Going to - intention
We use going to when we have the intention to do something before we speak. We have already made a decision before speaking. Look at these examples:
- Jo has won the lottery. He says he's going to buy a Porsche.
- We're not going to paint our bedroom tomorrow.
- When are you going to go on holiday?
In these examples, we had an intention or plan before speaking. The decision was made before speaking.
Going to - prediction We often use going to to make a prediction about the future. Our prediction is based on present evidence. We are saying what we think will happen. Here are some examples:
- The sky is very black. It's going to snow.
- It's 8.30! You're going to miss the train!
- I crashed the company car. My boss isn't going to be very happy!
In these examples, the present situation (black sky, the time, damaged car) gives us a good idea of what is going to happen. |
