was going to
fixed phrase.you use this to talk about a plan you had in the past that did not happen or changed.
fixed phrase.a construction used to express 'future in the past' or unfulfilled intentions. It consists of the past continuous of 'go' followed by a full infinitive, typically indicating a plan that was interrupted or abandoned.
“I was going to call you, but I forgot.”
“We were going to go to the beach, but then it started raining so we stayed home.”
“The company was going to launch the product in spring, but supply chain issues forced a six-month delay.”
often followed by 'but' to explain why the plan changed.
use this to teach 'unfulfilled intentions'; it is a great way to introduce narrative tension in storytelling by contrasting a plan with a surprising reality.
the phrase requires the '-ing' form of 'go' followed by 'to' and the base verb.