Why does this sentence have two "ir" verbs--vamos and ir?

Question

Vamos a ir al cine. (Let's go to the cinema.)

Why does this sentence have two "ir" verbs--vamos and ir?

Answer 1

Just as everyone has already so nicely explained, "ir a + infinitive" conveys something that is going to happen, usually in the near future. I just wanted to add one thing: it is exactly like our English construction:

"going to + verb"

So "Vamos a ir al cine"

Means the same thing as "We are going to go to the movie theater."

well said. - rogspax, Feb 1, 2013

Yep - Except normally we would not say that. "We are going to the cinema" is normal. - ian-hill, Feb 1, 2013

If you want to say that it is happening now we would say - "We are on our way to the cinema" - ian-hill, Feb 1, 2013

Answer 2

The verb "ir" means to go ans is used to form the informal future when is used with the prepositon "a " + an infinitive. For example " voy a bailar " I am going to dance or " Vamos a ir al cinema" We are going to the cinema.

Answer 3

Because if you remove the "Ir" it would convey the idea into the future,

"that we are going to the movies."