going to

[navi tasan]

1-I am going to be with John.

One meaning of this sentence is very close to "I will be in John'. 'Going to' is used to express an idea about the future.

Yet, could sentence 1 have another meaning? Could it mean:
2-I am going in order to be with John.

I guess one could express that idea with:

3-I am going to John.
(I am going to where John is to be with him.)

 

[navi tasan]

Thanks Gillnetter,

So
I am going to be with John.
could never carry the idea of physical motion.
But can't one say:

A-I went to be with John.

I think that might be correct. It could have no meaning other than that.
I think people use
'went to be with the lord'
often as a euphemism for 'died'.

 

[Barb_D]

Hi,
This is why context is so important.

In real life, we don't come out with one sentence and expect our listener to know which of many meanings applies.

You're going all the way to New York City by yourself?
Oh don't worry. I won't be alone. I'm going to be with John the whole time.
(travel)

Won't you be nervous spending the night alone?
No, no! John is coming over. I won't be worried. I"m going to be with John.
(no travel)

Why are you moving to Cleveland, for heaven's sake?
I'm going [implied: there] to be with John. He's worth moving.
(major, permanent travel)

And even more contexts and meanings are possible.