English

Alternative forms

• gonna (informal) (and variants gunna and gonno)

Phrase

(be) going to

1. Forms a future tense.

   I’m going to throw out the milk if nobody’s going to drink it.

   • 1872, Mark Twain], "The Story of Grandfather's Old Ram" in Roughing It, Chapter 53

     Sh–! Don’t speak–he’s going to commence.

2. Forms a tense future to some past time.

   I was going to cut the grass, but it started raining.

Usage notes

• Going is technically a present participle (of go) which may be followed by an infinitive with “to”. However, this phrase is commonly interpreted as a modal or auxiliary verb.
• The future formed with "going to" (or "gonna") differs from that formed with "will". It usually indicates something already planned, an intention, or something that is bound to happen.
• It is sometimes used without the main verb (in the infinitive):

"Did you cut the grass?" "No, I was going to, but it started raining."

• In spoken English "going to" is often replaced by "gonna", but only when forming a future, not in a sentence like "I'm going to New York" (although this might be pronounced "I'm goin' to New York").

Translations

See also

• to (particle)