14 Future with Will or Be going to
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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
Future simple (will) and be going to have different structures for the three forms:
Affirmative forms:
- Future simple: Subject + will + verb + …
- Be going to: Subject + to be + going to + verb + …
Negative forms:
- Future simple: 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
Future simple:
Decision made at the moment of speaking
- We don’t have any bread for dinner. I will go and buy some from the bakery.
Invitations
- Will you come with us to meet the president?
Needs/duties/future events
- You will have to pay with cash if you buy clothes under 50 euros.
Offers
- I will help you to make these photocopies.
Predictions based on opinions
- He thinks that being retired will be boring.
Promises
- I promise I will never talk to the boss about this!
Requests
- The telephone is ringing. Will you answer it please?
Sentences containing the adverbs: probably, certainly, perhaps
- I will certainly come to the party.
- He probably won’t finish writing his CV in time.
- Perhaps we will need a new printer soon. This one is getting so slow.
Threats
- If you don’t send an email, I will not talk to you again.
Be going to:
Decision before the moment of speaking/planned activity
- We don’t have paper for the printer. I am going to get some.
Predictions based on evidence about the near future
- This business isn’t going to fail. It’s a multinational corporation!
Use
We use future simple to express:
- Decisions made while speaking;
- Invitations;
- Needs/duties/future events;
- Offers;
- Predictions based on opinions;
- Promises;
- Requests;
- Sentences containing the adverbs: probably, certainly, perhaps;
- Threats.
We use be going to to express:
- Decision made before the moment of speaking, already planned events or activities;
- Predictions based on evidence about the near future.
Summary
Future simple (will) and be going to are two forms of the future tense, which differ in meaning and form.
- We use the future simple to express predictions, beliefs or intentions about the future.
- We use be going to to express commands, predictions and things that are about to happen.
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.
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