Iba a + verb

Iba a + verb
 

I tried to learn when to use "iba a + verb" but I didn't get it.

I watched some telenovelas so far and noticed that I can interchange "iba a + verb" with "I was going to" which was I think almost everytime the case. Maybe I'm just wrong and don't know it better, if so, please prove me wrong.

I think your intuition is right:

· Iba a llamarte, pero al final no lo hice.
I had the intention to call you but in the end I didn't.

· Mis padres iban a regañarme por no ir a verlos, pero les expliqué que no tenía coche.
My parents wanted to scold me for not visiting them, but I explained to them that I didn't have the car.

· Íbamos a pedir la cuenta del restaurante cuando el gerente nos dijo que la comida era gratis.
We were about to ask for the check at the restaurant when the manager told us that the food was free.

· Todos en el autobús gritamos cuando vimos que el coche de enfrente iba a chocar.
Everyone in the bus screamed when we saw the car in front of us was about to crash.

· Los niños iban a jugar con el perro, pero empezó a ladrarles y los asustó.
The children were going to play with the dog, but it started to bark at them and it scared them.

Excelent, thank you.