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159e on subjunctive were

Be going to

403b

Be going to

may be used to make firm predictions based on evidence at the time of

speaking:

[looking at a very cloudy, dark sky]

It

’s going to rain any minute now.

I don’t think there

’s going to be any problem at all.

They rang me to say it 

was going to cost £300, so I decided not to do it.

In this meaning, it is very similar to the predictive meaning of will. However, be

going to

is not used when predictions or announcements about the future are

hypothetical and remote from present reality:

If we win the lottery, we

’ll buy a big house in Italy.

(‘If we win the lottery, we’re going to buy a big house in Italy’ suggests there is a

reasonable chance or hope of winning)

If you’re looking for good restaurants in Waltisham, you

’re going to be

disappointed.

(going to suggests the listener may indeed be expecting to find good

restaurants)