Ir a + Infinitive: Talking About Plans and Intentions

In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about plans and intentions with ir a + infinitive. This structure is often used for something you intend or expect to do in the near future.

The basic structure

The pattern is:

present tense of ir + a + infinitive

— I am going to study.
— You are going to work.
— He / she is going to eat.
— We are going to leave / go out.
— They are going to study.

Reviewing ir

Subject	Spanish	English
— I	— I go	I go
— you	— you go	you go
/ / — he / she / you	— he / she goes; you go	he / she goes; you go
/ — we	— we go	we go
/ — you all	— you all go	you all go
/ / — they / you all	— they go; you all go	they go; you all go

The second verb stays in the infinitive

Only ir is conjugated. The action verb remains in the infinitive.

— I am going to work.
— I am going to study.
— I am going to eat.
— I am going to write a message.

Talking about plans for today

— Today I am going to work.
— Today I am going to study Spanish.
— Today we are going to eat in the restaurant.

Talking about plans for tomorrow

A useful time word is — tomorrow.

— Tomorrow I am going to work.
— Tomorrow I am going to study.
— Tomorrow we are going to go to the park.

Talking about plans on a weekday

— On Monday I am going to study.
— On Tuesday I am going to work.
— On Saturday we are going to eat in a restaurant.

Talking about a plan at a time

— At eight I am going to work.
— At nine I am going to study.
— At two we are going to eat.

Adding a place

You can add a destination or location after the planned action.

— I am going to study at home.
— I am going to work in the office.
— We are going to eat in the restaurant.

Asking about someone's plan

A useful question is:

— What are you going to do?

Person A: — What are you going to do?

Person B: — I am going to study Spanish.

Asking about today's plan

— What are you going to do today?

Person A: — What are you going to do today?

Person B: — Today I am going to work.

Asking about tomorrow

— What are you going to do tomorrow?

Person A: — What are you going to do tomorrow?

Person B: — Tomorrow I am going to study.

Asking where the plan will happen

Use dónde — where.

— Where are you going to study?

Person A: — Where are you going to study?

Person B: — I am going to study at home.

Asking when the plan will happen

Use cuándo — when.

— When are you going to work?

Person A: — When are you going to work?

Person B: — I am going to work on Monday.

Ir to a place versus ir a + infinitive

You already know ir + a + place for movement.

— I am going to the office.
— I am going to the restaurant.

Now compare the plan structure:

— I am going to work.
— I am going to eat.

After a, a noun phrase gives a destination, while an infinitive gives a planned action.

Combining destination and planned action

You can use both ideas in one message.

— I am going to the university and I am going to study Spanish.

Negative plans

Put no before the form of ir.

— I am not going to work today.
— We are not going to leave / go out.
— They are not going to study tomorrow.

Weather and plans

You can combine familiar weather information with a plan.

— It is sunny. I am going to go to the park.

Another example:

— It is cold. I am going to study at home.

A short plan conversation

Person A: — What are you going to do on Saturday?

Person B: — I am going to study in the morning and I am going to eat in a restaurant in the afternoon.

A practical formation method

Identify the subject.
Choose the correct present-tense form of ir.
Add a.
Add the action verb in the infinitive.
Add a day, time, or place if useful.
Use no before ir for a negative plan.

From Plans to Listening for Dates, Times, and Places

You can now use ir a + infinitive to talk about plans and intentions and ask what, when, and where someone is going to do something. The next lesson is a listening lesson focused on identifying dates, times, and places in Spanish plans.