Future with “Gonna”: Questions Beginning with “Who’s Gonna”

Level:  Low Intermediate and Up
Pair with the Song: “It Ain’t Me” (Selena Gomez, 2017)
Recommended Videos: audio-only video; video with lyrics

In informal speech, gonna is often used instead of going to in future-tense sentences. (It is important to tell students that gonna is not used in writing; it is the way going to is pronounced. It is also important to stress that gonna is substituted for going to in future-tense sentences only; they can’t say I’m gonna the park now. For these reasons, this apparently simple exercise may not be appropriate for lower levels.) The song “It Ain’t Me” repeats the phrase who’s gonna many times. Below are annotated lyrics for the song and an interactive activity in which students practice using gonna when forming questions beginning with Who’s gonna. Permission is granted to reproduce the worksheet for classroom use. Lyrics are intended for nonprofit educational purposes only. (Please note: This song is about a relationship ruined by alcoholism, so there are references to alcohol consumption; previewing the lyrics is advised.)

it ain’t me.docx          it ain’t me.pdf

future with gonna.docx        future with gonna.pdf          future with gonna (webpage)

Preview:

Future with Gonna 

A.  Read the two conversations under the photo.

Speaker 1: We’re going to have a party for Elena’s birthday.
Speaker 2: Who’s going to buy the cake?

Speaker 1: We’re gonna have a party for Elena’s birthday.
Speaker 2: Who’s gonna buy the cake?

Both conversations are about the future. The first conversation uses going to + a verb in the simple form. The second conversation uses gonna + a verb in the simple form. It is OK to use gonna in conversations with family and friends. Gonna is not used in formal conversations or in written English.

B.  Match each statement on the left with a logical follow-up question on the right. Write the letter of your answer on the line. 

  1. __d__ We’re going to paint the kitchen.
  2. _____ We’re going to get a dog.
  3. _____ Our plane is going to land at 2 PM.
  4. _____ We’re going to take a road trip from Miami to Key West.
  5. _____ We’re going to start a club.
  6. _____ We’re going to make a lasagna.
  1. Who’s going to be the president?
  2. Who’s going to pick you up at the airport?
  3. Who’s going to drive?
  4. Who’s going to pick out the color?
  5. Who’s going to buy the ingredients?
  6. Who’s going to walk it and feed it?

C. Read the statements and questions above aloud with a partner. It’s OK to pronounce going to as gonna.

D.  Write your own follow-up question for Speaker 2. Begin your question with Who’s going to.

Speaker 1: We’re going to have a party.

Speaker 2: ________________________________________________________

Copyright © 2017 Sandra Heyer. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.
Photo of cake: Copyright © Elena Elisseeva | Dreamstime. Reprinted with permission.