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Intermediate | IELTS & CELPIP

Using 'Going to' for Future Plans and Intentions

Learn to use 'going to' for expressing future plans and intentions effectively at the B2 level.

Future with going to helps you express future plans and intentions clearly. Understanding this structure allows you to communicate your future actions and predictions effectively, ensuring your message is precise and understood by your audience.

Examples

Example 1

CorrectShe is going to travel to France next summer.

'Going to' is used here to indicate a future plan that has been decided.

Example 2

CorrectWe are going to organize a meeting next week.

This sentence uses 'going to' to express a planned future event.

How It Works

Meaning

The structure 'going to' is used to express future plans and intentions. It indicates that a decision has already been made and an action is expected to occur in the future. The formation pattern is: subject + is/am/are + going to + base verb. Understanding this structure is crucial at the B2 level to express future intentions clearly and accurately.

Use it when

  • Expressing a planned action or intention.
  • Describing an event that is expected to happen soon based on current evidence.
  • Discussing personal or professional plans in informal or formal settings.
  • Making predictions based on current situations.

See it

I am going to start a new job next month.
They are going to visit their grandparents this weekend.

Quick rules

  • Use 'going to' for plans and intentions already decided.
  • Combine 'going to' with the base form of the verb.
  • Ensure the correct form of 'to be' (is/am/are) matches the subject.
  • Avoid using 'going to' for spontaneous decisions; use 'will' instead.

Common Mistakes

Common problem 1

Using 'will' instead of 'going to' for planned actions

WeakI will visit my friend tomorrow.

StrongI am going to visit my friend tomorrow.

Fix: Use 'going to' for plans already made.

Common problem 2

Incorrect form of 'to be' with 'going to'

WeakShe going to start a new job.

StrongShe is going to start a new job.

Fix: Ensure the correct form of 'to be' is used.

Practice Lab

Practice

Identify the correct use of 'going to' for future plans, then apply it in sentences.

Score: 0/3

Focus on expressing future plans clearly using 'going to'.

1. Quick pick

Choose the sentence that correctly uses 'going to' for a future plan.

2. Build it

Put this sentence in the correct order using 'going to'.

Tap a chunk to move it down. Tap it again to send it back.

3. Final sort

Mark each sentence as correct or needing a fix.

They are going to launch the new product next quarter.

They launch the new product next quarter.

We are going to move to a new office next month.

We move to a new office next month.

Why It Matters

🎯 Why it matters: Using 'going to' correctly allows you to clearly express future plans and intentions, making your communication more effective and precise. Mastering this structure helps you convey your message accurately in both writing and speaking.

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