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1 The Big Idea
A Plan or a Sign
📘 Level 4 — Be Going To — Lesson 1

Use be going to in two cases. You decided before you speak. Or you can see a sign now.

We are going to move next year. (We decided before.)
Look at the clouds. It is going to rain. (You can see the sign.)
(Both sentences use be + going to + base verb.)
A planA sign you can see
You decided before. “I’m going to visit my aunt.”You see it now. “Watch out! It is going to fall!”
It is your idea. “She is going to start a new job.”The sign tells you. “It is going to rain.”
A plan or a sign you can see now → am / is / are + going to + base verb.
The form is the same. Only the reason is different.
2 Plans
You Decided Before You Speak

A plan is an idea in your head before you speak. You are not deciding now. You are telling people.

  • I am going to visit my parents this weekend.
  • She is going to study medicine.
  • We are going to move to a bigger apartment next year.
  • They are going to open a new restaurant next month.
  • He is going to start a new job on Monday.

Time words often show a plan: tonight, tomorrow, this weekend, next month, next year, in June, on Monday.

3 Signs You Can See
Look! Watch Out! Careful!

A sign is something you see, hear, or feel now. It tells you what happens next.

Look at those clouds. It is going to rain.
(You see the clouds. The rain comes next.)
  • Watch out! The glass is going to fall!
  • Careful! You are going to break it!
  • Look at the score. They are going to lose.
  • Look at that balloon. It is going to burst!
  • Listen to the baby. She is going to wake up.

Words like Look!, Watch out!, and Careful! often come before a sign.

4 Form
Statements, Negatives, and Questions

Always use am, is, or are with going to. Then use the base verb.

Statement: subject + am / is / are + going to + base verb
Negative: subject + am not / isn’t / aren’t + going to + base verb
Question: Am / Is / Are + subject + going to + base verb?
Statements
  • I’m going to call him.
  • She is going to leave soon.
  • They are going to travel in July.
  • We’re going to watch a movie.
  • He’s going to sell his car.
Negatives
  • I am not going to work late.
  • She isn’t going to take the job.
  • They aren’t going to win.
  • We aren’t going to wait.
  • It isn’t going to rain today.
Questions
  • Are you going to accept the offer?
  • Is she going to start a new job?
  • Where are they going to live?
  • When is he going to leave?
  • What are you going to cook?
5 Common Mistakes
Watch Out For These
❌ Mistake 1 — Missing or wrong be
✗ She going to leave.
✗ They is going to move.
✓ She is going to leave.
✓ They are going to move.
Always use am, is, or are. It must match the subject.
❌ Mistake 2 — -s, -ing, or go to after going to
✗ He is going to starts.
✗ We are going to buying a car.
✗ They are go to travel.
✓ He is going to start.
✓ We are going to buy a car.
✓ They are going to travel.
Use going to. Then use the base verb only.
❌ Mistake 3 — Using do in negatives and questions
✗ I don’t going to leave.
✗ Do you going to call him?
✓ I’m not going to leave.
✓ Are you going to call him?
Do not use do. Use am, is, or are to make negatives and questions.
❌ Mistake 4 — Writing “gonna”
✗ I’m gonna visit my aunt.
✗ What are you gonna do?
✓ I’m going to visit my aunt.
✓ What are you going to do?
People often say gonna in fast speech. In writing and on tests, use going to.
6 Practice
Try It Yourself
Exercise A — Plan or Sign?

Read the sentence. Click what it shows.

