10 March 2012 / by Radmila Gurkova

I am GOING TO learn English

P2 - expressing future actions with "to be going to"

We use 'will' and 'be going to' to express future actions but what is the difference?

Future tense - things that are going to happen

Two ways to talk about the future:

  1. Will - Tomorrow I will eat a sandwich

  2. To be going to - I am going to eat pasta


The future tense 'Will' doesn't change

Subject + will + verb

  • I will

  • He will

  • She will

  • We will

  • They will


Will is used for immediate reactions or things that you did not plan in the future

  • I'll finish it

  • I will visit my parents


To be going to changes with the subject

Subject + to be + going to + infinitive verb

  • I am going to have a muffin

  • I am going to visit my parents


To be going to is used if you have made a decision or you are sure something is going to happen in the future

  • I am going to

  • He is going to

  • She is going to

  • We are going to

  • They are going to


Click here to see an example

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