Future

Future Form : ( To be + going to + infinitive (verb 1) )

In English we use 'be going to' to talk about :

• personal plans or intentions
• predictions based on present evidence

The table below shows the different forms of future with be going to :

Be Going To Example Sentences :

Positive Examples of Be Going To :

• I'm going to work harder. 
• We're going to have a holiday next year.
• He's going to lose ten kilos.
• John's going to quit smoking.
• Look at those clouds. It's going to rain. 
  

Negative Examples of Be Going To :

• I'm not going to see you this weekend.
• You aren't going to play football tonight.
• They aren't going to come to the party.
• It isn't going to rain.

Question Examples of Be Going To :

• What am I going to do?
• Where are you going to live next year?
• When is he going to arrive?
• Which movie are you going to see?
• Are you going to Brighton next week?
• Is it going to snow tomorrow?

When we use 'be going to' with the infinitive 'go', we can leave out "to go" and still have the same meaning.

Example Sentences :

• I'm going to go to Japan. = I'm going to Japan.
• I'm going to go shopping on Saturday. = I'm going shopping on Saturday.
• They aren't going to go to the party tonight. = They aren't going to the party tonight. 

Future Form : ( Will + infinitive (verb 1) )

In English we use 'will' to talk about:

• decisions made at the time of speaking
• predictions not based on present evidence
• offers, promises and suggestions
• future facts

The table below shows the different forms of will + infinitive :

Will + Infinitive Examples Sentences :

Positive Examples of Will + Infinitive :

• I'll have the steak, please. (decision)
• The phone's ringing. I'll answer it. (offer)
• I'm sure you'll have a great time. (prediction)
• I'll always love you. (promise)
• I'll be forty this year! (fact)
  

Negative Examples of Will + Infinitive :

• I won't pass the exam. (prediction)
• I won't tell anyone. (promise)
• She won't tell me her name. (decision)
• The president will not visit Russia during this trip. (fact)

Question Examples of Will + Infinitive :

• Shall I open the window? (offer)
• Shall we see a movie tonight? (suggestion)
• Do you think she will pass her driving test? (prediction)
• Will John turn 50 this year? (fact)

Notes for use of will + infinitive :

The future of there is/are = there will be

The future of I can = I'll be able to NOT I'll can.

In English we often use "I think" and "I don't think" with will.

eg. I think he'll fail the exam / I don't think he'll pass the exam.

NOT I think he won't pass the exam.

In English, when an offer is a question, we use Shall I...? or Shall we...? (NOT will)

eg. Shall I call you tonight? Shall we pick you up at 7pm?

In English we often use definitely and probably with will/won't.

eg. Jo will definitely pass the exam.

Lara probably won't be able to take a holiday this summer.

Future Form : ( Am / is / are + verb + -ing )

In English we can use 'be going to' or present continuous for future plans.

'Be going to' shows you have made a decision.

eg. We're going to get married in the spring.

Present continuous emphasizes that you have made the arrangements.

eg. We're getting married on May 5th.

Notes for use of present continuous :

In English we usually use present continuous when we have made an arrangement with another person. They are the kind of arrangements you would write in a diary. We can always use 'be going to' instead of present continuous. 

The table below shows the different forms of present continuous :

Present Continuous Example Sentences :

Positive Examples of Present Continuous :

• I'm seeing the doctor at 2pm tomorrow. (I have an appointment)
• We're meeting Anna for breakfast on Saturday. (We've made an arrangement with Anna) 
• They're flying to London tomorrow. (They've booked the tickets)

Negative Examples of Present Continuous :

• I'm not staying in a hotel when I visit London next summer.
• We aren't taking a holiday this year.
• She isn't coming to the party tonight.

Question Examples of Present Continuous :

• Where are you going next weekend?
• When is she seeing the doctor?
• Is he meeting John on Monday?

Future Form : ( Base form (verb 1) )

In English we use present simple to talk about fixed events on a timetable or a calendar.

The table below shows the different forms present simple :

Present Simple Example Sentences :

Positive Examples of Present Simple :

• The conference starts at 9am on Monday.
• The train leaves from platform 5 at 9:40am. 
• The post office opens at 8.30am.

Negative Examples of Present Simple :

• The match doesn't start until 7pm tonight.
• I don't start work until 12.00 on Wednesdays.
• The flight doesn't take off until midnight.

Question Examples of Present Simple :

• What time does the game start?
• When does the train leave?
• Does the lesson start at 9am?