Future simple / Be going to

Contrast
Future simple: Will / Won’t Be going to

1. Predictions with NO evidence or actions that 1. Predictions WITH evidence, we can see that
we can’t control (they will inevitably happen) something is going to happen

• I will be 30 next month • Look at those clouds! It is going

to rain
• She will probably pass her test
• Watch out! We are going to
have an accident
• I will become famous when I
grow up • Ann is going to have a baby
 Contrast
Future simple: Will / Won’t
2. Spontaneous decisions
• Since it is getting dark, I’ll turn
on the lights
• We ran out of sugar. I’ll go and
buy some
Be going to
2. Things we have already decided, intentions
• They have bought a new house
and they are going to have a
party
• She has safe enough money, she
is going to buy a new car
• I’m going to get some more
training so I can get a better job
 Contrast
Future simple: Will / Won’t
Be going to
3. To express hopes, fears, threats, promises, requests,
warnings … especially with expressions such as: I EXPECT,
I’M SURE, I THINK, I BELIEVE, I HOPE, I’M AFRAID … 3. Plans and intentions in the near future

• I’m afraid, I’ll be a Little late • I’m going to see my friends

tonight
• I hope you will all pass your
exams • We are going to fly to New York
next month

• Next summer, we are going to

visit our cousins in Peru
Future continuous/ future
perfect
 Contrast
Future perfect
Future continuous
1. Actions which will be finished before a stated
1. Actions in progress at a stated future time future time

• He will be lying on the beach • He will have finished BY

this time next week midnight
• She won’t have come back until
• Next year, I will be studying in midnight
Berlin
• By the time you arrive, Mary will
• During Christmas, we will be have left the party
staying at our grandparents
house
 Future continuous

2. Actions which are the result of a

routine (also present continuous)

• Don’t phone Mary at 17:00, she

will be feeding the baby (she
does always at that time)

• I’ll be seeing Peter tomorrow

(we work together so, I`ll meet
him)
 Time expressions

Going to/ Will / future continuous: tomorrow, tonight, next

week/month, in two/three …days, the day after tomorrow, son, in a
week/month…

Future perfect: before, by, by then, by the time, until (negative)