In English, we often use 'going to' to talk about plans and intentions. We use it when we have already decided to do something in the future — for example, a party you are organising next week, or a meal you are going to cook on Saturday. 'Going to' is very common in everyday speaking and writing, and it is one of the most useful future forms at A2 level.
The pattern is: subject + am / is / are + going to + base verb. The verb after 'going to' is always in the base form. We say 'going to invite', never 'going to invites'. This rule is the same for every subject. We use am with I, is with he / she / it, and are with you / we / they. Look at the table below.
Type
Form
Example
Positive
subject + am / is / are + going to + verb
We are going to have a party.
Negative
subject + am / is / are + not + going to + verb
She is not going to cook tonight.
Question
Am / Is / Are + subject + going to + verb?
Are you going to come?
Short answer (yes)
Yes, subject + am / is / are.
Yes, I am.
Short answer (no)
No, subject + 'm / 's / 're not.
No, she isn't.
We make questions by putting am, is, or are before the subject. Short answers are very common in speaking — they sound more natural than long answers. In negative sentences and short answers, we often contract: is not → isn't, are not → aren't, am not → 'm not.
Time expressions are very useful with 'going to'. Words and phrases like tomorrow, tonight, this weekend, next week, on Saturday, on Friday evening often come at the end of the sentence, but they can also start the sentence for emphasis. For example: 'Tomorrow I'm going to buy a present.'
Generating translation…
I'm going to invite my friends to the party.
Read this example of 'going to'. What is the verb after 'going to'?
We are going to make a cake for Sarah.
Another example. Notice the verb after 'going to' is in the base form.
Required
Look at the sentences above. What comes right after 'am' or 'are'?
to invite
going to
the verb
Required
She ___ going to dance at the party tonight.
Required
Which sentence is correct?
I am going to plays music.
I am going to play music.
I going to play music.
Required
___ they going to come to the party on Saturday?
Required
Put the words in the correct order to make a sentence.
to the party
am
I
going to
come
Required
In the sentence 'She is going to invite 10 guests', the verb after 'going to' is 'invites'.
After 'going to' we use the base verb 'invite', not 'invites'. The verb never changes form in this pattern.
Listening
Listening
5
cards
You will hear a short conversation between two friends, Emma and Tom. They are talking on the phone on Tuesday evening. The topic is a birthday party for their friend Sarah, which is going to happen on Saturday at Emma's house.
Before you listen, think about this question: when you plan a party with a friend, what do you usually talk about? Time, place, food, music, guests, presents — these are all common topics for party planning. As you listen, try to catch the answers to these questions:
Where is the party going to be?
What time does it start?
What food are they going to have?
Who is Tom going to invite?
In the dialogue, listen carefully for the 'going to' structures. Emma and Tom use them many times to talk about their plans: 'We're going to have a party', 'I'm going to call him tonight', 'Are you going to invite Jake?'. This is the grammar from the first section, used in a real conversation.
After the dialogue, you will answer three questions: one about the general idea (the gist), one about a specific detail (true or false), and one where you fill in a missing word from the conversation. Listen carefully — you can hear the dialogue more than once if you need to.
Generating translation…
Emma and Tom are talking on the phone about a birthday party for their friend Sarah.
E
EmmaHi Tom! Are you free this Saturday?
T
TomYes, I think so. Why?
E
EmmaIt's Sarah's birthday. We're going to have a party at my house.
T
TomThat sounds great! What time is the party going to start?
E
EmmaAt seven o'clock. We're going to order pizza and make a cake.
T
TomCan I bring something?
E
EmmaYes — please bring some drinks. And Tom, are you going to invite Jake?
T
TomYes, I'm going to call him tonight.
Required
What is the conversation about?
A birthday party
A holiday trip
A school lesson
Required
Tom is going to bring some food to the party.
Emma asks Tom to bring some drinks, not food. Tom agrees to bring the drinks.
Required
The party is going to start at ___ o'clock.
Pronunciation
Pronunciation
6
cards
In natural, everyday British English, 'going to' often changes its sound in speech. Instead of saying three clear syllables — 'go-ing to' — speakers usually say two syllables that sound like 'gonna'. This is not lazy or incorrect speech; it is the normal, relaxed way most British people speak. You will hear it on TV, in films, and in everyday conversation.
How do you make this sound? Start with the first part of 'going': the /g/ sound at the back of your mouth. Then add a short 'uh' vowel sound, like the 'a' in 'about'. Finally, add a quick 'nuh' sound. Say it together: g'nna or gonna — it sounds like one word, not three words.
This sound change happens when 'going to' comes after a verb like am, is, are, or was. For example:
'I'm gonna invite Tom.' (I am going to invite Tom)
'She's gonna make a cake.' (She is going to make a cake)
'We're gonnadance all night.' (We are going to dance all night)
In careful, slow speech — for example, when you want to be very clear or polite — you can say the full 'going to' with three syllables: 'I am going to help you with that.' Listen to the dialogue in the next section and notice how Emma and Tom use 'going to' in their speaking.
