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4.5 BE GOING TO

BE GOING TO for intentions

Be going to is used to express future intentions that, at the moment of speaking, have already been decided:

We are going to redecorate the living room next week.
Are you going to propose to her?
Do you think Sam's going to apply for the job?

BE GOING TO for predictions

Be going to is used to predict future events that are very near (and can be seen) or seem sure to happen. Such predictions are based on present evidence:

I'm going to faint.
Look at the clouds; it's going to rain.
My sister is going to have a baby.