they are going

USAGE SUMMARY

"they are going" is a perfectly acceptable sentence in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone is in the process of traveling somewhere, for example: "My friends are going to the beach this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But they are going to.

The New York Times

They are going to learn".

Independent

"They are going to bomb!

The New Yorker

They are going flat out.

Independent

They are going for silence.

Independent

They are going round Ripa.

The Guardian

They are going up".

The New York Times

They know they are going to escape".

The New Yorker

"They are going to move very gradually.

The New York Times

They are going to be disappointed.

The New York Times

"They are going all throughout Europe.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they are going" to describe ongoing actions or future plans. For example, "They are going to the store" indicates an action in progress, while "They are going on vacation next week" refers to a future plan.

Common error

Avoid using "they are going" when a simple present tense is more appropriate. For instance, instead of "They are going to the movies every Friday", use "They go to the movies every Friday" to indicate a habitual action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they are going" functions as a present continuous verb phrase, indicating an action that is currently in progress or a future event that is planned. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes an ongoing action or a future plan. For example, "They are going to the store" or "They are going on vacation next week".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they are going" is a grammatically correct and very common way to describe an ongoing action or a future plan. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media sources. When using "they are going", ensure you are using the correct tense and consider alternative phrases like "they are heading" or "they are departing" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Avoid using it when a simple present tense would be more appropriate. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use "they are going" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they're departing

Replaces "going" with a synonym that emphasizes the act of leaving.

they are heading

Replaces "going" with a synonym suggesting direction or destination.

they are proceeding

Replaces "going" with a more formal synonym suggesting forward movement.

they are travelling

Replaces "going" with a word specifying the act of travel.

they're on their way

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey movement towards a destination.

they are moving

Replaces "going" with a general term for changing location.

they will go

Shifts the tense from present progressive to future simple, indicating a future action.

they intend to go

Indicates a planned or intended action of going.

they're about to leave

Emphasizes the imminence of departure.

they are planning to go

Indicates that going is part of a plan.

FAQs

How can I use "they are going" in a sentence?

Use "they are going" to describe an action that is currently happening or a plan that will happen in the future. For example, "They are going to the park now" or "They are going to visit their family next month".

What are some alternatives to "they are going"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "they are heading", "they are departing", or "they are traveling".

Is it correct to say "they are go" instead of "they are going"?

No, "they are go" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "they are going", which uses the present continuous tense of the verb "to go".

What's the difference between "they are going" and "they will go"?

"They are going" often implies a present intention or a near-future plan, whereas "they will go" is a simple future tense that expresses a more general or definite future action. For example, "They are going to the party tonight" suggests a plan already in motion, while "They will go to the party someday" indicates a future possibility.