Going To Future for Prior Plan and Prediction

There are a few tenses in English to describe actions in the future.

• Future Simple (subject + will + verb I)
• Future Continuous (subject + will + be + verb+ing
• Going to Future (subject + be + going to + verb I)
• Future Perfect (subject + will + have + past participle/verb III)
• Future Perfect Continuous (subject + will + have + been + verb+ing)

In this episode we are going to talk about going to future. Let’s start with its functions.

Going to Future for Expressing a Prior Plan

Going to is used when we say what we have already decided to do in the future. Let’s see the following examples:

• I’m going to donate half of the money I inherited from my parents.
• A: What are you going to do with your old house?   B: I’m going to sell it.
• She’s going to invite all her classmates to her birthday party.
• Are you going to ask her out tonight?
• They are going to play football next Saturday.

Going to  is also used to say what we think will happen. We are usually sure something is going to happen because of the present situation we see. Let’s see the following examples :

• Look at those black clouds. It’s going to rain.
• The man is drunk. He’s driving his car so fast and carelessly. He’s going to have an accident.
• My sister is pregnant. She’s going to have a baby soon.
• He always studies hard. He’s going to pass the exam with flying colors.
• Don’t run too fast. You’re going to fall.

Going to versus Will

We can use going to or will to express a prediction. But, we can only use going to to express a prior plan. On the contrary, we can only use will to express willingness or sudden decision.

Examples:

It’s cloudy. It’s going to rain. or  It’ll rain.

A: “Are you busy this Saturday night?”

B: “Yes. I’m going to see my best friend.”  We cannot say: “I will see my best friend.” because you have made a decision before speaking.

A: “Someone’s knocking at the door.”

B: “I’ll open the door.”   We cannot say: “I’m going to open the door.” because he just express his willingness or a sudden decision. He hasn’t made a plan to open the door.

Going to Future Exercises

Exercise I A

Choose the right plan for the following people. Match column A with Column B.

Exercise I B

Ask and answer about the people above with your partner.

Example:

1. You: “What is Neil going to do?”    Your partner: “He’s going to buy a house.”

Exercise II

In this exercise you have to say what you think is going to happen in these situations. Express your prediction using the words or phrases in the box.

• The dog is running across the busy street.  The car is going to hit it.

1. Jack is driving his car across the big dessert without enough fuel.
2. The boy cannot swim. He is trying to swim across the deep river.
3. The road is so slippery. The boy is running so fast.
4. Brian has to be at work at 8.50. He just woke up at 8.45.
5. He feels terrible.
6. The girl looks sad.
7. Ben hardly ever studies his lessons.
8. Most people love her songs.
9. Our company doesn’t make any profit.
10. They love each other and have made relationship for almost five years.

Exercise III

Complete the sentences below with be going to or will whenever appropriate.

1. Do you want to join me. I ……… go to Walmart.
2. A: “Can you open the window for me, please?” B: “Certainly, I ….. “
3. A: “I’m thirsty.”  B: “I ….. get some water for you.”
4. I’ve been broke lately. I … sell my laptop.
5. It starts raining. I … get an umbrella.
6. I’m poor. I want to have a better job. I…… take a new course next month.
7. The two kids are fighting. They …. cry.
8. A: “Do you have a plan this weekend?” B: “Yes, I …. see my ex-boyfriend at the restaurant.
9. A:”Someone’s calling.” B: “I …. get it.”
10. I have saved most of my salary for years because I … buy a car.