going to listen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "going to listen" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a future action or intention to listen. For example: "I am going to listen to my favorite podcast on the commute to work tomorrow." "We are going to listen to our teacher's instructions carefully before starting the project." "She's going to listen to her mother's advice before making a decision." In all of these examples, "going to listen" is used to express the speaker's intention to listen in the future.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They're going to listen.

The New York Times

"And we're going to listen.

The New York Times - Sports

No way Childress was going to listen.

The New York Times - Sports

"First, we're going to listen.

The Washington Post

"I'm going to listen to the trainers.

The New York Times - Sports

No, you're going to listen to them.

The Guardian - Books

"I'm going to listen," he said.

The Washington Post

Who's he going to listen to, us?

The New York Times

"Nobody's going to listen to me".

The New Yorker

I'm going to listen a lot.

The New York Times

"We're going to listen," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "going to listen" with adverbs or adjectives to add nuance. For instance, "going to listen carefully" or "going to listen openly".

Common error

Avoid using "going to listen" in highly formal contexts, such as academic papers or formal presentations. Alternatives like "will listen" or "intend to listen" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "going to listen" functions as a future tense construction, expressing an intention or plan to actively engage in the act of listening. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, where the phrase is used to indicate a future action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

7%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "going to listen" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to express a future intention to listen. Ludwig AI confirms this, showing its frequent use across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academia. While generally neutral in register, it's important to consider more formal alternatives like "will listen" in certain professional settings. Remember that "going to listen" implies a planned action to pay attention, emphasizing the commitment to hear and understand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will listen

Uses a more formal auxiliary verb to indicate future action.

intend to listen

Emphasizes intention and purpose more directly.

plan to listen

Highlights the planning aspect of listening.

am going to hear

Focuses on the act of hearing as the first step in listening.

will be attentive

Stresses the quality of being fully present and engaged while listening.

am prepared to listen

Suggests a readiness and willingness to listen, often in response to a request.

am ready to listen

Indicates a state of readiness to receive and process information.

will lend an ear

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey a willingness to listen with empathy.

am all ears

An informal idiom indicating complete attentiveness and eagerness to listen.

will give my attention

Highlights the act of directing one's focus and concentration to listening.

FAQs

How can I use "going to listen" in a sentence?

You can use "going to listen" to express your intention to pay attention in the future. For example, "I'm "going to listen" carefully to the speaker."

What are some alternatives to "going to listen"?

Alternatives include "will listen", "intend to listen", or "plan to listen", depending on the level of formality you need.

Is "going to listen" too informal for business communication?

While generally acceptable, in very formal business contexts, consider using "will listen" or "intend to listen" to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "going to listen" and "will listen"?

"Going to listen" often implies a pre-existing intention, whereas "will listen" can indicate a spontaneous decision or a general future action. For example, "I am "going to listen" to the news" (planned) versus "I "will listen" if you tell me more" (conditional).