Future Time: Be Going To, Will,

and the Present Continuous

Grammar Sense 2, Chapter 7
The Future with Be Going to and the
Present Continuous
 The Future with Be Going To

 Affirmative Statements
SUBJECT BE GOING TO BASE FORM OF VERB
I am going to help later.
You are going to help later.
He is going to help later.
She is going to help later.
It is going to help later.
We are going to help later.
You are going to help later.
They are going to help later.
 The Future with Be Going To

 Negative Statements
SUBJECT BE NOT GOING TO BASE FORM OF VERB
I am not going to help later.
You are not going to help later.
He is not going to help later.
She is not going to help later.
It is not going to help later.
We are not going to help later.
You are not going to help later.
They are not going to help later.
 The Future with Be Going To

 Yes/No Questions and Short Answers

BE SUBJECT GOING TO BASE FORM OF VERB
Are you going to help later? Yes, I am./No, I’m not.
Is she going to help later? Yes, she is/No, she isn’t.
Are they going to help later? Yes, they are./No, they
aren’t.
 The Future with Be Going To

 Information Questions
WH-WORD BE SUBJECT GOING TO BASE FORM OF VERB
Whoare you going to call later?
What is she going to do tomorrow?
When are they going to study at the library?

WH-WORD BE GOING TO BASE FORM OF VERB

Who is going to win the election?
What is going to happen next?
The Present Continuous
as Future
The Present Continuous as Future

 Affirmative Statements
SUBJECT BE BASE FORM OF VERB + ING
She is helping later.

 Negative Statements
SUBJECT BE NOT BASE FORM OF VERB + ING
She is nothelping later.
The Present Continuous as Future

 Yes/No Questions
BE SUBJECT BASE FORM OF VERB + ING
Are they helping later?

 Information Questions
WH-WORD BE SUBJECT BASE FORM OF VERB + ING
When are they helping?
Be Going To and the Present
Continuous as Future
Meaning and Use Notes
Meaning and Use: Be Going To and the
Present Continuous as Future

 Use be going to to talk about intentions or future

plans.

I’m going to study hard for the test.

I’m going to visit Greece this summer.

A: What is Josh going to study at college?

B: He’s going to study chemistry.
Meaning and Use: Be Going To and the
Present Continuous as Future

 Use the present continuous tense to talk about intentions or

future plans.

 A future time expression is usually used with the present

continuous to show that the sentence refers to the future (and
not something happening now).

 The verbs go, come, do, and have, as well as verbs related to
travel, are especially common with the present continuous as
future.
Meaning and Use: Be Going To and the
Present Continuous as Future

Examples:

When are you coming to see me?

I’m visiting Greece this summer.

My flight is arriving in the afternoon.

My father is meeting me at the airport.

A: What are you doing tomorrow?

B: I’m having lunch with friends. Then we’re going to a movie.
Meaning and Use: Be Going To and the
Present Continuous as Future

 The present continuous often refers to more definite

plans than be going to.

 With be going to, the speaker often has not decided

on the details.
Meaning and Use: Be Going To and the
Present Continuous as Future

 Present Continuous as Future (Details Definite)

I’m taking a 3:00 flight to Chicago. In Chicago, I’m changing planes

and flying on to Miami.

 Be Going To (Details Not Definite)

A: I’m going to buy a car.

B: What kind are you going to get?
A: I don’t know yet.
Meaning and Use: Be Going To and the
Present Continuous as Future

 Use be going to for predictions (guesses about the future),

especially when there is evidence that something is just
about to happen.

 The present continuous is not used to make predictions.

Be careful! That glass is going to fall!

It’s cloudy. I think it’s going to rain tonight.
X It’s cloudy. I think it’s raining tonight. (INCORRECT)
 Future Time Expressions

 today
 tonight
 tomorrow
 the day after tomorrow
 tomorrow morning/afternoon/night

 They’re arriving tomorrow.

 in five minutes
 in a few days
 in a few months

 He’s going to call in a few hours.

 Future Time Expressions

 this afternoon
 this Sunday
 this week
 this year
 This spring

 I’m leaving this week.

 next Sunday
 next week
 next August
 next month
 next year

 Next week I’m visiting Ana.

 Future Time Expressions

 the week after next

 the weekend after next
 the month after next
 the year after next

 We’re having a test the week after next

 The Future Will

 Affirmative Statements
SUBJECT WILL BASE FORM OF VERB
I will leave tomorrow.
You will leave tomorrow.
He will leave tomorrow.
She will leave tomorrow.
It will leave tomorrow.
We will leave tomorrow.
You will leave tomorrow.
They will leave tomorrow.
 The Future Will

 Negative Statements
SUBJECT WILL NOT BASE FORM OF VERB
I willnotleave tomorrow.
You willnotleave tomorrow.
He will notleave tomorrow.
She willnotleave tomorrow.
It will notleave tomorrow.
We willnotleave tomorrow.
You willnotleave tomorrow.
They willnotleave tomorrow.
 The Future Will

 Contractions
I will leave tomorrow.
I’ll leave tomorrow.

She will leave tomorrow.

She’ll leave tomorrow.

They will leave tomorrow.

They’ll leave tomorrow.
 The Future Will

 Contractions
I will not leave tomorrow.
I won’t leave tomorrow.

She will not leave tomorrow.

She won’t leave tomorrow.

They will not leave tomorrow.

They won’t leave tomorrow.
 The Future Will

 Yes/No Questions
WILL SUBJECT BASE FORM OF VERB
Will you leave tomorrow? Yes, I will./No I won’t.
Will she leave tomorrow? Yes, she will./No, she won’t.
Will they leave tomorrow? Yes, they will./No, they won’t.
 The Future Will

 Information Questions
WH-WORD WILL SUBJECT BASE FORM OF VERB
Who will he see at the wedding tomorrow?
What will they do later?

WH-WORD WILL BASE FORM OF VERB

Who will leave first?
What will happen next?
 Will vs. Be Going To

 Predictions with Will and Be Going To

Use will or be going to to make predictions (guesses about the future). You can
also use probably and other adverbs with will and be going to to express certainty.

Will
Electric cars will become popular in the next ten years.
They’ll probably win the championship.

Be Going To
Electric cars are going to become popular in the next ten years.
They’re probably going to win the championship.
 Will vs. Be Going To

 With predictions, the meanings of will and be going to

are not exactly the same.

 Use be going to when you are more certain that an

event will happen because there is evidence. Do not
use will in this situation.

She’s going to have a baby. X She’ll have a baby! (INCORRECT)

 Will vs. Be Going To

 Quick Decisions vs. Advance Plans

In statements with I, will, and be going to have different
meanings:

will—often used to express a quick decision at the time of

speaking (such as an offer to help).

be going to—shows that you have thought about something

in advance. Do not use be going to for quick decisions.