Future with going to (and the present continuous)
የወደፊት ጊዜ በ going to (እና የአሁን ቀጣይ)
I'm going to work. For plans and intentions already decided, and predictions from evidence. The present continuous is used for fixed arrangements: I'm meeting her at six.
The form
am / is / are + going to + base verb. The be verb changes with the person; going to does not. In fast speech going to often sounds like gonna, but write going to. Amharic expresses intention with ልሄድ ነው / ልሠራ ነው (I'm about to / I'm going to go), which is close to going to.
In Amharic
am / is / are + going to + መሠረታዊ ግሥ። be ግሡ ከሰውየው ጋር ይለወጣል፤ going to አይለወጥም። በፈጣን ንግግር going to ብዙ ጊዜ እንደ gonna ይሰማል፤ ሲጽፉ ግን going to ይጻፉ። አማርኛ ዓላማን በ"ልሄድ ነው" / "ልሠራ ነው" ይገልጻል፤ ይህም ከ going to ጋር ይቀራረባል።
| I | he / she / it | you / we / they | |
|---|---|---|---|
| + | I'm going to apply. | She's going to apply. | They're going to apply. |
| − | I'm not going to apply. | She isn't going to apply. | They aren't going to apply. |
| ? | Am I going to…? | Is she going to apply? | Are they going to apply? |
- With go, you can say I'm going to go or simply I'm going: I'm going to the bank tomorrow.
- Was / were going to = a past plan that didn't happen: I was going to call you, but I forgot.
- We're going to look at an apartment on Saturday.
- My daughter is going to study nursing.
- I'm not going to work overtime this week.
- Are you going to vote in the election?
When to use it
Use going to (1) for plans and intentions you decided before speaking: I'm going to take the citizenship test next year. (2) for predictions based on what you can see now: Be careful! You're going to fall. She's pregnant; she's going to have a baby in May. On a timeline, the decision is in the past or present, and the action is in the future.
In Amharic
going to ይጠቀሙ፦ (1) ከመናገርዎ በፊት ለወሰኑት ዕቅድና ዓላማ፦ I'm going to take the citizenship test next year። (2) አሁን በሚያዩት ነገር ላይ ለተመሠረተ ትንበያ፦ Be careful! You're going to fall። She's pregnant; she's going to have a baby in May። በጊዜ መስመር ላይ ውሳኔው በያለፈ ወይም በአሁን፣ ድርጊቱ በወደፊት ነው።
- Signal words: tomorrow, next week, this weekend, soon, one day; and visible signs (Look!).
- I've saved enough. I'm going to buy a car next month.
- Look at the traffic. We're going to be late.
- He's going to start a new job after the holidays.
- I was going to cook, but I was too tired.
Present continuous for arrangements, and will
For a future arrangement with a time and usually another person (an appointment, a booking, a meeting), the present continuous is most natural: I'm seeing the dentist at 10 on Tuesday. We're flying to Addis on the 15th. Going to is also correct but focuses on the intention. Will is for decisions made now. The present simple is for timetables: The flight leaves at 6:40.
In Amharic
ሰዓትና ብዙ ጊዜ ሌላ ሰው ላለበት የወደፊት ቀጠሮ (ቀጠሮ፣ ቦታ ማስያዝ፣ ስብሰባ) የአሁን ቀጣይ በጣም ተፈጥሯዊ ነው፦ I'm seeing the dentist at 10 on Tuesday። We're flying to Addis on the 15th። going to ትክክል ነው፤ ግን ትኩረቱ ዓላማው ላይ ነው። will አሁን ለሚወሰኑ ውሳኔዎች ነው። የአሁን ቀላል ለጊዜ ሰሌዳ ነው፦ The flight leaves at 6:40።
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| present continuous | fixed arrangement (time, place, people) | I'm meeting the landlord at 4. |
| going to | plan / intention; evidence | I'm going to ask for a raise. |
| will | decision now; promise; opinion | I'll ask him tomorrow, I promise. |
| present simple | timetable, schedule | The bus leaves at 7:15. |
- The present continuous for the future needs a future time word or clear context, otherwise it means now.
- What are you doing this weekend? — We're having a party for my son's birthday.
- I'm working the early shift tomorrow.
- The class starts at 6:30, so I'm leaving work at 5:45.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I'm going to call her. | going to needs am/is/are. | |
| She is going to call you. | After going to, the base verb. | |
| A: We're out of milk. B: OK, I'll get some. | A decision made at the moment of speaking: will, not going to. | |
| I'm meeting my lawyer on Friday. | A personal arrangement: present continuous. | |
| I am going to apply. | gonna is spoken only; write going to. |
Practice
Each answer is checked as you go, with the reason. Nothing here is saved.
I've bought the paint. I ___ the bedroom this weekend.
They ___ going to move to Denver. (one word)
Watch out! That glass ___ fall.
I ___ the dentist at 10 on Tuesday. It's booked.
She is going to ___ (start) a new job. (one word)
The train ___ at 8:15 every morning.
I ___ going to call you, but I forgot. (one word)
A: Someone's at the door. B: ___
What ___ this weekend? — We're visiting my aunt.
We ___ (not) going to take a vacation this year. (short form)