When Do We Use ‘Be Going To’ Questions?
We use be going to questions to ask about plans. These are things that someone has already decided to do in the future. We are asking about intentions.
- Use it for plans you made before speaking.
- Use it for questions about someone’s intentions.
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How Do We Form ‘Be Going To’ Questions?
Forming questions with be going to is easy. You need the verb be (am, is, are), the subject, and going to + the base form of a verb.
Yes/No Questions
For questions with a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answer, start with the verb be.
- Structure: Be (am/is/are) + subject + going to + base verb?
- Example: Are you going to study tonight?
Wh- Questions
For questions that ask for specific information (like What, Where, When, Who, Why, How), start with a question word.
- Structure: Question Word + be (am/is/are) + subject + going to + base verb?
- Example: What are you going to do tomorrow?
How Do We Give Short Answers?
You can give short, simple answers to be going to Yes/No questions.
- To say ‘yes’: Yes, I am. / Yes, she is. / Yes, they are.
- To say ‘no’: No, I’m not. / No, he isn’t. / No, we aren’t.
| Question Word | Be (am/is/are) | Subject | going to | Base Verb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Are | you | going to | study? | |
| What | is | she | going to | do? |
| Where | are | they | going to | go? |
Examples
- Are you going to visit your friends this weekend?
- Is she going to cook dinner tonight?
- What are they going to watch on TV?
- Where is he going to travel next year?
- When are we going to meet for coffee?
- Are we going to have a party?
Practice
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Chat with an Advisor on WhatsAppCommon mistakes for Spanish speakers
Incorrect Word Order
A common mistake is to put the subject before the verb be in questions. Remember to invert them.
- Incorrect: You are going to go shopping?
- Correct: Are you going to go shopping?
Missing ‘Be’ Verb
Sometimes learners forget to include the verb be (am, is, are).
- Incorrect: What you going to do?
- Correct: What are you going to do?
Frequently asked questions
What is the main use of ‘be going to’ questions?
We use be going to questions to ask about future plans and intentions that someone has already made.
How do I answer a ‘Yes/No’ question with ‘be going to’?
You can answer with Yes, I am. / No, I’m not. or Yes, she is. / No, she isn’t., etc.
Is ‘be going to’ the same as ‘will’ for future questions?
No, they are different. Be going to is for plans you have already made. Will is often for spontaneous decisions or predictions without strong evidence. For A1, focus on be going to for plans.
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