How do we make the going to future form in English?
Note: We use the present continuous form of go for the beginning of this structure, but this is NOT the present continuous tense.
Positive form
present simple of be + going to + base form
(We can also say: present continuous of go + infinitive)
| Full form | Short form |
| I am going to play | I’m going to play |
| you are going to play | you’re going to play |
| he is going to play | he’s going to play |
| she is going to play | she’s going to play |
| it is going to play | it’s going to play |
| we are going to play | we’re going to play |
| they are going to play | they’re going to play |
For example:
- I am going to study tonight.
- He’s driving too fast. He’s going to get a ticket.
- The students are going to be here in half an hour. (they are going to be)
Some notes on short forms:
1. We often contract is with nouns and other words in speaking and informal writing: Jane’s, nobody’s, that’s, what’s, etc.
2. We often contract are with nouns and other words in speaking, but not in writing: the students’re, those’re, what’re, etc.
3. We do not usually contract verbs in writing if we have a compound subject: Jane and I’re, Jane and Ben’re, etc.
Negative form
Put not after the present simple of be (am/are/is).
| Full form | Short forms | |
| I am not going to play | I’m not going to play | – |
| you are not going to play | you’re not going to play | you aren’t going to play |
| he is not going to play | he’s not going to play | he isn’t going to play |
| she is not going to play | she’s not going to play | she isn’t going to play |
| it is not going to play | it’s not going to play | it isn’t going to play |
| we are not going to play | we’re not going to play | we aren’t going to play |
| they are not going to play | they’re not going to play | they aren’t going to play |
For example:
- I’m not going to go to bed late tonight.
- There are no clouds. It is not going to rain.
- We’re not going to buy a new car this year.
- They aren’t going to grow without water.
Question forms
Invert the subject and the present simple of be (am/are/is), and then put a question word (what, who, etc.) at the beginning for wh- questions.
| Yes/No questions | |
| Am I going to play? | |
| Are you going to play? | |
| Is he going to play? | |
| Is she going to play? | |
| Is it going to play? | |
| Are we going to play? | |
| Are they going to play? | |
| Wh- questions | |
| What Who Where When Why How etc. | am I going to play? |
| are you going to play? | |
| is he going to play? | |
| is she going to play? | |
| is it going to play? | |
| are we going to play? | |
| are they going to play? | |
For example:
- Am I going to pass this test?
- Are you going to come to the party?
- Is the plan going to work? (is it going to work)
- Where is Jane going to live? (is she going to live)
- How long are we going to stay?
- When are they going to arrive?
Short answers
| Positive | Negative | |
| Yes, I am. | No, I‘m not. | – |
| Yes, you are. | No, you’re not. | No, you aren’t. |
| Yes, he is. | No, he’s not. | No, he isn’t. |
| Yes, she is. | No, she’s not. | No, she isn’t. |
| Yes, it is. | No, it’s not. | No, it isn’t. |
| Yes, we are. | No, we’re not. | No, we aren’t. |
| Yes, they are. | No, they’re not. | No, they aren’t. |
Notes:
1. We do not use short forms in positive short answers.
2. We sometimes use full forms in negative short answers (e.g. No, I am not.), but this is rare and mainly used in very formal contexts or for emphasis.