Lesson 53 · Stage 4: Tenses & modal verbs
“Was going to”
IntermediateForm & use
was/were going to + verb — a plan in the past, often one that did not happen
1.Form
Was / were going to + base verb is going to moved into the past: something you planned to do or expected to happen at that time.
| I / he / she / it | you / we / they | |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | I was going to call. | We were going to call. |
| Negative | She wasn't going to say anything. | They weren't going to come. |
| Question | Was he going to stay? | Were you going to tell me? |
| Short answer | Yes, he was. / No, he wasn't. | Yes, we were. / No, they weren't. |
In fast speech, going to often sounds like gonna: I was gonna call you. It's good to recognise it, but in writing (exams, work emails) write the full going to.
2.When to use it
1. A past plan that didn't happen — very often followed by but
I was going to cook tonight, but I got home too late.
We were going to have a picnic, but it poured all afternoon.
I wasn't going to buy anything, but the shoes were on sale.
2. A prediction made in the past — at that time it looked certain to happen (later it may or may not have happened)
Everyone knew the final was going to be close.
I thought the meeting was going to finish early, but it went on until seven.
3. About to do something when you were interrupted — often with just
I was just going to text you when you called!
Sorry, what were you going to say?
A common mistake is “I am going to call you, but I forgot.” If the plan belongs to the past (but I forgot), going to moves into the past too: I was going to call you, but I forgot.
3.Compared with similar forms
| Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I'm going to call her. | a plan now, for the future |
| I was going to call her. | I planned to call her earlier (usually I didn't) |
| I called her. | I really did call her |
| I was calling her when… | I was in the middle of calling her when… |
| I would have called her, but… | I would have called her if something hadn't stopped me |
| She said she would call. | a promise or prediction seen from the past |
Was going to stresses an existing plan or intention; would after said / promised stresses a promise or prediction. Often both are fine: He said he was going to fix it. / He said he would fix it.
4.Common mistakes
I was go to call you, but I forgot.I was going to call you, but I forgot.
The full form is was going to + verb.
We are going to visit Hue last summer, but the flights were too expensive.We were going to visit Hue last summer, but the flights were too expensive.
A plan in the past → were, not are.
She was going to studied abroad.She was going to study abroad.
After going to, use the base verb.
I was going to finishing my essay, but I fell asleep.I was going to finish my essay, but I fell asleep.
No -ing after to here.
My friends was going to come.My friends were going to come.
Plural subject → were.
Examples
- I was going to call you last night, but my phone died.
- We were going to eat out, but it rained, so we cooked at home.
- Sorry, I was going to tell you about the party, but I forgot.
- I was going to buy a new laptop, but then I saw the price.
