Future forms

Be going to

Use be going to + infinitive to:

 Express personal intention. The action has been considered in advance and some plans have
already been made.

We’re going to stay with John next summer.

 Make a prediction based on present evidence.

I think she’s going to fall! (She is off balance.)

Will

Use will to:

 Make predictions.

We’ll win the Cup this year.

 Talk about future facts.

He’ll start school next year.

We often use will with adverbs of probability.

I’ll probably see you tomorrow.

We also use will for decisions made at the moment of speaking.

I think I’ll have a nap.

Present continuous

Use the present continuous to talk about a pre-arranged action in the future. Be going to is for
intentions, while the present continuous is for planned events or arrangements for a specific time.

I’m visiting Sheila on Sunday.

Present simple

Use the present simple to talk about fixed future events in timetables or programmes.

My train arrives at 5.00.

Future continuous

Use the future continuous to:

 Talk about an action that will be in progress at some time in the future.
This time next week I’ll be lying on a beach.

 Make a deduction about the future based on normal practice.

I expect the Smiths will be having their annual party soon.

 Talk about sth that will happen as part of the normal course of events, not because you planned
it.

I’ll be seeking Jackie at college, so I’ll give her the note.

Future perfect and future perfect continuous

Use the future perfect to talk about a future event which will be finished at a certain point in the future.
Use the future perfect continuous to talk about the length of an action as seen from a moment in the
future.

The builders will have finished our house by January.

By 2018, I’ll have been studying French for twenty years.

Modal verbs

Could, might and may are also used to make predictions. They have similar meanings, but may is more
formal.

Be to

Use be + to + infinitive to describe official plans and arrangements.

The company is to provide insurance for all of its workers.

Be due to

Use be due to + infinitive to describe a formal arrangement.

The plane is due to land at 6.00.