Using be going to for intentions and predictions

What does be going to mean? Be going to is a common structure for talking about the future. At A2 level, it has two important uses. We use it for intentions or plans that already exist when we speak, and we use it for predictions when something in the present gives us a reason to believe that an event will happen. Talking about intentions and plans Use be going to when you have already decided that you want to do something. For example, if you decided earlier that you want to clean your room this afternoon, you can say, “I'm going to clean my room this afternoon.” The plan does not need to be formal or completely arranged. The important point is that the intention already exists. Making predictions from present evidence We also use be going to when something we can see or know now suggests what will happen next. For example, if the sky is full of dark clouds, you can say, “It's going to rain.” The dark clouds are present evidence for the prediction. Choosing am, is, or are The word going cannot form this future structure by itself. We need the correct form of be before going to. Use am with I, is with he, she, and it, and are with you, we, and they. After going to, use the base form of the main verb. Making negative sentences To make a negative sentence, put not after am, is, or are. For example, “I'm not going to buy it.” The contractions isn't and aren't are common: “She isn't going to come” and “They aren't going to stay.” Making questions For yes/no questions, put am, is, or are before the subject: “Are you going to study tonight?” For a question with a question word, put the question word first: “What are you going to do tomorrow?”