Today we are going to look at the basic future tenses. We will discuss their forms, how to use them, and what the differences are between them.
In real life, we use these all the time when we make arrangements and plan events with our friends and family, and even to talk about the weather.
We will look at each tense one by one and explore the different ways we can use each one.
WILL + BASE VERB
FORM:
FUNCTION:
Spontaneous Decisions
We can use will to talk about decisions that you make at the time of speaking. These decisions are not planned. They are made as soon as you hear something from your conversation partner or as a reaction to some sort of stimulus.
This movie trailer looks amazing. I think I'll (I will) go see this tomorrow.
In this example, the decision to see the movie only occurred as soon as the speaker finished watching the movie trailer. The speaker had never thought about watching this movie before watching this trailer. Here's another example.
(You and your flatmate are sitting on a couch watching TV when the doorbell rings)
Don't worry, I'll get it.
In this example, opening a door after hearing a doorbell can never logically be a planned event. The speaker made the decision as soon as he heard it and volunteered to open the door.
Furthermore, will in spontaneous decisions may also appear as promises, offers, requests or threats.
I will buy you a present for your birthday. (promise)
I will carry your bag for you. (offer)
Will you help me with my homework? (request)
Stop harassing me or I will call the police. (threat)
In questions that use 'I' or 'We' subjects, it is possible to use shall instead of will. This can make the question sound a little formal and old-fashioned, but it is important to recognise.
Shall I carry your bag for you?
Future Predictions (using no external evidence)
We can also use will to make future predictions, or what you think will happen in the future. Traditionally, and in many course books, will is used for predictions when we don't have any physical evidence to support our claims. Often these predictions are supported by how you feel or what you know anecdotally. This can often be difficult to prove. This will is often used with the phrases I think, I expect, I believe, I hope, I'm sure or I wonder if.
A: Do you know what the weather's like tomorrow? B: I'm not sure, but I think it will be sunny like today.
In this example, speaker B makes a prediction about tomorrow's weather by looking at the sky. Realistically however, this is not a strong indicator of tomorrow's weather. This is basically just a guess.
I find that this traditional use of will quite restrictive, and often doesn't reflect what all native speakers say. It is quite common for native speakers to use be going to interchangeably with will in this situation.
I'm not sure, but I think it is going to be sunny like today.
BE GOING TO + INF
FORM:
FUNCTION:
Future Predictions (using no external evidence)
When we make future predictions using external evidence we can use be going to. External evidence include facts that come from other reliable sources, which may include the internet, academic research, news and journalism, among others. See the following example.
A: Do you know what the weather's like tomorrow? B: Let me check my phone. It says here that it's going to be sunny tomorrow.
In this example, the external evidence is the weather report from an app on Speaker B's phone.
As mentioned in 2 above, often will or be going to can be used interchangeably.
Personal Plans and Intentions
We can talk about personal plans and intentions using be going to. Intentions are actions that you want to do. Often these are in the planning stages and no definite arrangements have been made to carry them out. For example:
When I visit Paris next year, I'm going to see the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.
Seeing the Eiffel Tower and going to the Louvre here are intentions. They are simply actions the speaker wants to do. It doesn't indicate if he has bought any tickets or arranged a flight to go there. Therefore, these two actions may not happen at all. Be going to often talks about actions that you do by yourself, like in the example above. In these cases, no arrangements need to be made, and as a result, these actions may end up not happening.
The following sentence is also an intention, and no arrangements have been made to carry this out.
Compare this with the following future form.
You know what honey? I'm going to retire next year.
You have only discussed this with your wife. In order to actually retire from your job requires you to arrange this with your boss. In this case, the present continuous is necessary.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
FORM:
FUNCTION:
Present Continuous for future arrangements
I'm going to take up golf next year as I'm retiring from my job after 50 years of service.
Here we have two future forms to compare. The be going to here indicates a desire or intention to start golf. The present continuous here means that the speaker has arranged to retire from his job. Retiring will most definitely happen as he has organised this with his boss and a final date of employment has been decided. Here's another example:
A: What are you doing today? B: I'm seeing a friend for lunch.
In this example, Speaker B has arranged with a friend to have lunch. An activity, a time and most likely a place has been organised between Speaker B and his friend. This arrangement is very likely to be carried out. It may be cancelled, but to do so would require speaking to his friend. Compare it to this sentence:
I'm going to see a friend for lunch.
In this case, it's possible that the arrangement has been made like in the above example. However, it's also possible that it is an intention, and no arrangements have been made yet with the friend.
PRESENT SIMPLE
FORM:
FUNCTION:
Present Simple for fixed future events
We can use present simple to talk about fixed future events. These include actions related to timetables, rosters and schedules. The fixed nature of these actions means that typically, an ordinary person cannot alter or change the time of this event.
Don't forget, everyone: The meeting begins at 6am, don't be late.
I'm on the night shift tonight. It starts at 11pm so I won't be able to go out.
The flight departs at 9am, so arrive at the terminal at 6am.
The speaking exam commences at 10.30am.
The train arrives at 4pm on platform 2.
In all of these cases, the activities or events are fixed. With the case of public transport, these take place on a timetable which are clearly published to commuters. In normal circumstances, passengers do not have control of the start and end times of these trips. With the work-related sentences, the ordinary employee does not have any control over the start and end times of the events. Only someone with a position of power has any control.
SUMMARY
It can be very tricky to decide which future form to use at the right time. In fact, most of these forms could be used in relation to one context, but most likely not in the same conversation. For example:
Will for spontaneous decisions:
I'm stressed out at work and want to relax on a beach. I know! I will go on a holiday to Fiji.
Be going to for personal plans and intentions:
I decided two weeks ago. I'm going to travel to Fiji.
Present continuous for future arrangements:
I have the plane tickets. I've booked the hotel. I'm travelling to Fiji next week!
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