Going to be talking

[hancy]

Sir,
Please tell me the exact meaning of this phrase.
Regards,
Hancy

[MrPedantic]

Hello Hancy

1. I'm going to be talking to Hancy later about the verb "to go".

This structure expresses a confident expectation, i.e.

2. I confidently expect that I shall talk to Hancy later...

MrP

[hancy]

Sir,
I am unable to understand this point because it is still confusing.
1)To my mind "to be talking" should be written as 'to talk'
2)If it is expressing future tense then it should be preceded by will or shall.
3)Why 'be' is coming in between? I think it expresses same meaning as "Thousand of prizes to be won.
Awaiting your early response, please.
Regards,
Hancy

[HCaulfield]

1. To be talking and to talk do not necessarily express the same. I can still talk even if I'm not talking to you. Also to say I'm going to be talking can conve the sense that you'll have to talk, a lot!
2. That's not true. Future events can be expressed with will, shall, go to, be to, etc. In this case, go to was chosen.
3. Even though the passive voice in present tense conveys (in that case) a similar meaning, it's not exactly the same. To be talking is not the same as to be won... especially because won acts as an adjective while talking is a continuous form of a verb.

[MrPedantic]

Hello Hancy

"To talk" and "to be talking" are both present infinitives. "To be talking" focuses on the action as a process; "to talk" focuses on the action as a whole.

Thus "I am going to talk to someone" expresses a sense of the complete action; "I am going to be talking to someone" expresses a sense of the action in progress.

On your second point, as HC says, "I am going" + the to-infinitive is another way of expressing an action in the future, e.g.

1. I am going to buy a new hat.
2. I am going to write a letter of complaint to my bank manager tonight.

In both sentences, a future action is described.

Your last sentence is an example of ellipsis:

3. Thousands of prizes (are) to be won!

"To be" + to-infinitive expresses a requirement in the future.

Let me know if it's still unclear!

MrP

[hancy]

Sir,
Thanks for helping me in getting the meaning but i would like to ask one short question again.
Please differ these two sentences.
1) Win lot of prizes
2) Lot of prizes to be won
Regards,
Hancy