Verb tensesVerbs

Future Simple

Will / Going to


When to use Will

Form: Will + bare infinitive

  • Promises, refusals, requests, offers
    • I will call you tomorrow.
    • They won’t wash the dog.
    • Will you be buying the red or blue car?
    • Will you hand me a napkin?
  • Facts, opinion-based predictions
    • The soup will be delicious.
    • The sun will rise at 6:53 AM.
    • France will win the World Cup.
  • Spontaneous decisions
    • We need milk. I will buy some on my way home.
    • I will pay for dinner.
    • We haven’t heard from them in days. I will call them now.

When to use Going to

Form: going to + bare infinitive

  • Plans
    • We are going to see our friends at the party tonight.
    • He is going to call the client when he gets back from lunch.
    • She is going to travel to Spain by train.
  • Decisions that are not spontaneous
    • We haven’t heard from our neighbours. I’m going to call them this evening.
    • I’m going to check the price before buying it.
    • They are taking piano lessons. They are going to practice every day.

AffirmativeInterrogativeNegative
I will travel OR I’ll travelWill I travel?I will not travel OR I won’t travel
You will travel OR You’ll travelWill you travel?You will not travel OR You won’t travel
He will travel OR He’ll travelWill he travel?He will not travel OR He won’t travel
She will travel OR She’ll travelWill she travel?She will not travel OR She won’t travel
It will rain OR It’ll rainWill it rain?It will not rain OR It won’t rain
We will travel OR We’ll travelWill we travel?We will not travel OR We won’t travel
You will travel OR You’ll travelWill you travel?You will not travel OR You won’t travel
They will travel OR They’ll travelWill they travel?They will not travel OR They won’t travel
AffirmativeInterrogativeNegative
I am going to travel OR I’m going to travel.Am I going to I travel?I am not going to travel OR I’m not going to travel
You are going to travel OR You’re going to travel.Are you going to travel?You are not going to travel OR You aren’t going to travel OR You’re not going to travel
He is going to travel OR He’s going to travel.Is he going to travel?He is not going to travel OR He isn’t going to travel OR He’s not going to travel
She is going to travel OR She’s going to travel.Is she going to travel?She is not going to travel OR She isn’t going to travel OR She’s not going to travel
It is going to rain OR It’s going to rain.Is it going to rain?It is not going to rain OR It isn’t going to rain OR It’s not going to rain
We are going to travel OR We’re going to travel.Are we going to travel?We are not going to travel OR We aren’t going to travel OR We’re not going to travel
You are going to travel OR You’re going to travel.Are you going to travel?You are not going to travel OR You aren’t going to travel OR You’re not going to travel
They are going to travel OR They’re going to travel.Are they going to travel?They will not travel OR They won’t travel

Going To vs. The Verb To Go

Going to

Tip: Going to + bare infinitive = She is going to work. Expresses the future

  • She is going to see a movie.
  • I am going to have dinner with friends.
  • We are going to play tennis Saturday.
  • It is going to rain tomorrow.

To go

Tip: The verb to go: going = Present progressive tense.

Tip: The present progressive is not followed by a verb. We are going to Japan.

Tip: The present progressive tense can be used to express the future

  • He is going to the office tomorrow.
  • Where are you going? We are going shopping.
  • They are going to the museum Saturday.
  • Juan is having a barbecue Friday night. Are you going?
  • Are we going hiking tomorrow?
  • She is going with them.

Tip: We can use going to OR to go:

  • We are going hiking tomorrow OR We are going to go hiking tomorrow.
  • We are going sailing OR We are going to go sailing.

Tip: They are making polenta for dinner. The verb to make: present progressive tense. Expresses the future.

Tip: They are going to make a polenta for dinner. Going to + base verb: expresses the future.


To talk about the future, we can use

Examples:

  • They will call us when they arrive
  • They are going to drive all day
  • The flight leaves at 6 AM. The movie starts at 8 PM.
  • They are leaving next week.
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