Essential Grammar in Use(Third Edition)--Future Unit26

I'm going to ...

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A

I'm going to do something

 

She is going to watch TV this evening.

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

I                      am he/she/it            is we/you/they    are

(not) going to

do ... drink ... watch ...

am     I is       he/she/it are     we/you/they

going to

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

B

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

 

past	now	future
I decided to do it	I'm going to do it

• I'm going to buy some books tomorrow.
• Sarah is going to sell her car.
• I'm going to have breakfast this morning. I'm not hungry.
• What are you going to wear to the wedding next week?
• Your hands are dirty. Yes, I know. I'm going to wash them.
• Are you going to invite Martin to your party?

We also use the present continuous (I am doing) for the future, usually for arrangements(units 25):

• I am playing tennis with Julia tomorrow.

C

Something is going to happen

 

Something is going to happen = we can see now that it is sure to happen

• Look at the sky! It's going to rain. (black clouds now  rain)
• Oh dear! It's 9 o'clock and I'm not ready. I'm going to be  late. (9 o'clock now and not ready  late)