A1 · Beginner · Plans · 131 words · ~2 min read

🏖️ A Day Trip to the Seaside

Language focus: Future · be going to · plans

Before you read

A whole day of plans, all expressed with be going to. Read it straight after the picnic story and you will start to feel the difference between a plan you have already made and a decision you take as you speak.

It is a sunny Saturday. The Khan family is going to the seaside for the day. They set off early and get on the big blue bus.

On the bus, the children are excited. “We are going to build a sandcastle!” says Lily. “And I am going to swim in the sea,” says Sam.

When they arrive, the beach is golden and the sea is calm. They are going to have a wonderful day by the water.

The bus is going to arrive at eleven o’clock. Mum is going to bring a big picnic bag, and Dad is going to carry the umbrella.

In the afternoon they are going to eat fish and chips on the pier. Nobody is going to be cold today, because the sun is warm and bright.

Key vocabulary (8 words)

seasidenoun: The area next to the sea, often visited on holiday.
beachnoun: The sandy or stony land at the edge of the sea.
sandcastlenoun: A small castle shape made of sand.
bucketnoun: A round container with a handle for carrying water.
wavenoun: A raised line of water moving on the sea.
shellnoun: The hard outer covering of a sea creature.
sunnyadjective: Bright with light from the sun.
seanoun: The large body of salt water around the land.

Phrasal verbs in this story

set off — To set off means to begin a journey.

The grammar in this story

Everybody in this story has already decided

“We are going to build a sandcastle!” “I am going to swim in the sea.” The children thought about these things before they got on the bus, which is precisely when English chooses going to. If Lily invented the idea on the spot she would more likely say I’ll build a sandcastle.

The subject changes am, is or are — never the rest

I am going to, Mum is going to, they are going to, nobody is going to. Only the be part moves; going to plus base verb stays identical. Note that nobody is singular in English and takes is.

The present continuous can also mean the future

“The Khan family is going to the seaside for the day.” Here going is the main verb, not part of a future structure — but the sentence still describes a future arrangement. English often uses the present continuous this way for fixed plans, especially with travel verbs.

Set off and get on

They set off early and get on the bus. Set off means to begin a journey; get on is what you do with a bus, train or plane, while get in is for a car. These small differences matter and are worth learning as fixed pairs.

Phrases you can reuse today

We are going to the seaside.: Present continuous for a fixed arrangement.
I am going to swim in the sea.: A plan decided in advance.
What time are we going to leave?: The question form: be moves in front of the subject.
Let’s set off early.: Set off = start a journey. A suggestion with let’s.

Comprehension quiz

Where is the family going?
- The seaside
- The mountains
- A city
Show answer
The seaside
Which day is it?
- Saturday
- Wednesday
- Monday
Show answer
Saturday
How do they travel?
- By car
- By bus
- By train
Show answer
By bus
What is Lily going to build?
- A sandcastle
- A fire
- A boat
Show answer
A sandcastle
“Set off” means to…
- begin a journey
- stop walking
- wait
Show answer
begin a journey

Now use it yourself

Reading builds recognition; writing your own sentences is what turns it into something you can actually say. Three short tasks:

Plan a day trip in five going to sentences.
Write two questions about a friend’s weekend plans using are you going to.
Do you prefer the sea or the mountains? Give one reason.