Future and Modals : Unit 21, I’m going to . . .

A.      We use am/is/are going to . . . for the future :

I He/she/it We/you/they

am is   (not) are

going to

do . . . drink . . . Watch . . .

am is are

I he/she/it we/you/they

going to

buy . . . ? eat . . . ? wear . . . ?

I am going to do something = I have already decided to do something, my intention is to do something:

-          I’m going to buy some books tommorow

-          Pam is going to sell her car

-          I’m not going to have breakfast this mornig. I’m not hungry.

-          What are you going to wear to the partyon Saturday?

-          “Your hair is dirty.”    “Yes, I know. I’m going to wash it.”

-          Are you going to invite John to your party?

B.      You can say that something is going to happen when it is clear now that it is sure to happen :

-          Look at the sky! It’s going to rain.
(Black clouds now -----> rain)

-          Oh no! It’s 9 o’clock and I’m not ready.
I’m going to be late.
(9 o’clock now and not ready ----> late.)

C.      We also use the present continuous (I am –ing) for the future, usually for arrangements:

–         I am playing tennis with Jack tommorow.