going to for future

Question

HiPlease tell me when I can use going to with reference to future.

Philip · Accepted Answer

It is sometimes called the 'near future'.
I'm going to study Italian in Rome this summer.
She's going to start dieting on her next birthday.
What time I you going to pick up your friend for the party?

Vsuresh · Answer

Thank you, Philip.

Fivejedjon · Answer

I agree that 'going to'' is used for a comparatively near future, but so are other ways of expressing the future. When we use 'going to', we almost always have some form of present evidence of the future situation.

It's going to rain soon. (I can see dark clouds in the sky.)
John is going to have a serious accident one day. (I know that he drinks a lot and then drives.)
Mary is going to get married next month. (She told me.)

Laborious · Answer

Hello hans,

I would like to share what I have read about 'be going to' with you.

I.
I have read that it (going to) can also be used for something which has already been planned or decided; or something that we have made preparations or arrangements for. It's like we have already made a list of things which we are going to do in "near" future.

II.
It (be going to) can also be used for things about which we are sure / certain will happen/occur in the future (often in near future). There are 'signs' or 'clues' NOW to support our surety or certainly about that future event. Here, It (going to) can be contrasted with 'will' which expresses simple futurity.

Situation I:
For example; - I am going to visit my family physician next month. (I've already fixed an appointment with him/her.)

Another one;
- They are going to tie the knot (get married) next month. (it has already been planned and a lot of preparations have (already) been made for this).

Situation II:
A: Do you see those grey clouds in the sky?
B: Yes, and I think it's going to rain in a few minutes. (the 'sing' that we have in the present (at the time of speaking) is - grey clouds in the sky.)

To the teachers:
Dear teachers, I have said only what I've read. And I will feel obliged to you if you tell me whether what I've read is correct or not. Please, correct me wherever I was wrong.

Thank you all.

Laborious · Answer

Mr. fivejedjon, I wouldn't have written my post if I had seen yours. Anyway, I am sure you will correct my mistakes (as you have always) If I have made any.  <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Fivejedjon · Answer

Laboriousam sure you will correct my mistakes (as you have always) If I have made any.

There is little of importance to correct.

we have already made a list of things which we are going to do in the"near" future.

It (be going to) can also be used for things ~~about~~ which we are sure / certain will happen/occur in the future (often in the near future). . Here, It (going to) can be contrasted with 'will' which expresses simple futurity. 'Will' more often expresses certainty or volition than simple futurity in my opinion.

B: Yes, and I think it's going to rain in a few minutes. (the '~~sing~~' sign that we have in the present (at the time of speaking) is - grey clouds in the sky.)

Anonymous · Answer

Dear Vsuresh,

I am not a native speaker, but I will try to help! In English there are two forms of future tense: 1. The auxiliary "will"; 2. Be going to. To be concise, the first one is used for snap decisions. For example, when you see a hat that seems very nice and you decide to buy it; then you say: "I will buy it" (this is not planned before). However, the second one (be going to) is used to remark a planned situation. For instance, if you plan to go abroad tomorrow, you will say: "I am going to go abroad".
I hope this helps,

Ali
http://ali-hort.blogsky.com/

Fivejedjon · Answer

AnonymousIn English there are two forms of future tense:

There are five common ways of expressing the future. Most writers on grammar today consider none of them to be a tense. The five common ways are: the present progressive, the present simple, BE going to + bare infinitive, WILL + bare infinitive and WILL+ progressive infinitive.

Anonymous1. The auxiliary "will" [...] s used for snap decisions.

It's used for several other things as well.

Anonymous2. Be going to [...] is used to remark a planned situation.

There is nothing planned in 'It's going to rain.'

Anonymous · Answer

vsureshHiPlease tell me when I can use going to with reference to future.

Be going to form is used for intentions and predictions.

Intentions:

I'm going to finish high school and go to university.

Predictions:

Look at that woman! She is pale and unsteady in her walk. I'm sure she is going to faint.

CalifJim · Answer

vsureshPlease tell me when I can use going to with reference to future.

Also note the contrast.

— What will happen if a driver doesn't see that a bridge has been washed out?
— He will drive over the cliff and be killed.
___________________________

Oh, my ***! Look at that! It looks like the driver doesn't see that the bridge is washed out! Oh, no! He's going to drive over the cliff! He's going to be killed!

CJ

going to for future

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