LoginPast with 'Going to'
This detailed lesson covers the Past Tense with 'Going to' in English, featuring comprehensive examples and a quiz to test your knowledge.
What Is Past with 'Going to'?
While 'be + going to' is more commonly used to talk about the future in English, it can also be used to express intentions or plans in the past. Specifically, it is used to talk about a plan or intention that did not happen or come true.
Structure
The sentence structure using 'be going to' for the past tense is:
subject + was/were + going to + base form of the verb
I was going to study for an hour, but I fell asleep.
I was going to the bank when suddenly I heard her crying.
Negation
To make negative sentences using 'be going to' in the past, 'not' is added after the 'be' verb (was/were) and the rest of the sentence remains unchanged. In this case, the negative marker 'not' can be contracted. For example:
They weren't going to tell anyone.
I was not going to call you.
Questions
To make yes/no questions, you need to put the past simple tense of the verb 'be' (was/were) at the beginning, followed by the subject, and then 'going to' and the rest of the sentence. Take a look at this example:
You were going to leave. → Were you going to leave?
To make wh- questions, you need wh- question words at the beginning of the question, followed by the verb 'be,' the subject, 'going to,' and the rest of the sentence. Take a look at the following example:
You were going to leave. → What were you going to do?
Be Going to: Uses
'Be going to' is commonly used in informal situations to talk about the past. It has different uses:
Predictions that didn't happen
Unfulfilled past plans or intentions
Predictions That Did Not Happen
We use be going to in the past tense to refer to events that we expected or predicted to happen at some point in the past, but did not. Here are the examples:
I thought it was going to rain, but the sun came out.
The speaker in this example means he did not study, but he had planned to.
The doctor said I was going to need surgery, but I recovered naturally.
The speakers in this example mean they did not leave, but they had intended to.
Unfulfilled Plans and Arrangements
We can use 'be going to' in the past tense to talk about what we planned or intended to do in the past, but failed to. Check out the examples.
We were going to buy a house, but prices rose too much.
She was going to travel last summer, but she got sick.
Tip!
Keep in mind that when you are talking about a plan that did not happen, you usually mention the reason.
She was going to move to Japan, but she lost her job.
Review
'Be going to' can be used to talk about events that were supposed to happen, but mostly did not.
'Be going to' is used to express past:
Predictions and expectations
Plans and arrangements
Quiz:
Which sentence correctly uses "going to" in the past tense?
He was going to the store when I saw him.
They was going to start the game tomorrow.
We were going to meet at 5 PM.
She was going finish her project
Sort the words to make a negative sentence.
Complete the sentences with the correct form of "be going to" and the verb in parentheses:
I
(call) you last night, but my phone died.
The weather forecast said it
(not rain) yesterday, but it did.
(you/attend) the meeting?
What
(she/do) before she got sick?
Choose True or False for each statement based on the content of the lesson.
"Was going to" can describe plans made in the past that didn't happen. | |
The structure for past with "going to" is: subject + was/were + going to + past participle verb. | |
Past "going to" can describe predictions that later came true. | |
The auxiliary "be" can be contracted in negative sentences using "going to." |
Which sentence describes a past prediction that didn't happen?
She was going to study law, but she chose art instead.
The news said the storm was going to hit the coast, but it changed direction.
They were going to travel last year, but they saved money.
I was going to cook dinner, but I ordered pizza.
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