Remember: in writing, always write 'going to'. The 'gonna' sound is only for speaking and listening.
Generating translation…
'Going to' → 'gonna'. Start with /g/, add a short 'uh' sound, then 'nuh' — say it together: gonna. This happens after am, is, are, or was. In writing, always write 'going to'; 'gonna' is only for speaking.
Required
Does the speaker say 'going to' or 'gonna'?
going to
gonna
Required
Read this sentence aloud. Focus on the 'gonna' sound after 'I'm'.
I'm gonna invite my friends.
Required
Read this sentence aloud. Notice the 'gonna' after 'is'.
She's gonna make a cake.
Required
Read this sentence aloud. Practise the connected speech — 'we're gonna'.
We're gonna dance all night.
Speaking
Speaking
7
cards
In this section, you will practise talking about your own party plans. First, listen to a short model dialogue between two people, Anna and Ben, who are planning a small party together. Then you will repeat two key sentences aloud to practise the pronunciation of 'going to' in connected speech. Finally, you will have a real conversation with the AI in the roleplay — try to use the same phrases as Anna and Ben.
Here are useful phrases for talking about party plans:
English
When to use
What are you going to do?
Asking about someone's plans
I'm going to...
Talking about your plan
Are you going to...?
Asking a yes/no question
Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
Short answers
I'm going to bring...
Talking about what you will bring
Sounds great!
A friendly response
Do you need any help?
Offering to help
I can help with the music.
Saying what you can do
In the roleplay, you are planning a small party with your friend for next weekend. Use 'going to' to talk about your plans: 'I'm going to...', 'Are you going to...?', 'Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.' Speak clearly and try to use the phrases from the table. Don't worry about small mistakes — just keep talking!
Generating translation…
Listen to this short model. Anna and Ben are planning a small party for next Saturday.
A
AnnaHi Ben! I'm going to have a small party next Saturday. Are you free?
B
BenYes, I am! What are you going to do?
A
AnnaWe're going to have music and food at my house. Can you bring anything?
B
BenSure, I'm going to bring some drinks. Are you going to invite Lisa?
A
AnnaYes, I am. I'm going to call her tonight. Sounds great!
What are you going to bring to the party?
A key question for planning conversations. Notice the word order: question word + are + subject + going to + verb.
Required
Read this sentence aloud. Try to say 'gonna' naturally after 'I'm'.
I'm going to bring some drinks.
Required
Read this question aloud. Focus on the rising intonation at the end.
Are you going to invite your sister?
Required
You are talking to your friend Ben. Plan a small party together. Use 'going to' to talk about what you are going to do, who you are going to invite, and what you are going to bring.
Required
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
6
cards
This lesson's topic is parties, so let's learn eight common words for things and actions you can find at a party. You will see these words again in the listening dialogue and in the speaking roleplay, so it is important to remember them.
Word
Type
Example
cake
noun
We're going to make a chocolate cake.
music
noun
The music is very loud tonight.
guests
noun
We have twenty guests at the party.
decorations
noun
The balloons and lights are the decorations.
present
noun
I bought a present for my friend.
dance
verb
Are you going to dance at the party?
food
noun
The food is on the table.
drinks
noun
We need more drinks — water and juice.
Most of these words are nouns.'Dance' is a verb, but you can also use it as a noun: 'Let's have a dance!' Remember that 'drinks' and 'decorations' are usually plural in this meaning. We say 'a cake' (singular) and 'two cakes' (plural). For 'present', British English uses 'present'; American English speakers often say 'gift' instead.
You will use these words in the next sections to talk about party plans: 'We're going to play music and dance.' / 'Are you going to bring a present?' / 'I'm going to help with the food.' Try to remember the spelling of each word before you do the next exercises.
Generating translation…
Meet eight common words for parties. Try to remember each one.
cakekeɪk
a sweet food made with a mixture of flour , eggs , fat , and sugar :
a small flat object made by pressing toge
danceˈdɑːns
To move the body rhythmically to music, often following a set pattern or steps.
decorationsˌdekəˈreɪʃənz
Objects such as flags, flowers, or streamers used to make a place look more attractive, especially for a celeb
drinksdrɪŋks
Beverages that people consume, especially alcoholic or soft drinks.
foodfuːd
something that people and animals eat , or plants absorb , to keep them alive :
guestsɡests
People who are invited to visit someone's home or attend an event, or people staying at a hotel.
musicˈmjuː.zɪk
a pattern of sounds made by musical instruments , voices , or computers , or a combination of these, intended
presentˈprez.ənt
something that you are given, without asking for it, on a special occasion , especially to show friendship , o
Required
Match each party word to its meaning.
Match each party word to its meaning.
the sweet food you eat at a birthday
something people drink at a party
people who come to a party
the thing you give someone on their birthday
what you do when you move to the music
cake
drinks
guests
present
dance
music
food
decorations
We're going to play music, dance, and eat cake at the party.
A model sentence using five of the new words.
Required
Listen. What is the speaker going to bring to the party?
music and decorations
a cake and some drinks
food and guests
Required
Which word means 'a thing you give to someone on their birthday'?
