we were going to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were going to" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used as part of the future tense, otherwise known as the second conditional. For example: "We were going to have a picnic, but it started to rain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Travel

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

WE were going to California — finally.

The New York Times - Travel

We thought we were going to die".

The New Yorker

We knew we were going to win".

The New York Times

We were going to be rammed.

The New Yorker

We were going to be O.K.

The New York Times

We were going to grow the brand.

The New York Times

We were going to be together".

The Guardian

"But we were going to consolidate.

The New York Times

We were going to visit my father.

The New Yorker

"We were going to lose some games.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

…We were going to wait.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were going to" to clearly indicate a past intention or plan, especially when that plan was not ultimately realized. This helps to avoid confusion about whether the action actually occurred.

Common error

Avoid using "we were going to" followed by a present tense verb when describing the outcome. For example, instead of "We were going to go, but we decide to stay", use "We were going to go, but we decided to stay".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were going to" primarily functions as a future-in-the-past construction, indicating an intention, plan, or expectation that existed at some point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sports

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Travel

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were going to" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a past intention or plan. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its presence across numerous reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its common usage. The phrase is versatile and fits into neutral communicative scenarios and you can use similar alternatives such as "we intended to" or "we had planned to" to provide similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we intended to

Indicates a firm plan or intention that existed previously.

we had planned to

Emphasizes the planning stage that preceded a potential action.

we were about to

Suggests the action was imminent but did not necessarily occur.

we aimed to

Highlights the goal or objective that was set.

we set out to

Focuses on the initial effort or attempt to achieve something.

we expected to

Implies an anticipation or expectation that something would happen.

we looked forward to

Expresses anticipation and positive feelings about a future event.

we were preparing to

Highlights the preparatory actions taken before a planned event.

we had hoped to

Indicates a desire or wish for something to happen, which may not have been fulfilled.

it was our intention to

Formally states the purpose or plan that was in place.

FAQs

How do I use "we were going to" in a sentence?

Use "we were going to" to describe an action that was planned or intended in the past but did not necessarily happen. For example, "We were going to visit the museum, but it was closed".

What can I say instead of "we were going to"?

You can use alternatives like "we intended to", "we had planned to", or "we were about to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "we were going to went"?

No, "we were going to went" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "we were going to go". The phrase "going to" should be followed by the base form of the verb.

What is the difference between "we were going to" and "we went to"?

"We were going to" indicates an intention or plan that may not have been fulfilled, while "we went to" indicates that the action actually took place. For example, "We were going to the store, but we didn't have time" versus "We went to the store this morning".