  • 1
    You say: “We are going to move next year.”
    ✓ Correct — You decided before you speak. This is a plan.
  • 2
    You see dark clouds. You say: “It is going to rain.”
    ✓ Correct — You can see a sign now. It tells you what happens next.
  • 3
    You say: “I’m going to visit my aunt this weekend.”
    ✓ Correct — You decided before you speak. This is a plan.
  • 4
    You say: “She is going to start a new job on Monday.”
    ✓ Correct — You decided before you speak. This is a plan.
  • 5
    The glass is at the edge. You say: “It is going to fall!”
    ✓ Correct — You can see a sign now. It tells you what happens next.
  • 6
    A car is coming fast. You say: “Watch out! It is going to hit the wall!”
    ✓ Correct — You can see a sign now. It tells you what happens next.
  • 7
    You say: “They are going to buy a house in June.”
    ✓ Correct — You decided before you speak. This is a plan.
  • 8
    The score is 5–0. You say: “They are going to lose.”
    ✓ Correct — You can see a sign now. It tells you what happens next.
Exercise B — Complete the Sentence

Type the correct form of be going to for the verb given.

  • 1
    She her grandparents this weekend. (visit)
  • 2
    Look at the sky. It . (rain)
  • 3
    We a new house next year. (buy)
  • 4
    I Spanish this fall. (study)
  • 5
    Careful! The glass ! (fall)
  • 6
    They in June. (marry)
  • 7
    My brother a new job on Monday. (start)
  • 8
    Look at that balloon. It ! (burst)
Exercise C — Make It Negative

Type the negative form of be going to for the verb given.

  • 1
    We a car this year. (not buy)
  • 2
    I late tonight. (not work)
  • 3
    She the job. (not take)
  • 4
    They the game. They are losing 0–5. (not win)
  • 5
    He to the party. (not come)
  • 6
    It today. The sky is clear. (not rain)
  • 7
    We here long. The bus is almost here. (not wait)
  • 8
    I this house. (not sell)
Exercise D — Write the Question

Type the missing words of speaker B’s question. Use the subject given.

  • 1
    A: We are moving next month.
    B: Where live? (you)
  • 2
    A: I got a new job.
    B: When start? (you)
  • 3
    A: Sara bought a ticket to Paris.
    B: visit her aunt? (she)
  • 4
    A: The kids are packing their bags.
    B: travel by car? (they)
  • 5
    A: Look at the dark clouds!
    B: rain? (it)
  • 6
    A: Tom wants a new phone.
    B: How much spend? (he)
  • 7
    A: We are having a party.
    B: What cook? (you)
  • 8
    A: Jan and Ed are leaving town.
    B: When come back? (they)
Exercise E — Choose the Form

Click the form that completes the sentence.

  • 1
    I my parents tomorrow.
    ✓ Correct — Use am, is, or are before going to.
  • 2
    She a new car next month.
    ✓ Correct — After going to, use the base verb.
  • 3
    Look! The cup !
    ✓ Correct — Keep all three parts: be + going to + base verb.
  • 4
    you going to call him?
    ✓ Correct — In a question, put am, is, or are first. Do not use do.
  • 5
    We here long.
    ✓ Correct — Make the negative with am not, isn’t, or aren’t.
  • 6
    He late. The bus is here.
    ✓ Correct — Use am, is, or are before going to.
  • 7
    They this summer.
    ✓ Correct — Use going to, not go to.
  • 8
    Careful! You the plate!
    ✓ Correct — After going to, use the base verb.
7 Choose the Right Sentence
Apply What You Know

Read each question. Choose the sentence that matches.

Question 1 of 8
Select the correct plan.
Question 2 of 8
Which sentence is a plan?
Question 3 of 8
Select the correct negative.
Question 4 of 8
Select the correct question.
Question 5 of 8
Which sentence uses a sign you can see?
Question 6 of 8
Select the correct sentence.
Question 7 of 8
Select the sentence that is incorrect.
Question 8 of 8
Select the correct question.
8 Summary
Be Going To: Plans and Signs A plan or a sign you can see uses am / is / are + going to + base verb.
  • A plan is decided before you speak: I’m going to visit my aunt.
  • A sign you can see shows what happens next: Look! It’s going to rain.
  • Form: am / is / are + going to + base verb.
  • Negative: am not / isn’t / aren’t + going to. Do not use do.
  • Question: Are you going to call him? Where is she going to live?
  • Writing: use going to, not gonna.
← Previous lesson Predictions Next Going To vs. Will →