gaan + Infinitive

Going to (Future)

Level 2

Use gaan + infinitive for a plan, the start of an action, or something about to happen. Dutch also expresses future time with the present tense or zullen; the choice depends on meaning and context.

How It Works

In Dutch, one common way to express future time is using the present tense combined with a time word (e.g., Ik werk morgen). However, when you want to emphasize your intention or that something is about to happen, you use gaan.

1. Conjugation of Gaan:
Gaan is an irregular verb:

  • ik ga
  • jij/u gaat (Note: ga je? in jij inversion)
  • hij/zij/het gaat
  • wij/jullie/zij gaan

2. Word Order:
Dutch follows the verb-second rule in main-clause statements. The conjugated form of gaan stays in the second position, while the main action (the infinitive) moves to the end. In a subordinate clause, the entire verb cluster moves to the end. For a straightforward subordinate clause, use ...dat ik ga werken. Verb-group order has its own patterns; compare the green and red orders used with participles, rather than assuming that every pair of verbs can freely swap places.

3. Usage Nuances:

  • Plans & Imminence: Use gaan for things you intend to do or things that are clearly about to happen (e.g., Het gaat regenen).
  • Starting an Action (Inchoative): In narrative Dutch, gaan is often used to mean "to start" doing something. For example: Toen hij dat hoorde, ging hij lachen (When he heard that, he started laughing).
  • Future in the Past: You can use the past tense forms (ging/gingen) to describe a past intention or something that was about to happen (e.g., Ik ging net bellen - I was just about to call).
  • Gaan vs. Zullen: While gaan focuses on intention, zullen can express predictions, promises and offers. Its uses are not restricted to formal situations, and the two verbs are not interchangeable in every context.
  • Gaan as a Main Verb: In Ik ga naar huis, gaan itself means to go; no second verb is needed. Depending on context, this can describe a current movement or a future plan.

Examples (6)

  1. Ik ga vanavond koken.

    I am going to cook tonight.

    Word by Word: I go tonight cook.

    Here, 'ga' is the conjugated verb in second position, and 'koken' is the infinitive at the end.

  2. Wat gaan we dit weekend doen?

    What are we going to do this weekend?

    Word by Word: What go we this weekend do?

    In a question, the conjugated 'gaan' and the subject swap places, but the main verb 'doen' remains at the end.

  3. Het gaat morgen regenen.

    It is going to rain tomorrow.

    Word by Word: It goes tomorrow rain.

    This expresses a prediction or something that is about to happen soon.

  4. Ga je vanavond studeren?

    Are you going to study tonight?

    Word by Word: Go you tonight study?

    In the 'jij/je' question form, the -t is dropped from 'gaat' due to inversion.

  5. Zij gaan een nieuwe auto kopen.

    They are going to buy a new car.

    Word by Word: They go a new car buy.

    The infinitive 'kopen' is placed after the object 'een nieuwe auto'.

  6. Ik denk dat hij morgen gaat werken.

    I think that he is going to work tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I think that he tomorrow goes work.

    In a subordinate clause, both verbs move to the end of the sentence.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding 'te' before the infinitive.

    Ik ga te werken.
    Ik ga werken.

    Unlike English 'going to work', Dutch uses a bare infinitive with 'gaan'. Never add 'te'.

  • Conjugating the second verb after gaan.

    Ik ga vanavond kook.
    Ik ga vanavond koken.

    Only gaan agrees with the subject here. The second verb remains the infinitive koken.

  • Using gaan in the infinitive where a singular finite verb is required.

    Ik gaan morgen naar de supermarkt.
    Ik ga morgen naar de supermarkt.

    With ik in this present-tense statement, use ga. A future plan still needs a finite verb. Zullen can also express future meanings; it is not inherently an error in everyday plans.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

gaan + InfinitiveLevel 2Going to (Future)

Learn This First

To use 'gaan' as a future marker, you need to know how to conjugate verbs in the present tense and understand the sentence structure where a conjugated verb is paired with an infinitive at the end of the clause.

Words in This Pattern

gaan