it is going to rain

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "It is going to rain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this sentence to express that the weather in the near future will be rainy. For example, "The weather forecast said that it is going to rain tomorrow, so we should bring umbrellas".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

That, or it is going to rain - he says they can sense bad weather.

The New York Times

What if the man who says it is going to rain is lying?

The Economist

And sometimes, people just want to know if it is going to rain over the weekend.

The New York Times

C'mon!" mike selvey (@selvecricket) I think it is going to rain again.

The Guardian - Sport

Maldivian fishermen can no longer read the clouds to see if it is going to rain or blow.

The Guardian - Travel

We will not spend summer picnicking and playing beach cricket, because it is going to rain all August.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

(Mr. Schumer loves the song — in the interview, he explained its message as: "It's going to rain men, so you're going to find somebody nice").

The New York Times

It's going to rain.

The New Yorker

Mum! It's going to rain tonight!

The New Yorker

"It was going to rain," he said.

The New York Times - Style

"If you can see Carnoustie, it's going to rain".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use “it is going to rain” when you want to convey an expectation or prediction about future rainfall, especially when based on current observations or forecasts.

Common error

Avoid using “it is going to rain” interchangeably with phrases like “it might rain” if you want to clearly state a higher probability of rain. Use “it might rain” to express more uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is going to rain" functions as a statement predicting a future weather event. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, demonstrating its role in conveying expectations or forecasts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is going to rain" is a common and grammatically correct way to predict future rainfall. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and widespread use across diverse contexts, including news, science, and casual conversation. It serves to inform others about an expected weather event, and can be replaced by similar expressions like "rain is expected" depending on the desired level of formality. When writing, remember that this is generally a neutral phrase, suitable for a variety of settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It will rain

Simple future tense, less emphatic than the original.

Rain is expected

Formal and concise, suitable for weather reports.

The forecast calls for rain

Refers directly to a weather forecast.

We're expecting rain

Includes a personal or group expectation.

A downpour is anticipated

Emphasizes a heavy rainfall event.

Showers are predicted

Indicates light to moderate rainfall.

It looks like rain

Based on visual observation of the sky.

Rain is on the horizon

A more figurative way to suggest imminent rain.

There's rain in the air

Suggests an atmospheric indication of coming rain.

The heavens will open

Figurative and dramatic, indicating a heavy rain.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "it is going to rain"?

You can use alternatives like "rain is expected", "showers are predicted", or "the forecast calls for rain" depending on the context.

Is "it is going to rain" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it is going to rain" is grammatically correct. It uses the future tense construction "is going to" to express a future event.

When should I use "it is going to rain" versus "it will rain"?

Use "it is going to rain" when you have some evidence or indication that rain is likely. Use "it will rain" for a more general statement about future rainfall.

How do weather forecasters determine if "it is going to rain"?

Weather forecasters use various data points such as atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity, along with weather models, to predict if "it is going to rain".