The Future;
Going to & Will
1- Going to:
There is no one 'future tense' in English. There are 4 future forms. The one which is used most often in spoken English is 'going to', not 'will'.
We use 'going to' when we want to talk about a plan for the future.
- I'm going to see him later today.
- They're going to launch it next month.
- We're going to have lunch first.
- She's going to see what she can do.
- I'm not going to talk for very long.
Notice that this plan does not have to be for the near future.
- When I retire I'm going to go back to Barbados to live.
- In ten years time, I'm going to be boss of my own successful company.
We use 'going to' when we want to make a prediction based on evidence we can see now.
- Look out! That cup is going to fall off.
- Look at those black clouds. It's going to rain soon.
- These figures are really bad. We're going to make a loss.
- You look very tired. You're going to need to stop soon.
We can replace 'going to go' by 'going'.
- I'm going out later.
- She's going to the exhibition tomorrow.
2- Will:
Some people have been taught that 'will' is 'the future' in English. This is not correct. Sometimes when we talk about the future we cannot use 'will'. Sometimes when we use 'will' we are not talking about the future.
We can use 'will' to talk about future events we believe to be certain.
- The sun will rise over there tomorrow morning.
- Next year, I'll be 50.
- That plane will be late. It always is.
- There won't be any snow. I'm certain. It's too warm.
Often we add 'perhaps', 'maybe', 'probably', 'possibly' to make the belief less certain.
- I'll probably come back later.
- He'll possibly find out when he sees Jenny.
- Maybe it will be OK.
- Perhaps we'll meet again some day.
We often use 'will' with 'I think' or 'I hope'.
- I think I'll go to bed now.
- I think she'll do well in the job.
- I hope you'll enjoy your stay.
- I hope you won't make too much noise.
We use 'will' at the moment we make a new decision or plan. The thought has just come into our head.
- Bye. I'll phone you when I get there.
- I'll answer that.
- I'll go.
- I won't tell him. I promise.
Exercise - Future Mix
Put the verbs into the correct form (will, going to, simple present or present progressive).
- I love London. I................ (probably / go) there next year.
- Our train .................(leave) at 4:47.
- What ..................(wear / you) at the party tonight?
- I haven't made up my mind yet. But I think I.................. (find) something nice in my mum's wardrobe.
- This is my last day here. I ......................(go) back to England tomorrow.
- Hurry up! The conference .......................(begin) in 20 minutes.
- My horoscope says that I .......................(meet) an old friend this week.
- Look at these big black clouds! It .......................(rain) .
- Here is the weather forecast. Tomorrow .......................(be) dry and sunny.
- What does a blonde say when she sees a banana skin lying just a few metres in front of her? - Oh dear! I ......................(slip) !