The future tense with 'BE GOING TO'

The expression Be going to, followed by a verb in the infinitive, allows us to express an idea in the
near future:

I'm going to talk to him. Very soon I will talk to him.

Several employees are going to be promoted next month. 

Several employees will be promoted next month.

“Be going to” can also express a conviction or a certainty:

It's going to rain. For sure, it will rain.

I'm not going to fail. I definitely will not fail.
I’m going to take a few exams at the end of the year.
It’s going to be difficult to get a job during the summer as the tourist industry is suffering from the
economic downturn.

Be going to: more uses

Be going to is commonly used in informal styles.

Intentions
We use “Be going to” to talk about future plans and intentions. Usually the decision about the
future plans has already been made:

She’s going to be a professional dancer when she grows up.

I’m going to look for a new place to live next month.

Predictions
We use “Be going to” to predict something that we think is certain to happen or which we have
evidence for now:

It’s going to snow again soon. (The speaker can probably see dark snow clouds.)

Look out! He’s going to break that glass.

Commands
We use “Be going to” when we give commands or state that something is obligatory: [parent to a
child]

You’re going to pick up all of those toys right now. This room is a mess!

Exercises using “Be going to”

 She _________________ (visit) New York next week.

 It's cold here, I__________________ (close) the windows.

 If you study hard, you ___________________ (pass) your exams.

 Do you have plans for the weekend? Yes, I ___________________ (watch) that movie.

 My skirt is very dirty. I ________________________ (clean) it!

 Tomorrow I _________________________ (learn) how to cook “paella”

Complete the following sentences using “be going to” and he verb in the parentheses

1 We (visit)______________________ Barcelona this winter.

2 This (be) ______________________ a whole new chapter in your lives, right?

3 We (have) _____________________ a party next weekend.

4 You (not connect)________________ to the Internet tonight.

5 Who (be) ______________________ your game partner today?

6 They (not fly) ____________________ to Moscow next month.

7 (You invite)______________________ them to the party?

8 I (buy) _________________________ a new car.

9 What time (we get up) _____________________________ tomorrow?

10 I didn't do it and the truth (come)_______________________ out sooner or later.

Future Will
Affirmative form

Will comes first in the verb phrase in a statement (after the subject and before another verb). It is
often contracted to ’ll in informal situations:

The next Olympic Games will be in London.

I’ll give you a call at about 6 o’clock.

Negative form

The negative form of will is won’t (will not). We don’t use don’t, doesn’t, didn’t with will:

They won’t tell us very much until January.

We use the full form will not in formal contexts or when we want to emphasise something:
I’ll carry her but I will not push a pram.

Question form

The subject and will change position to form questions.

Will you be home earlier tomorrow?

Will I be able to take this brochure home with me?

Will the number be in the phone book?

We can use will and won’t in question tags:

You won’t forget to take the cake out of the oven, will you?

It’ll take quite a long time to get there, won’t it?

“Will” cannot be used with another modal verb:

E x er c is e s : futur e s im ple – will

Write the auxiliary WILL and a verb to match each sentence.

1. I ___________________ you forever. 6. We ______________ an email.

2. You ___________________ a tie. 7. You _______________ food.

3. He ________________ a hot tea. 8. They _______________ match.

4. She _____________ a test. 9. This girl ______________ a pilot.

5. It _______________ tonight. 10. My parents ___________ to Izabal

E x er c is e : will or be going to? C hoos e the c orr e c t v er b fr om the box .

watch have close visit sleep get travel arrive play make lend

01- Do you have any plans for tomorrow?

- Yes, I ________________ my grandparents.
02- Why is she learning Spanish?
- She __________________ to Spain.
03- We are thirsty.
- Wait here. I __________________ some water.
04- Meat or fish?
- I ________________________ some fish, please.
05- What do you want the keys for?
- I ___________________________ the door.
06- If you don't take a taxi,
you _________________ on time.
07- Why do you want so many oranges?
- I ____________________  an orange juice.
08- Oh! I haven't got enough money to pay!
- Don't worry. I _________________  you some.
09- We need one more player.
- ___________ you ________ with us tomorrow?
10- Why are you switching on the TV?
- I ___________________ a football match.

Order to make INTERROGATIVE

1. will / you / What / have for dinner/ ? ___________________________________________

2. will / she / go on holiday / Where / ? ___________________________________________

3. Who / help / you / will/ ? ___________________________________________

4. will / When / play football / you / ? ___________________________________________

5. will / sing / who / with you / ? ___________________________________________

6. What / will / you / do / tomorrow / ? ___________________________________________

7. you / go / Where / will / ? ___________________________________________

8. will / you / When / go to the cinema/ ? ___________________________________________

Complete using the verbs in brackets to make NEGATIVE sentences.

1. Sandy…………………… a novel. (write)

2. I……………………… a famous singer. (become)

3. My friends…………………… an exam next week. (have)

4. Jane…………………….to school tomorrow. (go)

5. In 2100 robots………………… the housework. (do)

6. Dad…………………home at 4 o’clock. (be)

7. Mom……………………. the clothes. (iron)

You can print these pages, or pass to your notebooks. If in your notebooks, work in a complete way the
exercises – NOT only answers.