They are going to school.

Meaning: This means that a group of people are moving or traveling to a place where children and young adults go to learn.

Choice of Words: They is a pronoun that refers to a group of people. Are is the present tense of the verb be, which means to exist or to be something. Going is the present participle of the verb go, which means to move or travel somewhere. To is used to indicate the destination of the movement. School is a place where children and young adults go to learn.

Alternative Expressions

The children are on their way to school.

Meaning: This means that a group of young people are traveling to school. They are not yet at school, but they are moving in that direction.

Choice of Words: The children refers to a group of young people. Are is a verb that indicates the present tense of the action. On their way means that they are in the process of moving towards a destination. To is a preposition that indicates direction or purpose. School is a place where students go to learn. When you put them together, "The children are on their way to school" means that a group of young people are moving towards a school building in order to attend classes and learn.

The students are heading to their classes.

Meaning: This means that a group of students are moving to their classrooms. They are not yet in their classrooms, but they are moving in that direction.

Choice of Words: The students refers to a group of people who are enrolled in a school. Are is a verb that indicates the present tense of the action. Heading means that they are moving in a particular direction. To is a preposition that indicates direction or purpose. Their classes refers to the specific rooms or locations where they will be learning. When you put them together, "The students are heading to their classes" means that a group of students are moving towards their classrooms in order to attend lessons.

Related Expressions