THE FUTURE (WILL/ BE GOING TO)

ALL CLEAR 3 (A2.2)

FUTURE - GOING TO/ WILL/ PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I'm going to see the dentist tomorrow.

This sentence uses the future, and the two most common ways in which the future
is talked about in English is by using GOING TO and WILL.

GOING TO is used when something is sure to happen, either because it was

planned or because there is information to confirm this.
It is GOING TO rain later. (the weather forecast said so.)

WILL is used when the information is not definite, or when there is some doubt.
That's why it appears in conditional sentences.
I WILL call you, IF I have enough time.

WILL is also commonly used with sentences that begin with I THINK.
I THINK it WILL rain later. (this is a guess.)

Because GOING TO ends in ING, it follows the verb TO BE.

He IS GOING TO see the dentist tomorrow. (is=to be)

WILL is a modal verb, which means it needs to be used with a main verb, and
comes before it.
I WILL call later. (call is the main verb)

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

We use the Present Continuous with future meaning when we know what we are
doing in the future because something is already decided, arranged and organised.

Alice is going to the dentist on Friday (she has an appointment)

WILL/ BE GOING TO - PRACTICE

1.-

• GOING

• TO

• WILL
I (1) go to the dentist if I can get an
appointment.

2.-
• GOING

• TO

• WILL
I am (2) the dentist later. I have an
appointment.
3.-
• GOING

• TO

• WILL
I think the dentist (3) see me.

Complete the following sentences with Be going to or Will.

1. John _________________ (work) when his father next summer

2. Jake _________________ (study) in Princetown when he finishes

school

3. Maybe the climate _________________ (change) in the future

4. Careful! You _________________ (drop) the vase

5. Joe doesn’t want to go home by bus. He _________________ (walk)

6. In two years´ time I don’t know where I _________________ (live)

7. I’m sure your dad _________________ (feel) better soon

8. In the year 2050 people _________________ (not/eat) food,

 they _________________ (eat) pills

9. I don’t think Donna _________________ (fail) the English exam

10. Oh dear! It’s 9 o’clock!! I _________________ (be) late

11. I’m not hungry. I _________________ (not/have) dinner tonight

12. _________________ (you/get) married in the future?

13. What _________________ (you/do) tomorrow morning?

14. Do you think Diana _________________ (like) the present?

– I don’t know

15. I’m sure I _________________ (not/be) rich when I retire in

the future.

Complete with a future form: present continuous, will or be going to. Say
whether the sentences refer to: general predictions, predictions with
evidence (100% sure), plans/intentions, arrangements (plans 100% sure)…

1. Look! That boy is walking too close to the swimming pool. He

_______________ (fall) over.

2. What _______________ (you / do) this weekend?

3. In a hundred years´ time, people _______________ (live) forever.

4. Look at the dark clouds in the sky! It _______________ (rain).

5. I _______________ (go) to the doctor this afternoon. I called yesterday.

6. Sarah _______________ (go) to New York next summer. She bought her
tickets yesterday.

7. Look! That worker _______________ (fall) off the ladder!

8. When I grow up, I _______________ (have) ten children. I love babies!

9. We _______________ (visit) our grandparents next weekend.

10. In the next few years, scientists _______________ (find) a cure for cancer.

11. Dad _______________ (buy) a new DVD player because ours is really old.

12. My sister _______________ (get) married the 25th October. She has already
booked the church and bought her wedding dress!

13. Mark has been studying extremely hard. He is sure he _______________

(pass) all his exams.

14. I think Danielle _______________ (not / come) to the party. She was ill
yesterday.

15. Theresa _______________ (go) to university when she finishes school. She
wants to become an architect.

16. Alan _______________ (go) out for dinner with Jane on Saturday. He has
already called the restaurant to book a table.

17. Mum _______________ (be) so happy when I tell her I got a 10 in my last
Maths test!

18. Karen has been coughing all afternoon. She _______________ (fall) ill.

19. In the future, we will all _______________ (drive) electric cars.

20. I _______________ (give) up smoking because it’s very bad for my health.