was / were going to

No, this assumption is not true; although it offers that impression.

Paul was going to take a look at the leaky faucet in the bathrom when I left the house this morning. - The faucet may have been fixed at the time you make that statement.

Nick and Pat were going to the warehouse for some office supplies as I ran into them in the parking lot. - You are making a statement of f

Hi,

Does this always imply that the thing mentioned eventually did not happen?

Very generally speaking, I think that's true.

An exception would be in cases where 'going to' is used in the physical meaning, eg When I saw Tom, I was going to the store. ( Possibly, after I talked to him, I continued to the store.)

DiamondrgDoes this always imply that the thing mentioned eventually did not happen?

I'd agree that it often implies that. But cf.

1. "Hey! What are you doing with my ESL Reference Guide?" "I was just going to look up 'going to'." "Well, okay, but make sure you put it back when you've finished."

— "was going to" here is more tentativ

Thank you. So the sentences below also do not indicate the outcome, do they?

I was about to go through the turnstile when I realized that I had forgotten my briefcase at home - on the floor next to the shoe rack. I felt furious because I was going to walk all the way back, and of course, I was going to be late for school. I thought it wasn't going to be

Hi,

Thank you. So the sentences below also do not indicate the outcome, do they?

I was about to go through the turnstile when I realized that I had forgotten my briefcase at home - on the floor next to the shoe rack. I felt furious because I was going to walk all the way back, This does imply t

I thought it wasn't going to be a nice day for me . . .

This strongly suggests to me that your day was actually nice.

Hi, Clive.

To me here the writer wanted to explain that he guessed that it would be a bad day for him judging from the unfortunate things happened to him. Is this interpretation possible?

Hi,

Is this interpretation possible? Yes, it is.

Although 'I thought' also suggests a little that 'my opinion' was later proved wrong. Simply it wasn't going to be a nice day for me would be a lot clearer.

Best wishes again, Clive

Does this always imply that the thing mentioned eventually did not happen?

Of course not. Beethoven's mother had no idea that Beethoven was going to be known as a great composer by people all over the world centuries later.

CJ

Which is correct:

" A total of 13 dragons was breathing fire."

"A total of 13 dragons were breathing fire."

My take is that you read it as "A total...was breathing fire." In this case, "fire" is singular, so the verb must also be singular.

Which is correct:
" A total of 13 dragons was breathing fire."

"A total of 13 dragons were breathing fire."

My take is that you read it as "A total...was breathing fire." In this case, "fire" is singular, so the verb must also be singular.
A retake would be advisable here.