"Going to"

-We use "going to" to talk about future action.

Going to is used;
a) to talk about planned decisions and intentions.
Study these examples
Helens bicycle has a flat tyre. She tells her father.
Helen : My bicycle has a flat tyre. Can you repair it for me?
Father : Okay, but I cant do it now. Ill repair it tomorrow.
(We use "will" when we decide to do something at the time
of speaking. The speaker has not decided before. Before
Helen told her father, he didn't know about the flat tyre.)
(Later, Helens mother speaks to her husband.)
Mother : Can you repair Helens bicycle? It has a flat tyre.
Father : Yes, I know. She told me. I am going to repair it
tomorrow.
b) to talk about future arrangements
He is going to stay with us for a week.
c) to make predictions about the immediate future
when there is some evidence.
Look at those black clouds. It is going to rain. (The
clouds are there now.)
I feel terrible. I think Im going to be ill. (I feel terrible
now.)

The Simple Future Tense

"WILL" is used:
a) to make statements of fact about future.
Steve will be thirty next birthday.
b) to make a decision at the moment of speaking.
Ill tell him tonight.
c) to make a promise or offer.
Ill post the letters for you.
d) With clauses of condition and time.
If / When Im rich, Ill buy you a house in the country.
e) to make predictions about the future.
Tom : Im worried about my examination next week.
Ann : Dont worry, Tom. Youll pass.
"Youll pass" is not an arrangement or an
intention. Ann is just saying what she thinks will
happen.
f) We often use "will" with these words and
expressions:
Probably Ill probably be a bit late this evening.
(Im) sure You must meet Ann. Im sure you will like her
(I) expect I expect Carol will get the job.
(I) think Do you think well win the match.

B: Im going to watch the news.

2. A: Oh, I have just realised, I havent got any money.
B: Dont worry, thats no problem. I'll lend you some.
3. The clouds are very black, arent they?
I think it is going to rain.
Do the following.
1. A: Ive got a terrible headache.
B: Have you? Wait there and I ___________ (get) an
aspirin for you.
2. A: Why are you filling that bucket with water?
B: I ___________ (wash) the car.
3. A: Ive decided to repaint this room.
B: Oh, have you? What colour ___________ you
___________ (paint) it?
4. A: Look! Theres smoke coming out of that house. Its
on fire.
B: Good heavens! I ___________ (call) the
firebrigade immediately.
5. A: I cant work out how to use this camera.
B: Its quite easy. I ___________ (show) you.
6. A: Did you post that letter for me?
B: Oh, Im sorry. I completely forgot. I _______ (do)
it now.
7. A: What shall we have for dinner?
B: I dont know. I cant make up my mind.
A: Come on, hurry up! Make a decision.
B: Okay then. We ___________ (have) chicken.
B. Write the correct form of "going to" or "will"
to complete the dialogue.
Pat: What are you doing this weekend, Jan?
Jan: I ___________ (see) a new play tomorrow at the
Royal Court Theatre "Short, Sharp shock".
Pat: Have you got the tickets yet?
Jan: No, I ___________ (get) them this afternoon, actually.
Would you like to come?
Pat: Oh, thank you, that would be nice.
Jan: O.K. I ___________ (get) you a ticket, too.
Pat: Great. What time does it start?
Jan: Eight oclock, but we _______ all __________
(meet) in the Green Cafe at 7.15
Pat: O.K. I ___________ (meet) you in the cafe, but, er
seven.

_________ I ________ (be) there about halfpast

Jan: Thats fine.

Pat: Oh, one other thing. Ive got no money at the
moment. I ___________ (pay) for the ticket on
Saturday, is that O.K.?
Jan: Yes, thats O.K. no problem.
Pat: ___________ you ___________ (eat) in the
cafe, or just have a cup of coffee?
Jan: Just coffee, I think.
Pat: Look. ___________ we ___________ (go) to a
restaurant after the show? I know a very
good Chinese restaurant.
Jan: Thats a good idea. I ___________ (phone) the
others and see if they want to come too.
Pat: Good, and then I ___________ (book) a table.
Great! I ___________ (see) you tomorrow.
Jan: Yes, see you. Bye!

