The Future: A Review (will, going to, present simple and cont.)

​The Future!

​A review

The English futures using will, going to, present simple and continuous.​

​All The Futures

Not Only Will

In English we have many different ways to express the future and in fact 'will' is only used in quite specific circumstances.

We also use:

• going to

• present simple

• present continuous ​

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​Will

But let's start by looking at 'will'.

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'Will' can always be used to indicate the future, but it often sounds weird and unnatural if used in the wrong context. ​

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"I will go to school now."

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​We understand what this means, but it doesn't sound right.

​Let's look at how to properly use will and sound more natural in English!

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​Will: Predictions

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We use 'will' to make predictions, often with adverbs like 'probably' or 'definitely'.

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"It'll probably rain tomorrow, so maybe we should go to the cinema instead."​

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"I definitely won't pass the exam if it's on Monday!"​

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​How does the position of the adverb change in these examples? Why?

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Open Ended

Make your own prediction using probably or definitely!

e.g. We'll probably visit my grandparents again for Lunar New Year.

​Will: Promises and instant decisions

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We also use 'will' to make promises:

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"Don't worry Teacher Jon, I'll definitely do my homework by Thursday."​

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And also to make decisions in the moment:

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A: "It's so hot in here!"

B: "No worries, I'll open​ the window."

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Multiple Choice

Tracy: "I don't have a pen for class."

Julia: "Don't worry, I'll lend you one."

• This a promise.

• This is a decision in the moment.

Going to: Plans and Intentions​

We use going to for plans and intentions:

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Louise: "Are you going to Bao's party tonight?" (future plan)

Nguyen: "Definitely, but I'm not going to stay late." (intention)​

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Remember we use to be + going to + infinitive.​

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Open Ended

What intentions or plans do you have for this week or the weekend?

e.g. I'm definitely going to tidy my room on Sunday.

​Going to: Predictions

We also use 'going to' for predictions, but unlike will, we use it when we can see or know about some evidence relating to the result.

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"Look at those black clouds, better head home, it's going to rain in a minute." ​

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Present Continuous: Set plans or arrangements​

We use the present continuous to talk about set plans in the future where we often know:

- when it is happening​

- where it is happening

- who we​ are doing it with

"Remember, we're meeting Khoa for dinner at the Korean Barbecue restaurant."​

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Arrangements might be more difficult to change that simple plans or intentions.​

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Open Ended

Do you have any arrangements coming up?

e.g. On Sunday I'm playing badminton with my mates.

Going to or Present Continuous?​

The difference between these may be confusing, but don't worry, often we can use them in the same way, both can be correct.

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"We're going to have a party on Saturday, come along!"

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"We're having a party on Saturday, come along!"​

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Usually we use 'going to' if it sounds weird in the continous. Lets see if you can figure out the best option:​

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Multiple Choice

"I _______ ice-cream every day for the rest of my life."

• 'm going to eat

• 'm eating

Multiple Choice

"We ______ to the theatre tonight, I can't wait!"

• 're going to go

• 're going

​Present Simple: Time Tabled / Scheduled future

​We use the present simple to talk about things that are scheduled to happened out of our control, e.g. the time the bus leaves or when a class starts.

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"The flight arrives at 11:55, so she'll probably be very tired."

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​"You know the class starts at 6pm Julia, why are you always late!?"

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• plans

• intentions

• predicitions with evidence​

​going to:

• Predicitions​

• Promises​

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will:​

​This has been a lot.

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• For timetabled or scheduled events.

• Like: trains, buses, flight, movies or classes.​

present simple:​

• arrangements or plans, we may know:

• when

• where

• who​

• not easy to change​

​present continous:

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Match

Match the following:

• "I'm going to start exercising!"

• "We're all leaving at 12pm."

• "I'm sick, but I'll be better by tomorrow hopefully."

• "The train departs at 3pm."

• "We'll be on time, don't worry!"

intention

arrangement

prediction

timetable

promise

• intention

• arrangement

• prediction

• timetable

• promise

​WE'RE DONE!