Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 20 · B1

I'm going to (do)

Use am/is/are going to for something you have already decided to do, and for something the present situation shows is about to happen. Use was/were going to for an intention that did not come off.

Start the lesson

12Steps · about 21 minutes

In this lesson

I'm going to do: a decision already madeA1 screen of questions
I am doing and I am going to doB2 screens of questions
Something is going to happen: you can see it comingC1 screen of questions
I was going to do: an intention that did not happenD2 screens of questions

Point A of 4

I'm going to do: a decision already made

I am going to do something reports a decision that is already made. The intention is in place.

The choice happened earlier; going to simply tells people about it.

  • "Are you going to have a pudding?" "No, I'm stuffed."
  • "I hear Tom's been made redundant. What's he going to do?" "He's going to set up his own business."
  • I'm just going to nip to the cashpoint. Will you wait here?
  • This milk's gone off. I'm not going to drink it.

Point A · Exercise 20.1

Write questions with going to, using the words in brackets.

  1. Example

    Your friend has been given a voucher for a hundred pounds. You ask: (what / buy?)

    What are you going to buy?

    AnswerWhat are you going to buy with it?

  2. Your friend is going to a fancy dress party on Saturday. You ask: (what / go as?)

  3. Your friend has just bought a huge painting. You ask: (where / hang?)

  4. Your friend has decided to get married next summer. You ask: (who / invite?)

  5. Your friend has just bought a bag of mussels for tea. You ask: (how / cook?)

Point B of 4

I am doing and I am going to do

I am doing means it is already fixed or arranged. You have booked it, or agreed it with somebody.

I am going to do means you have decided to do it. You may have arranged it, or you may not.

Often the difference is small, and either form is possible.

  • I'm flying to Belfast on Friday. I've got my boarding pass.
  • What time are you seeing the plumber tomorrow?
  • "The grass is very long." "I know. I'm going to cut it." (I've decided to, but I haven't arranged it with anybody.)
  • This hotel is dreadful. Tomorrow I'm going to find somewhere else.
  • I don't know what I'm doing on Saturday. (I don't know my plans.)
  • I've no idea how I'm going to deal with the damp in the bathroom. (I haven't decided.)

Point B · Exercise 20.2 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences using I'm going to ... or I'm not going to .... Choose from the box.

Use these

complainlearnentersayrevisecleannot/acceptnot/drinknot/tell

  1. Example

    This milk smells sour. I'm not going to drink it.

    AnswerThis milk smells sour. I'm not going to drink it.

  2. I failed my last exam. This time properly.

  3. I'm best man at my brother's wedding, and I have no idea what .

  4. "The oven is filthy." "I know. it at the weekend."

  5. They've offered me a promotion, but it. It means moving to Aberdeen.

Point B · Exercise 20.2 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences using I'm going to ... or I'm not going to .... Choose from the box.

Use these

complainlearnentersayrevisecleannot/acceptnot/drinknot/tell

  1. One day to play the piano properly, though I haven't found a teacher yet.

  2. the Great North Run next year. I've been training since March.

  3. We've been waiting an hour for our food and it's cold. .

  4. Mum would only worry, so her about the accident.

Point C of 4

Something is going to happen: you can see it coming

Something is going to happen can also be a prediction based on what you can see right now.

A woman is reading her phone as she walks along the pavement. A lamp post is two steps in front of her. She is going to walk into the lamp post. The evidence is in front of us. The lamp post, for its part, has no plans to move.

  • Look at that sky. It's going to pour down. (we can see the clouds now)
  • I've eaten far too much. I think I'm going to burst. (I feel full now)
  • Prices are already high, and they're going to rise again next year.

Point C · Exercise 20.3

What is going to happen in these situations? Use the words in brackets.

  1. Example

    The sky over the hills has gone almost black. (pour down)

    It's going to pour down.

    AnswerIt's going to pour down.

  2. It is 8.50. Kayleigh's interview starts at 9.00, and she is still twenty minutes away. (late)

  3. A small dinghy has a crack in the bottom, and water is pouring in. (sink)

  4. Owen and Sam are driving across the moors at night. The petrol light has been on for twenty miles, and the next garage is thirty miles away. (run out of petrol)

  5. A tree fell on Pete's roof in the storm. Now the roof needs to be repaired. (cost a lot)

Point D of 4

I was going to do: an intention that did not happen

I was going to do something means I intended to do it, but I did not do it.

You can also say that something was going to happen when it looked likely but did not happen.

  • We were going to get the bus, but in the end we walked.
  • I was just going to ring you when you texted me.
  • I thought the match was going to be cancelled, but it went ahead.

Point D · Exercise 20.4 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences with was/were going to. Choose from the box.

Use these

bebuygive upringplaysaytravel

  1. Example

    We were going to travel to Scotland by train, but the tickets were so expensive that we drove.

    AnswerWe were going to travel to Scotland by train, but the tickets were so expensive that we drove.

  2. I a birthday card for Gran yesterday, but the shop had closed by the time I got there.

  3. Ahmed and I golf on Sunday, but it rained all day.

  4. I the bank about the mistake, but I sorted it out online in the end.

  5. I thought the driving test really difficult, but I passed first time.

Point D · Exercise 20.4 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences with was/were going to. Choose from the box.

Use these

bebuygive upringplaysaytravel

  1. Kerry her course, but her tutor persuaded her to stay.

  2. Sorry, I talked over you. What you ?

Lesson 20 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: will and shall 1Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. I'm going to do: a decision already made–Not checkedB. I am doing and I am going to do–Not checkedC. Something is going to happen: you can see it coming–Not checkedD. I was going to do: an intention that did not happen–Not checked