going to have dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "going to have dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing future plans related to having a meal, typically in a casual context. Example: "We are going to have dinner at the new Italian restaurant downtown."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

"I'm going to have dinner," he said.

The New Yorker

When I go to dinner with my daughter, I'm going to have dinner with my daughter.

The New York Times - Sports

"They don't want to know in advance where they're going to have dinner".

The New York Times - Travel

Now I'm going to have dinner with my family, and then party".

The Guardian - Sport

We were going to have dinner with him on Sept. 13.

The New York Times - Sports

I'm going to have dinner with my wife, and I don't expect to be interrupted".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Why wait until he went to have dinner in a house full of women and children?

Independent

"And then we had to go to have dinner at Nobu.

The New York Times - Style

"We went to have dinner and they wouldn't let us in," Casey recalled.

The New York Times - Sports

That night, a friend had picked me up from my hotel, and we went to have dinner together.

The Guardian

They returned to their meeting room at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel and negotiated for another hour, breaking at 7 p.m. Hicks went to have dinner with his family; Melvin and Boras remained at the hotel working separately on other matters.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "going to have dinner" when referring to a future plan in a casual context. For formal settings, consider alternatives like "planning to dine."

Common error

Avoid using "going to have dinner" in highly formal or professional writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "attending a dinner" or "dining this evening" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "going to have dinner" functions as a future tense construction, indicating an intention or plan to eat dinner. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

16%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "going to have dinner" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a future intention to dine. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media and informal settings. While highly frequent, consider using more formal alternatives like "planning to dine" in professional contexts. Its communicative purpose centers around meal plans, as reflected in examples from Ludwig. Overall, it's a versatile phrase, just be mindful of the register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intending to eat dinner

Emphasizes the intention and the specific meal.

planning to dine

Formal alternative focusing on the planning aspect.

will be dining

A more formal way of expressing future dining plans.

about to have supper

Uses "supper" instead of "dinner", implying a potentially lighter meal.

having dinner soon

Implies immediacy and the act of dining.

dining this evening

Replaces "dinner" with the more formal "dining" and specifies the time.

dining later

Focuses on the time aspect of having dinner.

I'm off to supper

An informal expression indicating departure to have supper.

we're eating out tonight

Implies that dinner is being eaten outside the home.

I'm grabbing a bite

A casual way of saying you are going to eat something, not necessarily a full dinner.

FAQs

How can I use "going to have dinner" in a sentence?

You can use "going to have dinner" when discussing plans for the evening meal, such as "We are going to have dinner at 7 PM" or "I'm going to have dinner with my family tonight".

What can I say instead of "going to have dinner"?

You can use alternatives like "planning to dine", "intending to eat dinner", or "dining this evening" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "going to have dinner" or "going to eat dinner"?

Both "going to have dinner" and "going to eat dinner" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on your preference, with "going to have dinner" being slightly more common.

What's the difference between "going to have dinner" and "having dinner"?

"Going to have dinner" refers to a future plan, while "having dinner" refers to the act of eating the meal. For example, "We are going to have dinner later" indicates a future plan, whereas "We are having dinner now" indicates the meal is in progress.