Basic Grammar 1.

7
TENSES FUTURE WITH GOING TO
FORM
AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE
I
am
do
He/she/it
is (not) going to go
We/you/they are
eat

QUESTION
Am
Is
are

I
be..?
he/she/it
going to watch...?
we/you/they
study?

Affirmative form:
SUBJECT + AM / IS / ARE + GOING TO + BASE FORM OF THE VERB

Examples:
- I am going to wear my new dress tomorrow.
- Chris is going to stay at home tonight.

Negative Form:

We put not after verb to be (am/is/are).

SUBJECT + AM / IS / ARE + NOT + GOING TO + BASE FORM OF THE VERB

Examples:
- I am not going to wear my new dress tomorrow.
- Chris isnt going to stay at home tonight.

Question Form:

We put am, is, are (the auxiliary verb) before the subject, and then
going to with the base form of the verb.

AM/IS/ARE + SUBJECT + GOING TO + VERB + COMPLEMENT?

Examples:
You
Are

Irene
Is

are

going to stay at home.

you going to stay at home?

Short Answers
Yes, I am. / No, Im not.

is going to visit us tomorrow.

Irene going to visit us tomorrow?

Basic 1.7 Tenses Future with Going to

Yes, she is./No, she isnt.

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Basic Grammar 1.7

Wh-Questions:

To ask about the subject, we use:

WH-WORD + IS + GOING TO + VERB + COMPLEMENT + ?

Examples:

Question
Who is going to come?
Who is going to sing now?

Answer
Richard is (going to come).
We are (going to sing).

To ask about the complement, we use:

WH-WORD + AM / IS / ARE + SUBJECT + GOING TO + VERB + COMPLEMENT + ?

Examples:

Question

What are you going to do?

Where is Sally going to travel?

Answer
Im going to answer my mail.
Shes going to travel to Denmark.

USE
1. We use the future with going to when we want to show that someone is 100% sure about
something because it is an intention.
Ex:

- David is going to visit Jane this evening. (He intends to do this)

- I am going to see the game on TV tonight. (It is my intention)

2. We also use the future with going to when it is clear that something is sure to happen
because it is based on factual evidence. The action is imminent.
Ex:

Look at the sky! Its going to rain.

(black clouds now
rain)

- Oh no! Its 11 oclock, and Im not ready. Im going to be late.

(11 o clock now and not ready
late)
3. The future with going to also expresses that someone has made a decision before the time
of speaking.
Ex:

Greg needs money. Hes going to sell his car.

Its my sisters wedding today. Im going to wear my new dress.

Note: In informal (colloquial) English, people sometimes omit the to go in the future form
going to go because they feel it is unnecessary to use the same verb twice.
Ex:

Henry is going to go out tonight. = Henry is going out tonight.

We are going to go to the dance. = We are going to the dance.

Basic 1.7 Tenses Future with Going to

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Basic Grammar 1.7

PRACTICE: FUTURE WITH GOING TO
I. Fill in the blanks using the future with going to and one of these verbs.
travel

pay

drink

start

clean

study

sell

work

make

wear

1. like history. I .am going to study archaeology.

2. He needs money. He..his car.
3. Veronica..for her uncle this summer.
4. Those windows are really dirty. Ithem right now.
5. We are on vacation. We..to Washington D.C.
6. Now that you have the money, you..me, right?
7. I feel thirsty. I.......................................a cold soda.
8. Paul..the sandwiches for the gathering.
9. Sue..her new skirt to the wedding.
10. Hurry! The showin a few minutes.

II.- Ask the appropriate questions. Use the cues in parentheses.

1. Are you going to watch TV?.................. (you / watch TV)
Yes, I am. Im going to see a movie.
2. ? (Gloria / buy a new hat)
No, she isnt. Shes going to buy a new dress.
3. ? (you / stay home tonight)
No, we arent. Were going to go out.
4. ? (Alan / paint his house)
Yes, he is. Hes going to redecorate it too.
5. ? (they / call Jane tonight)
Yes, they are. Theyre going to call her at 9 p.m.

III. Arrange the following fragments to build questions:

1. (what / you / have for dinner?) What are you going to have for dinner?..........
2. (when / I / see you again?)................................................................................
3. (where/ Alice / travel?).................................................................
4. (how long / Nick / stay in Boston?) ............................................................................
5. (where / you / buy your shoes?) ................................................................................
6. (who / you / see ?)

...................................................................................................

7. (what / your father / do tomorrow?) ............................................................................

8. (why / your relatives / move?) ..........................................................................
Basic 1.7 Tenses Future with Going to

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Basic Grammar 1.7

IV.- Match the sentences.
1. Alice has a headache.
2. Daniel is homesick.
3. The sky is really cloudy.
4. Mildred likes taking pictures.
5. Carls car doesnt work.
6. Alfred is very happy.
7. Its late, and Im tired.
8. Uh-oh! Its 8, and Im not ready.
9. Tomorrow is a holiday.
10. Its Marys birthday.

_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
__1__
_____
_____

Basic 1.7 Tenses Future with Going to

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.

Im going to go to bed.
Hes going to take it to the mechanic.
Im going to be late.
Im going to buy her a present.
Its going to rain.
Shes going to study photography.
Hes going to be a grandfather.
Shes going to take an aspirin.
Were not going to work.
Hes going to call home this evening.

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Basic Grammar 1.7

ANSWERS: Practice B 1.7
Exercise I:
1.- am going to study
2. is going to sell
3. is going to work
4. am going to clean
5. are going to travel
6. are going to pay
7. am going to drink
8. is going to make
9. is going to wear
10. is going to start
Exercise II:
1.2.
3.
4.
5.

Are you going to watch TV?

Is Gloria going to buy a new hat?
Are you going to stay home tonight?
Is Alan going to paint his house?
Are they going to call Jane tonight?

Exercise III:
1.2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

What are you going to have for dinner?

When am I going to see you again?
Where is Alice going to travel?
How long is Nick going to stay in Boston?
Where are you going to buy your shoes?
Who are you going to see?
What is your father going to do tomorrow?
Why are your relatives going to move?

Exercise IV:
1. h
2. j
3. e
4. f
5. b
6. g
7. a
8. c
9. i
10. d

Basic 1.7 Tenses Future with Going to

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