was going to ask

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was going to ask" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a past intention or plan to ask something, often indicating that the speaker did not follow through with that intention. Example: "I was going to ask if you wanted to join us for dinner, but I forgot."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I was going to ask that.

The Guardian - Sport

I was going to ask him to drive it up.

The New Yorker

I wrote out the questions I was going to ask.

The Guardian

I was going to ask about the guild achievements.

The Guardian - Tech

The President*: I was going to ask him.

The New Yorker

That was exactly what I was going to ask.

The Guardian - Books

MANDELL -- I was going to ask you about that speech.

The New York Times

But darned if Blinken was going to ask.

The New York Times - Sports

"I put [prosecutors] on notice that if they lost I was going to ask for costs.

The Guardian

I was afraid he was going to ask me for all my money.

The New Yorker

What did your human say to her?" "I was going to ask you the same question.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "was going to ask" to soften potentially challenging or sensitive questions, making the inquiry less direct and more considerate.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses unexpectedly. If you start a narrative in the past perfect (e.g., "I had been planning"), ensure the subsequent action of asking, or not asking, aligns with that past timeframe, not jumping abruptly to the present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was going to ask" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past intention to inquire or request something. It often implies that the speaker did not actually ask the question, or that the intention was abandoned. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was going to ask" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a past intention to ask something. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is indeed correct. As evidenced by numerous examples from credible sources such as The Guardian, The New York Times, and Huffington Post, the expression is most frequently found in News & Media contexts. It's important to maintain tense consistency and use the correct verb form ("ask", not "asked"). When seeking alternatives, consider phrases such as "had intended to ask" or "was about to ask" for different nuances. Overall, the phrase is a common and acceptable way to express an unfulfilled intention to inquire.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost asked

Simple, direct way to say one nearly asked, but stopped short.

was about to inquire

Indicates the inquiry was imminent but didn't occur.

had intended to ask

Emphasizes the intention or plan to ask, giving a slightly more formal tone.

had in mind to ask

Highlights that the act of asking was in the mind.

considered posing the question

Highlights a mindful decision to ask something.

had planned to inquire

More formal than "was going to ask", suitable for professional contexts.

contemplated asking

Implies more thought and deliberation before the potential question.

meant to pose the question

Highlights the purpose behind asking, implying the question was important.

thought to inquire

Suggests a casual consideration of asking a question.

intended to find out

Focuses on the desire to gain information, shifting from asking to discovering.

FAQs

How can I use "was going to ask" in a sentence?

"Was going to ask" indicates a past intention that was not fulfilled. For example, "I "was going to ask" about the report, but you seemed busy."

What phrases are similar to "was going to ask"?

Alternatives include "had intended to ask", "was about to ask", or "almost asked", each suggesting a question that remained unasked.

Is it correct to say "I was going to asked"?

No, the correct form is "I was going to ask". The phrase "going to" is followed by the base form of the verb, which is "ask" not "asked".

What's the difference between "was going to ask" and "was about to ask"?

"Was going to ask" implies a general intention that could have been formed some time ago. "Was about to ask" suggests the action was imminent, on the verge of happening.