Exercises
A. Put the verb into the correct form using "will" or
"going to".

C. Write the correct form of "going to" or "will" to fill

in the blanks.

Examples:
1. A: Why are you turning on the television?

1. A: Poor Sue went to hospital yesterday.

B: Im sorry to hear that. I ___________ some flowers.

2. A: This rooms very cold.

B: Youre right. I ___________ the heater.
3. A: Are you still going out with Alice?
B: Oh, yes. We _________ get married next year.
4. A: Oh dear. I cant do this homework.
B: Dont worry. I ___________ you.
5. A: Did you remember to book seats for the theatre?
B: No, I forgot. I ___________ now.
6. A: Its Johns birthday tomorrow.
B: Is it? I cant afford a present but I ________ a card.
7. A: How old are you?
B: Im 64. I ___________ retire next year.
8. A: Why are you buying so much food?
B: Because I ___________ cook for ten people.
9. A: Jack is very angry with you.
B: Is he? I didnt realise. I __________ ring him
and apologise.
10. A: Why are you leaving so early?
B: Because the teacher gave us a lot of homework
and Im ___________ it very carefully.
D. Make questions using the questionwords in brackets.
1. She is going to be a teacher.
What __________________________________?
2. They are going to be here.
Where _________________________________?
3. He is going to stay home tonight.
When ___________________________________?
4. We are going to visit him.
Who ___________________________________?
5. He is going to eat two sandwiches.
What ___________________________________?
How many _______________________________?
6. I am going to drive very slowly.
How ___________________________________?
Who ___________________________________?
7. Sara is going to see the film.
What ___________________________________?
8. She is going to eat lunch at work.
What ___________________________________?
Where __________________________________?
9. Bob is going to go to the theatre with John.
Where __________________________________?
Whom __________________________________?
10. Barbara is going to write a report.
What __________________________________?

E. Build up the following words with "going to" future.

1. come / he / tomorrow?
_________________________________________?
2. be / I / doctor / a / year / next.
_________________________________________.
3. morning / there / be / workers / many /there/tomorrow.
_________________________________________.
4. eat / where / he / evening / tomorrow?
_________________________________________?
5. foot / he / to / on / school / next / Monday / go.
_________________________________________.

F. Change into the future tense with "going to" using

the expressions in the brackets.
1. He is a lawyer. (next year)
_________________________________________.
2. She goes to London. (next week)
_________________________________________.
3. They play basketball. (tomorrow)

_________________________________________.
4. They are not here. (tomorrow afternoon)
_________________________________________.
5. We are in school. (tomorrow morning)
_________________________________________.
6. I see a movie. (tomorrow evening)
_________________________________________.
7. You watch television. (tonight)
_________________________________________.
8. This student is a senior. (next year)
_________________________________________.
9. Those apples are ripe. (next month)
_________________________________________.
10. That girl is making a cake. (tomorrow)
_________________________________________.

G. Whats going to happen? Read the following

situations and write "going to" sentence for each.
1. Peter is sitting on the train. He is taking a newspaper
out of his bag.
Peter is ___________________________________.
2. The zebra is dead and the tiger is standing over it.
The tiger is ________________________________.
3. Paul is standing by the bath. The hot water is still
running into it but its almost full.
Paul is ____________________________________.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Shabinski who is a great pianist is walking onto the

concert platform.
Shabinski is ________________________________.
There is a little bird with a broken wing in the box. Kate is
bringing a cup of milk.
Kate is ___________________________________.
He took his brush and paints. He is standing by the
wall.
He is ____________________________________.
Cindy has the telephone number of AIP and is
standing by the phone.
Cindy is _________________________________.
It is 8 oclock. Your father is turning on the T.V.
He is ____________________________________.