A Weekend Away

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A Weekend Away

I can explain an existing travel plan and ask a partner about theirs.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Your situation

Jo and Amir decided on a quiet weekend yesterday. Jo says, “We’re going to stay near the lake. I’m going to bring food, and Amir is going to bring a camera.” Their friend asks, “Are you going to drive?” “No, we’re going to take the train.”

Read the situation transcript

Jo and Amir decided on a quiet weekend yesterday. Jo says, “We’re going to stay near the lake. I’m going to bring food, and Amir is going to bring a camera.” Their friend asks, “Are you going to drive?” “No, we’re going to take the train.”

Which transport have they chosen?

Compare your idea

They are going to take the train, not drive.

How it works

Two adults packing a travel bag with food containers and an unbranded camera.
They’re going to take some food.Picture context: the two travellers plan to take the containers they are packing.

Going to helps explain a plan already decided. Divide responsibilities with clear subjects: I’m going to bring food; Amir is going to bring a camera.

Ask about a missing detail using be before the subject: Where are you going to stay? Who is going to bring the food? A plan can still change, so do not describe it as a completed fact.

Person + am/is/are going to + base verb. Where are you going to…?

Notice this

We’re going to stay near the lake.

This gives the intended destination area.

Compare this

I’m going to bring food.

This gives one responsibility.

Hear the examples

We’re going to stay near the lake.

This gives the intended destination area.

I’m going to bring food.

This gives one responsibility.

Amir is going to bring a camera.

This gives another responsibility.

We aren’t going to drive.

This excludes one intended travel choice.

One mistake worth avoiding

Instead of: We are going to staying near the lake.

Say: We are going to stay near the lake.

Use a base verb after going to.

You say

Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.

Your turn 1

Plan a simple weekend away.

Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text

We’re going to stay by the sea.

Check yourself: Invented plans are welcome.

Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.

Your turn 2

Divide two responsibilities between people.

Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text

I’m going to bring food, and Jo is going to bring water.

Check yourself: Match am/is to the person.

Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.

Your turn 3

Ask about transport and answer.

Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text

Are you going to drive? No, we’re going to take a bus.

Check yourself: Keep the answer about the existing intention.

Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.

Two adults packing a travel bag with food containers and an unbranded camera.
She’s going to take photographs.Picture context: the woman plans to use the camera during the trip. The intention is supplied here.

Two guided self-checks

Say or write your answer before opening a model.

Self-check 1

Ask for a destination using where.

Compare a model and explanation

Where are you going to stay?

Use are before you.

Self-check 2

Make the plan negative: He is going to swim.

Compare a model and explanation

He isn’t going to swim.

Put not after is.

Check your understanding

Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.

1. We ___ going to stay near the lake.

2. Jo is going to ___ food.

3. ___ they going to drive?

4. Which plan does the opener give for transport?

5. Choose a correct division of plans.

6. Correct “Are you going to staying?”

7. Which question asks about the place to sleep?

8. What is the speaker NOT planning to bring?

Read the listening transcript

I’m going to bring food and water. I’m not going to bring a camera; Jo has one.

Opening this transcript makes this a reading-supported attempt.

9. Choose the correct negative.

10. Are these plans already completed actions?

Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.

Answer key with explanations

  1. We ___ going to stay near the lake.

    are: We takes are.

  2. Jo is going to ___ food.

    bring: Use bring after going to.

  3. ___ they going to drive?

    Are: Use are before they in the question.

  4. Which plan does the opener give for transport?

    They’re going to take the train.: The reply states train travel and rejects driving.

  5. Choose a correct division of plans.

    I’m going to cook; she’s going to shop.: Both clauses need be, going to and a base verb.

  6. Correct “Are you going to staying?”

    Are you going to stay?: Use stay after going to.

  7. Which question asks about the place to sleep?

    Where are you going to stay?: Where…stay asks for the destination or accommodation place.

  8. What is the speaker NOT planning to bring?

    A camera: The speaker is not going to bring a camera because Jo is bringing one.

  9. Choose the correct negative.

    He isn’t going to swim.: Use isn’t and keep going to.

  10. Are these plans already completed actions?

    No; they are intentions.: Going to describes the intended future in this context.

Take it with you

I can explain an existing travel plan and ask a partner about theirs.

Try the companion lesson

Grammar Focus: Going To: PlansExplore the Grammar catalogue