"he was going" vs "he was going to"

Question

"he was going" vs "he was going to"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'He was going' is used to describe an action that was in progress in the past, while 'he was going to' is used to indicate a future intention or plan in the past. They are not directly comparable as they serve different purposes.

Last Updated: March 25, 2024

This phrase is used to indicate that someone was in the process of moving from one place to another in the past. It describes an ongoing action.

Examples:

He was going to the store when he saw his friend.
She was going home when it started to rain.
They were going to the party when their car broke down.
I was going to the gym every day last week.
The cat was going in and out of the house all day.

This phrase is used to express an intention or plan that someone had in the past. It describes a future action that was planned or intended at a specific point in the past.

Examples:

He was going to call you yesterday, but he forgot.
She was going to visit her parents last weekend, but she got sick.
They were going to buy a new car, but they changed their minds.
I was going to study for the exam, but I got distracted.
The team was going to win the game, but they lost in the end.

Answer 1

he was going

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe an action that was in progress in the past.

Answer 2

he was going to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a future intention or plan in the past.

"he was going" vs "he was going to"

he was going

he was going to

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