The future: Will, Be Going To, Present Continuous

The future: Will, Be Going To, Present Continuous

·        We use will when we decide to do something at the time of speaking: OK, I'll throw those away.

·        We use be going to when we already have a plan or an intention to do something: I'm going to sort out the rest of them at the weekend.

·        We use the Present Continuous when we have an arrangement with another person: She's picking them up tomorrow evening after work.

·        We use be going to for rediction that is based on present evidence ( we predict the future because of something we can see in present): It's going to break the first time he uses it!

·        We use will for a prediction that is not based on present evidence: But you'll never listen to them again.

* When we use the Present Continuous for future arrangements, we usually know exactly when the arrangements are happening. They are the kind of arrangements we can write in a diary: I'm having dinner with Richard on Saturday.

* We can also use be going to to talk about future arrangements: What are you going to do tomorrow?

Will

Positive/ Negative

·    We make the positive and negative forms of will with:

subject + 'll (=will)/won't ( =will not) + infinitive

I'll do that for you.

He won't throw that away.

*Will/Won't is the same for all subjects:

I/you/he/she/it/we/they will/won't do it.

Questions

·    We make quesitons with will with:

 (question word) + will + subject + infinitive

When will it be here?

Will it rain at the weekend?

*We often use probably or definitely with will:

Her kids will probably/definitely like them.

*We often use might to mean 'will possibly':

I might finish it this weekend.

*We also use will to talk about future facts and for offers:

I'll be 45 next birthday. I'll help you clear out the study.

Be Going To

Positive/Negative

We make the positive and negative forms of be going to with: subject + am/are/is + (not) + going to + infinitive

I'm/I'm not going to throw that away.

You/We/They're/aren't going to use it again.

He/She/It's/isn't going to sort them out.

Questions

We make questions with be going to with:

question word + am/are/is + (not) + subject + going to + infinitive

When am I going to see you again?

Aren't you/we/they going to see him?

What's he/she/it going to do?

*With the verb go, we usually say I'm going to the cinema. Not - I'm going to go to the cinema. But both are correct.