This document discusses different ways to talk about the future in English, including using will, be going to, the present continuous, and the present simple. It explains that will is used for instant decisions, promises, offers, suggestions and general predictions. Be going to is used for intentions, plans and predictions with evidence. The present continuous is used for future plans and arrangements that have been fixed. The present simple is used for timetables and schedules. Examples are provided for each structure to illustrate their meanings and appropriate uses.

1. THE FUTURE

2. THE FUTURE
WHAT CAN WE USE TO TALK ABOUT THE
FUTURE?

3. THE FUTURE
1. WILL
2. BE GOING TO
3. PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE
4. PRESENT SIMPLE FOR FUTURE

4. THE FUTURE
WHEN DO WE USE WILL?
1.
2.
3.
4.

5. THE FUTURE
1. INSTANT DECISIONS (decisions made at the
moment of speaking i.e. in a restaurant)
2. PROMISES
3. OFFERS & SUGGESTIONS (remember in the
question form we use SHALL)
4. GENERAL PREDICTIONS (often used with “I
think”

6. THE FUTURE
• I’ll have the steak
• I won’t tell anybody where you are.
• I’ll carry the bag for you.
• Shall we eat out tonight?
• You’ll love the film.

7. REMEMBER
WE CANNOT USE WILL FOR PLANS.

8. THE FUTURE
WHEN DO WE USE BE GOING TO?
1.
2.

9. THE FUTURE
1. INTENTIONS – PLANS
2. PREDICTIONS WITH EVIDENCE.
The difference between WILL and BE GOING TO
for predictions is that WILL is general,
whereas GOING TO shows something in the
present which makes the future actions more
certain.

10. THE FUTURE
• Are you going to buy a new car?
• I think they’re going to win.

11. THE FUTURE
WHEN DO WE USE THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
FOR THE FUTURE?
1.

12. THE FUTURE
1. FUTURE PLANS AND ARRANGEMENTS.
The difference between THE PRESENT
CONTINUOUS and BE GOING TO is that the
PRESENT CONTINUOUS is fixed (you’ve made
the arrangements) whereas BE GOING TO is
only an intention (you have made a decision).

13. EXAMPLE
I AM GOING TO VISIT MY PARENTS AT CHRISTMAS.
(I want to do this).
I AM VISITING MY PARENTS AT CHRISTMAS. (this
would indicate that I have the ticket).
SOMETIMES THERE IS LITTLE OR NO DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE TWO FORMS. ALTHOUGH WE TEND
NOT TO USE BE GOING TO WITH THE VERB TO GO.

14. REMEMBER
If we want to ask someone about their plans, we
should use either BE GOING TO or THE PRESENT
CONTINUOUS NOT WILL.
What are you doing this weekend?
What are you going to do this weekend?

15. REMEMBER
In the response you can answer however you
want depending on what you wish to convey.
“I don’t know. I think I will go to visit my friends”
(decided now)
“I am going to visit my friends” intention
“I am visiting my friends” plan

16. THE FUTURE
WHEN DO WE USE THE PRESENT SIMPLE FOR
FUTURE?
1.

17. THE FUTURE
1. FOR TIMETABLES
The train leaves at 8 o’clock