Editing Going-to future (section)

==Formation==
The ''going-to'' idiom, used to express futurity is a semi-modal verb that consists of a form of the [[copula verb]] ''be'', the word [[Go (verb)|''going'']] followed by the word "to", for instance ''is going to''. Like other modals, it is followed by the base infinitive of the main verb (compare with "ought to".) (An alternative description is that it uses the verb ''go'' in the [[progressive aspect]], most commonly in [[present progressive]] form, serving as an [[auxiliary verb]] and having the ''to''-infinitive phrase as its complement. However this description fails to take into account sentences in which the main verb is elided, such as "Yes, he's going to.")  It can be put into question and negative forms according to the normal rules of [[English grammar]].

Some examples:
*The boys are going to fight. (subject ''the boys'' + copula ''are'' + ''going to'' + base-infinitive ''fight'')
*I'm going to try the wine. (subject ''I'' + copula ''am'' + ''going to'' + base-infinitive phrase ''try the wine'')
*He's not going to make it. (negative form, copula negated with the addition of ''not'')
*Are you going to bring Sue? (interrogative form, featuring [[subject–auxiliary inversion]])
*Aren't they (''more formal:'' Are they not) going to wear coats? (negative interrogative form)
*We were going to tell you earlier. (past form of the ''going-to'' future, formed with the past copula ''were'')
*Yes,  I'm going to. (main verb is elided).

That the verb ''go'' as used in this construction is distinct from the ordinary lexical verb ''go'' can be seen in the fact that the two can be used together: "I'm going to go to the store now." Also the lexical use of ''going to'' is not subject to the contractions to ''gonna'' and similar: "I'm gonna get his autograph" clearly implies the future meaning (intention), and not the meaning "I'm going [somewhere] [in order] to get his autograph."