future: going to, will and present continuous

Future: Will, going to, and present continuous

Simple future tense

Will

Simple future tense helps indicate that something will happen in the future. A future tense with will is used to state something with absolute certainty.

The structure for a future tense with will is: subject + will + base of a verb.

(Doorbell rings) “That will be Jeremy, I invited him for coffee.” (belief – present)

I think it’ll rain this weekend. (prediction)

I don’t think you will like him. (negative prediction)

Notice that for negative predictions, we make the “think” negative, not the “will”.

examples

Although we don’t generally use “will” to talk about plans for the future, we can use it to talk about beliefs or predictions.

​Believes about the present or future

uses

spontaneous decisions

1. I’ll just have a coffee, I’m not hungry.

2. I’m not sure when I’m free, I’ll let you know by tomorrow.

3. I’m cold, I think I’ll turn the heating on.

​Examples

In a restaurant when the waiter or waitress asks you what you would like, you normally make a decision at more or less the time of speaking, for this reason we use the expression “I’ll have…”

to express willingness – offers

1. Don’t worry, I’ll go shopping tomorrow.

2. I’ll help you make dinner!

3. Will you marry me?

Examples

Willingness is a complicated word to explain, however, it is clear that it is derived from the word “will”. If I want to do something, if I am happy to volunteer to do something, I am willing to help. So when I speak to express that I am willing to help or to offer to do something I use “will”.

to refuse to do something

1. She won’t tell you her secrets.

2. I won’t allow this to continue.

Examples

In the same way that we can show willingness by using “will”, we can show the opposite attitude, a refusal to help with “will not” or “won’t”. Interestingly, this applies to animals and inanimate objects too.

To make promises

1. I swear I’ll never cheat on you again.

2. I assure you we will do our best to get to the bottom of this.

3. You’ll never be alone, I’ll be there for you

Examples

We often use words like “I promise, I swear, I assure you… ” to emphasise a promise about the future with will.

going to

Going to is not a tense. It is a special structure that we use to talk about the future.

Ex:

I am going to buy a new car.

grammatical structure

Subject + be + going + to-infinitive

The verb be is conjugated according to the subject (am, are, is)

​I am going to approve all my subjects (positive sentence)

He is not going to take the exam. (negative sentence)

Are we going to look the meteor shower tonight? (question)

• We're not going to paint our bedroom tomorrow.

• When are you going to go on holiday?

  .

Examples

We use going to when we have the intention to do something before we speak. We have already made a decision before speaking.

For intention

how do we use going to?

​We had an intention or plan before speaking. The decision was made before speaking

Things that have already been decided.

• I'm really tired so I'm going to sleep early tonight.

• He's not going to speak at the conference.

• Are you going to come to my place tomorrow?

Examples

We can use "going to" to describe a planned action that will happen in the near future. In this situation, we've already decided or planned this action.

Prediction based on present situation

• It's 7 PM and the sun is going down. It's going to be dark soon.

• Only five people signed up? My boss is not going to speak to such a small audience.

Examples

We can use "going to" to express a prediction  (a guess or estimate) about what may happen in the future based on what is happening right now.

Present continuous

The present continuous can refer to the future. It shows that we have already decided something and usually that we have already made a plan or arrangements:

The band is visiting Denmark next May.

I am taking the train to Paris tomorrow.

⚠️Warning⚠️

We don’t use the present continuous when we predict something. Instead, we use going to or will:

It’s going to rain again soon.

❌Not: It’s raining again soon.❌

Multiple Choice

We use will for ...

• Predictions and forecast

• Plans

Multiple Choice

We use going to for ...

• Plans

• Predictions and forecast

• Timetables

Multiple Choice

We use present continuous in the future for ...

• Spontaneous decisions

• Repeated events

• Arrengements and plans

Multiple Choice

I hope the weather _______ (be) nice.

• will be

• is going to be

• is being

Multiple Choice

They ________ (drive) to New York tomorrow morning

• are going to drive

• will drive

• are driving

Multiple Choice

I offered him this job. I think he _______ (take) it

• is going to take

• will take

• is taking

Multiple Choice

I promise I _________ (not tell) your secret to anyone

• am going to tell you

• am not telling

• will not tell

Multiple Choice

Take your umbrella with you. It ________ (rain).

• will rain

• is going to rain

• is raining

Multiple Choice

They _______ (play) cards this evening.

• will play

• are going to play

• are playing

Multiple Choice

I ________ (go) to the cinema tomorrow.

• am going

• am going to go

• will go

Multiple Choice

They __________ (fly) to Seattle next summer holidays.

• are going to fly

• will fly

• are flying

Multiple Choice

I _______ (invite) 50 people to the party, and I hope everyone __________ (come).

• am going to invite, will come

• am inviting, will come

• will invite, is coming

Multiple Choice

That exercise looks difficult. I ___________ (help) you.

• am going to help

• will help

• am helping

Multiple Select

Tania and I have an appointment tonight. We ________________ (eat) out at 20:00 P.M.

• are going to eat

• are eating

Fill in the Blanks

Manuel and Ana are teachers, They

(teach) tomorrow

Fill in the Blanks

Samuel drives very well, so he

(drive) me to the airport.

Multiple Choice

............ me with cleaning the house?

• Are you going to help

• Are you helping

• Will you help

Multiple Choice

I .................... a soldier in the future. 

• 'm becoming

• will become

• 'm going to become

Multiple Choice

I ........... you whenever you need me. 

• will help

• 'm going to help

• 'm helping you

Multiple Choice

- Oh, we don’t have sugar.’

- Don’t worry, I ......... some.

• am going to buy

• will buy

• am buying