Intention to do something

Intention to do something

Objectives

In this topic, you will learn to develop oral and written texts to express and inquire about the intention to do something, by taking into account the social function, the structure of the text, and linguistic elements, correct and in context.

Listen and Read the following dialog!

Anita : Hurrah! We’re counting days to holiday.
Bianca : I know. I can’t wait for that.
Anita : I can’t either. Where are you going to spend your holiday?
Bianca : I really want to visit my friend in Singapore. But it needs a lot of money, and I don't think my mother will give it to me. What are you going to do?
Anita : Well, I'm going to visit my family in Lombok.
Bianca: No way!
Anita : That’s true.
Bianca: Oh, you are so lucky. I always want to go there.
Anita : Seriously? Why don’t you come with me?
Bianca : I’d really love to. But I’m afraid I can’t this time. Maybe next time.
Anita : OK, then. Just call me if you change your mind.
Bianca : Sure. Thank you.
The above dialogue illustrated about the holiday plan or an intention on going for a vacation.
There are basically two ways in expressing intentions, or purpose. Firstly, when the decision is already made before a conversation takes place. Secondly when the decision is made spontaneously during a conversation.
For spontaneous expressions, the pattern is:

S + will + V1 + O

Look at the example from dialog above:
- I think I will spend my holiday at home with my parents
- Perhaps, I will go to Kuta Beach
- I don’t think I will surf
But when we have a plan or intention to do something in the future, we usually use other forms of future tense. We use “ be going to”.

Let’s study the patterns:

S + be + going to + V1 + O

Look at the example from dialog above:
- I am going to go to Bali Island. I have never been there
- I am going to enjoy the sunset and play the sands on the beach
Preposition of time used in this tenses are:
- Tomorrow
- Next
- Next week
- Tonight
- Next month
- Etc
Below, some other expressions about plan or intention
Examples of expression in asking for plan or intention:
- Where will you go next holiday?
- What will you do after graduating from college?
- What’s your plan tonight?
- What will you do next week?
- What do you plan to do?
- What are you going to do tomorrow?
- What do you want to do?
Expressions of stating intentions:
- I plan to…
- I intend to …
- I am going to ….
- I will watch a movie tonight
- I am thinking of …..
- I’ve been thinking about …
- I’m planning to ….
- I’m decided to …..
- I want to ….