going to write an email.
  • They are not going to use the computer.
  • Mark is not going to come.

Interrogative sentences

  • Are you going to visit us?
  • Is James going to finish the homework?
  • What are they going to do?
  • Where are you going to go?
  • Who is going to apply for the job?

Sentence forms in “be going to” future tense

“Be going to” Future Tense Formula with example sentences
(+) Affirmative sentences (-) Negative sentences (?) Interrogative sentences
 I am going to play.  I ‘m not going to play.  Am I going to play?
 You are going to play.  You aren’t going to play.  Are you going to play?
 He is going to play.  He isn’t going to play.  Is he going to play?
 She is going to play.  She isn’t going to play  Is she going to play?
 It is going to play.  It isn’t going to play  Is it going to play?
 We are going to play.  We aren’t going to play  Are we going to play?
 They are going to play.  They aren’t going to play  Are they going to play?

SIMILAR PAGES:
❯❯ Learn verb to be here
❯❯ Learn simple present tense here
❯❯ Learn present continuous tense here
❯❯ Learn future simple tense (will) here
❯❯ Learn simple past tense here
❯❯ Learn past continuous tense here
❯❯ Learn present perfect tense here

Explanations and usages of “Be going to” Future Tense

Here are the explanations, usages and time adverbs of “be going to” future tense.

Usage 1- You can use “be going to” for future plans and intentions which are already decided.

  • We are going to have a picnic this weekend.
  • I am going to listen to music with my friends.
  • – What are you going to do in Europe?
    – I am going to have a holiday with my family.
  • – Is he going to work on Saturday?
    – No. He is going to meet some friends.

Usage 2- You can use “be going to” to predict something based on evidence

  • Look at those black clouds. It’s going to rain.
  • Look at that little kid on the wall. He’s going to fall.
  • Hey, drive slowly. You’re going have an accident.
  • He is very good. He is going to be a successful swimmer.

Time expressions in “be going to” future tense

  • tomorrow
  • next week, next month, next year
  • in 2030, in 2028
  • 2 days later, 3 years later
  • soon
  • in two weeks

Time adverbs exercise

You can see “be going to” future tense time adverbs on some cards. You can click on these cards and tell the meaning of them in your own language.

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Pictures with examples

You can learn “be going to” future tense with images and example sentences below.

A sample dialogue to read

Below is an example dialogue to learn “be going to” future tense.

  1. avatar image

    Hi Daniel!

    What are you going to do next summer?

  2. avatar image

    We are going to stay in a holiday resort.

    What about you?

  3. avatar image

    We are going to travel by caravan.

    I want to show my family West Anatolia.

  4. avatar image

    That is very nice.

    When are you going to leave?

  5. avatar image

    In July

    I am going to rent a small caravan.

    and I am going to do some shopping for that.

  6. avatar image

    Well. Maybe we can go together next year.

  7. avatar image

    That is a good idea.

Translation activity

You can see some examples of “be going to” future tense below. Translate these sentences into your native language.

Sentence scramble activity

You can play a nice game to learn “be going to” future tense. Click on the scrambled sentences to make correct sentences.


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Example sentences about “be going to” future tense

Here are some examples sentences to learn “be going to” future tense.

10 examples of about “be going to” future tense

  1. She is going to be a teacher.
  2. I am going to change my clothes.
  3. They are going to plant trees.
  4. Which present are you going to give?
  5. Who is going to be a doctor?
  6. Is Julia going to read that book?
  7. The prices are going to increase.
  8. Her mother is going to warn her.
  9. Are you going to fill in this form?
  10. I am going to prove my innocence.
  11. When are you going to receive it?

Questions and answers

You can read the following questions and the answers to learn how to use “be going to” future tense in context.

10 questions and answers about “be going to” future tense

  1. Are you going to make a cake?
    Yes, I’m going to make a cake.
  2. Is he going to study English?
    Yes, he is going to study English in the library.
  3. Are you going to buy jeans?
    No. I’m going to buy a t-shirt.
  4. What are you going to do?
    I’m going to listen to my favourite songs.
  5. Where are you going to have a holiday?
    We are going to have a holiday in Antalya.
  6. Is Betty going to have an exam?
    Yes, she is.
  7. Which musical instrument are you going to learn?
    I am going to learn violin.
  8. How long are you going to stay in İstanbul?
    We are going to stay two nights.
  9. Who is going to help you?
    Jeff is going to help me?
  10. Is he going to wait at the bus stop?
    No. He is going to wait in front of the cafe.

Reading passage

Getting Married
At 3 o’clock this afternoon Lisa and John are going to get married. It is going to be great. A lot of people will be there. They are going to serve desert for the guests. My uncle is going to give a speech. Musicians are going to play Lisa and John’s favourite songs. The next day Lisa and John are going to leave for a holiday. They are going to spend two weeks in a holiday resort abroad. I hope they will enjoy every moment of it.

External resources:
You can study “be going to” future tense on British Council page, or on another source you can learn be going to future here.


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