Future: going to & will (basics)
Learn two easy ways to talk about the future in English: "be going to" for plans and predictions from evidence, and "will" for quick decisions, offers, promises and general predictions. Both use the base form of the verb.
be going to + verb (plans)
Use "am/is/are going to" + the base verb to talk about plans and intentions you already have. You can also use it for a prediction when you can see evidence now. The form is: subject + am/is/are + going to + verb.
- •I am going to study English tonight.
- •She is going to visit her family next week.
- •We are going to buy a new car.
- •Look at the sky! It is going to rain.
will + verb (decisions, offers, promises)
Use "will" + the base verb for a decision you make at the moment of speaking, for offers, and for promises. We also use "will" for general predictions about the future. The short forms are I'll, you'll, he'll, and won't = will not.
- •The phone is ringing. I will answer it.
- •I'll help you with your bag.
- •I promise I won't be late.
- •Robots will be very smart in the future.
Time markers and contractions
Words like tomorrow, tonight, next week and soon tell us the action is in the future. In speaking and informal writing we use contractions: I'll, she'll, we'll, and won't. Note: "going to" sometimes becomes "gonna" in very informal speech, but write "going to".
- •I'll call you tomorrow.
- •We are going to meet soon.
- •He won't come tonight.
- •They are going to travel next week.