Pronunciation: [wɜː ɡˈə͡ʊɪŋ tuː] (IPA) 
The phrase "were going to" is made up of three words: "were," "going," and "to." The first word, "were," is pronounced /wɜr/ with the vowel sound pronounced as a short "e" sound. The second word, "going," is pronounced /ˈɡoʊ.ɪŋ/ with the emphasis on the first syllable and a long "o" sound. The third word, "to," is pronounced /tu/ with a short "u" sound. When combined, the phrase is pronounced /wɜr ˈɡoʊ.ɪŋ tu/.
"were going to" is a verb phrase that denotes an intended future action or plan that was previously decided or thought out. It is the past tense form of the phrase "going to," indicating a future action, with the auxiliary verb "were" added to match the subject in the plural past tense.
This phrase is typically used to express something that was planned or expected to happen in the future but did not transpire or was interrupted. It signifies an intention that was thwarted or changed due to external circumstances or changes in plans.
For example, "We were going to go to the beach, but it started raining," implies that going to the beach was the original intention, but the rain caused a change of plans. Similarly, "They were going to buy a new car, but their financial situation worsened," indicates a prior plan or intention to purchase a car that was abandoned due to the change in their financial condition.
In summary, the verb phrase "were going to" refers to a previously anticipated future action or plan that was ultimately not realized or altered due to various factors or circumstances. It reflects the past tense of "going to" and is commonly used in describing unfulfilled or changed intentions.
