Going to: present continuous
We use the present continuous form of the verbgo+ prepositionto+ noun phrase to talk about movement in relation to a place or a person in the present:
Are yougoing to Maggie’s partytonight?
I’mgoing to the shops. Do you want anything?
Going to: future
We can use a present form ofbe+going to+ the base form of a main verb to talk about the future. We use it for plans and intentions, predictions and commands:
I’m going to buya new car next week.(plan or intention)
You’renotgoing to doall this in an hour. There’s just too much to do.(prediction: the speaker can see how much there is to do)
I’m telling you, you’regoing to doit. You don’t have a choice.(command)
Was going to
We use a past form ofbe+going towhen we talk about a plan we had that may have changed.
| B definitely intends to stay out in the rain. |
| B intended to stay out but may have changed his mind. |
See also:
Modality: introduction
Will
Gonna(informal contexts)
Commands and instructions
Future