14 Future with Will or Be going to

Advertising

Introduction

The future is the tense used to predict or express future events.

We use the future simple to express spontaneous decisions, opinions and hopes {see Future Simple, A2 level}.

Be going to is used to express intentions for the future and make previsions based on signs we see at that moment {see Be going to, A1 level}.

Form

Simple future (will) and be going to have different structures for the three forms.

Affirmative forms:

  • Simple future: Subject + will + verb + …
  • Be going to: Subject + to be + going to + verb + …

Negative forms:

  • Simple future: Subject + will + not + verb + …
  • Be going to: Subject + to be + not + going to + verb + …

Interrogative forms:

  • Simple future: Will + subject + verb + …?
  • Be going to: To be + subject + going to + verb + …?

Example

Simple future:

  1. Decision at the moment of speaking
    • We don’t have any bread for dinner. I will go and buy some.
  2. Predictions based on opinions
    • I think this blouse won’t be tight on me.
  3. Invitations
    • Will you come with us?
  4. Requests
    • It’s cold. Will you close the window?
  5. Offers
    • I will help you find your student card.
  6. With: probably, certainly, perhaps
    • I will certainly come to the party.
  7. Promises
    • I promise I will never do it again!
  8. Necessity/obligation/fact in the future
    • You will have to pay with cash if you buy clothes under 50 euros.
  9. Threats
    • If you don’t take off my jacket, I will not talk to you again.

Be going to:

  1. Decision before the moment of speaking/planned activity
    • We don’t have paper for the printer. I am going to get some.
  2. Predictions based on evidence about the near future
    • This business isn’t going to close. They have customers.

Use

Simple future is used to express:

  1. Decisions made while speaking;
  2. Predictions based on opinions;
  3. Invitations;
  4. Requests;
  5. Offers;
  6. Sentences containing the adverbs: probably, certainly, perhaps;
  7. Promises;
  8. Needs/duties/future events;
  9. Threats.

Be going to is used to express:

  1. Decision made before the moment of speaking, already planned events or activities;
  2. Predictions based on evidence about the near future.

Summary

Simple future (will) and be going to are two forms of the future tense, which differ in meaning and form.

For example:
— “This printer will probably cost you 70 euros. I heard that it is the usual price.” = We are not certain about the price, we’re just making a guess and therefore we use future simple.
— “This printer is going to cost 70 euros. I checked the price tag.” = We are certain about the price, therefore we use be going to.

NOTE: Certain situations require the be going to structure, whereas others require the future simple.

Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.

Exercises


The exercises are not created yet. If you would like to get involve with their creation, be a contributor.



Ambassadors

Open TextBooks are collaborative projects, with people from all over the world bringing their skills and interests to join in the compilation and dissemination of knowledge to everyone and everywhere.

Become an Ambassador and write your textbooks.

Online Teaching

Become a Books4Languages Online tutor & teacher.

More information here about how to be a tutor.

Translations


Contributors

The Books4Languages is a collaborative projects, with people from all over the world bringing their skills and interests to join in the compilation and dissemination of knowledge to everyone, everywhere.

License