Future Tense:
be going to / present continuous (am/is/are + verb/ing)
/ will/ simple present
Be going to: for things we have already decided to do,
1. A future plan or intention
I’m not going to go to New York city. The meeting is
canceled.
Are you going to buy a new car or a used one?
I’m going to give a talk at the seminar.
My sister is going to adopt a child.
Are you going to buy a new car or a used one?
I’m not going to go to New York City tomorrow. The meeting
is cancelled.
2. Prediction (based on present evidence): when we know
or can see that something is going to happen.
The Yankees are going to win. They are playing really well.
(prediction)
Look at those black clouds. They are going to rain.
(prediction)
It’s winter there, so it’s going to be cold.
Look at that car, it is going to crash.
Present continuous: we often use this tense for future
arrangement (plan for which you have already made
preparations at fixed time or place in the future, e.g.,
booking a ticket, a hotel, or a table in a restaurant)
I’m going to the party at Katie’s.
Lora and James are getting married in October.
She is leaving on Friday and coming back next week.
o Point: there is a little difference between be going to and
present continuous for future plans and arrangements, and
you can use either of them.
Be going to show that you have made a decision.
We’re going to get married next year.
Present continuous emphasizes that you have made the
arrangements.
We are getting married on October 12th. (we have ordered the
invitations…)
We often use present continuous for verbs relating to travel
arrangements, like go, arrive, come, leave, book…
I’m going to Tokyo tomorrow and coming back on Tuesday.
It is common to use present continuous with the
expressions like tomorrow, tonight, this weekend…
What are you doing this evening?
Is he meeting us tomorrow?
Will + simple verb: for decisions made at the time of
speaking, and also for offers, promises, prediction based on
general knowledge, and future facts.
Function:
1. To express instant decisions, offers, promises. I think I will
watch a movie tonight.
I won’t stay for dinner. (decision)
I think I’ll go home early. (decision)
I’ll help you with your homework. (offer)
I’ll open the door for you. (offer)
I’ll always love you. (promise)
I won’t tell anybody. (promise)
Point: in questions with I and We, shall is sometimes used
to offer to do sth or to make a suggestion.
Shall we go for a walk?
Shall I open the door?
2. To express future prediction. To say things we guess, think,
or know about future. In this sense, we can use some key
phrases like “I think”, “maybe”, “I guess”, “probably”, I’m
sure…
I think he’ll fail the exam.
I don’t think he’ll pass the exam.
It’s a great book. I’m sure you’ll like it.
I guess it’ll rain tomorrow.
The movie is in French. We won’t understand anything.
3. To express the speaker’s opinion, assumptions, speculations
about the future. These can be introduced by verbs such as
assume, be afraid, be sure, believe, think, wonder, doubt,
expect, hope, know, suppose, or by adverbs like perhaps,
possibly, probably, surely, but can be used without them.
(I’m sure) he’ll come back.
(I suppose) they’ll sell the house.
(perhaps) we’ll find him at the hotel.
4. To express willingness.
Tom is a really kind person, and he will always help
people. (he is willing to help people)
Tom doesn’t want to speak to me, he won’t answer the
phone. (he is not willing to answer my call)
Form:
Affirmative sentence:
I / you/ he/ she/ we/ they + will + simple verb
I will call you back tomorrow.
I’ll call you back tomorrow.
I’ll be here tomorrow.
Negative sentences:
I / you / he / she / we / they + will not (won’t) + simple verb
I will not call you back tomorrow.
I won’t call you back tomorrow.
I won’t be here tomorrow.
Yes / No questions:
Will + subject + simple verb +…?
Will you call me back tomorrow? Yes, I will.
No, I won’t.
Will you be here tomorrow? Yes, I will.
No, I won’t.
WH question:
Wh word+ will + subject + simple verb +…?
When will you call back me? Tomorrow.
Who will call you back tomorrow? (I)
Who will I call back tomorrow? (you)
Who will be here tomorrow?
I’ll drive really carefully. (promise)
The election will be on March 1st. (future fact)
I’ll carry your bag. (offer)
I think, It’ll rain tomorrow.
Simple Present Tense: it sometimes expresses future action
with verbs of motion: arrive, come, depart, fly, go, leave, sail
and start… especially on a schedule or a timetable.
When the simple present tense expresses the future, there is
almost always a word, phrase or clause indicating the
future time.
This Monday, the train leaves at noon.
The flight arrives at 9:00 tonight.
The present of be can describe a future event if it includes
a word, phrase that indicates future.
The wedding is on Sunday.
Math exam is on next Wednesday.
