Future Simple – Be Going to

A. Form:

Future Simple: Will + Base verb (will eat- will visit- will work)
Be Going to: verb “to be” + going to + base verb (am going to play- is going to
work- are going to travel)
Affirmative Question Negative
Will I will (‘ll) write the Will I write the I will not (won’t)
letters letters? write the letters.
Be going to You are going to Are you going to You aren’t going to
write the letters. write the letters? write the letters.

B. Uses:
We use “will”:
 To make a prediction, to say what we believe will happen in the future. We usually use it
with expressions such as I think, I believe, I bet, I expect, I am sure/afraid, I
suppose, I hope or adverbs such as probably, possibly, perhaps, certainly…
EX: I am sure she will pass the exam.
I’ll probably be at school early tomorrow early morning.
 For decisions that we make spontaneously, at the time when we are speaking.
EX: The phone is ringing. I’ll answer it.
 To offer our help to somebody.
EX: I’ll help you with your homework.
 To make a promise.
EX: I promise I won’t be late.
 To ask somebody to do something for us.
EX: Will you open the door for me?
 To warn somebody about something.
EX: Be careful! You’ll hurt yourself with that your knife.
 To talk about something that will definitely happen in the future because it is inevitable,
we cannot change or control it using external factors.
EX: The sun will rise at 6:30 tomorrow.
The temperature will drop during the weekend.
 We use “Be Going to”:
 When we refer to future plans, to something that we intend to do in the future.
EX: We’re going to buy a new car next month.
 When we know that something is going to happen in the future because there is something
in the present that shows us this, an indication.
EX: Look at those clouds. It’s going to rain.

A. Complete. Use the future simple.

1. Eat your dinner or you -------------- any pudding! (not / have)

2. I -------------- you do the housework later, I promise. (help)
3. ------------------- me a cup of coffee? (you / make)

B. Write sentences. Use be going to.

1. Carol / buy / a new motorbike -----------------------------------------------------------------

2. he / not come / to the party ---------------------------------------------------------------------
3. they / cancel / the meeting? --------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Complete. Use the future simple or be going to.

1. ------------------ the cat for me, please? (you/feed)

2. I ------------------- early tomorrow. I want to catch the bus first. (get up)
3. I don’t think he ------------------ the test. (pass)
4. Dad --------------- the kitchen next week. (paint)

D. Circle the correct answer. Remember:

-We use be going to for
1. I am sure they won’t / aren’t going to disappoint us. predictions that are based
2. Mike is taking out his wallet. He will / is going to pay. on what we see now.
3. I don’t think our team will / is going to win the cup this year. -We use the future simple
4. The sky is cloudy and dark. It will / is going to rain. predictions that are based
based on what we think or
believe.