Going to

Question

I know that "They are going to fire some of their employees." can mean "They intend to fire some of their employees." but I'm wondering to know can it also mean "According to the situation they will fire some of their employees."?and what about "He is going to be rich." can it mean both, "According to the situation he will be rich." and "He intends to be rich."?

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

stdI know that "They are going to fire some of their employees." can mean "They intend to fire some of their employees." but I'm wondering to know can it also mean "According to the situation they will fire some of their employees."?

The verb "be going to" is used as a synonym for "will" in present tense.

I am going to eat lunch now. = I will eat lunch now.

The boss is going to fire us. = The boss will fire us.

In the past tense, it shows intention:

The boss was going to fire us, but he changed his mind and gave us all raises instead.

stdand what about "He is going to be rich." can it mean both, "According to the situation he will be rich." and "He intends to be rich."?

He is going to be rich. -

This is a prediction that someday he will be rich based on something we know about him.

Maybe we know that his parents are very rich, and he is the only child.

Maybe we know that he is brilliant and will invent something like Facebook.

Maybe we know that he is ambitious and has such a silver tongue that he could sell ice to the Eskimos.

Going to

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions