Complete the sentences with was/were going to + the following verbs: buy, give up, have, phone, play, travel.
1. We were going to travel by train, but then we decided to go by car instead.
2. I ... some new clothes yesterday, but I was very busy and didn't have time to go to the shops.
3. Martin and I ... tennis last week, but he was injured.
4. I ... Jane, but I decided to email her instead.
5. A: When I last saw Tim, he ... his job.
B: That's right, but in the end he decided to stay where he was.
6. We ... a party last week, but some of our friends couldn't come so we cancelled it.
Answer (2)
To complete the sentences with 'was/were going to' and the appropriate verb, we are essentially looking at situations where plans or intentions were made but not carried out for some reason. This structure helps express those past intentions. Let's fill in each sentence one by one:
We were going to travel by train, but then we decided to go by car instead.
This is given and uses 'travel.'
I was going to buy some new clothes yesterday, but I was very busy and didn't have time to go to the shops.
Here, the intention to purchase clothing is expressed with 'buy.'
Martin and I were going to play tennis last week, but he was injured.
The activity they intended to do was 'play' tennis.
I was going to phone Jane, but I decided to email her instead.
This shows the intention of contacting Jane by phone, using 'phone.'
A: When I last saw Tim, he was going to give up his job. B: That's right, but in the end he decided to stay where he was.
'Give up' shows Tim's earlier intention to leave his job.
We were going to have a party last week, but some of our friends couldn't come so we cancelled it.
The intention to host an event is expressed with 'have.'
As you can see, 'was/were going to' is a great way to reflect on past plans that were not fulfilled. Each sentence shows an intention that was initially planned but, for various reasons, did not happen. This kind of sentence structure is helpful in English for discussing changes in plans or decisions that were revised.
The sentences can be completed by using the structure 'was/were going to' followed by the appropriate verbs. Each sentence reflects past intentions that did not happen for various reasons. Understanding this structure helps convey how plans can change over time.
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