This document discusses two common ways to express future time in English - using "be going to" and using "will". It provides examples of how each is used to indicate intentions, predictions based on evidence, plans, offers and promises, and requests. Key differences are that "be going to" implies some planning while "will" can be more spontaneous, and "will" is used for offers, promises and requests while "be going to" is not.

1. Future
Forms
The Future with be going to
The Future with will

2. The Future with
be going to
In English, there are many ways of
expressing future time. One of the most
common is the "be going to"
construction.
• Be going to + verb expresses specific
future plans or intentions.
• It is common in conversations and
often sounds like “gonna” or
“gunna.”

3. Yes/No Questions Short Answers
Be Subject Going
to
Base
Form of
the Verb
Yes Subject Be No Subject + Be + Not
Are you
going
to
help later? Yes,
I am.
No,
I’m not.
Is she she is. she isn’t.
Are they they are. they aren’t.
THE FUTURE WITH BE GOING TO
Affirmative Statements Negative Statements
Subject Be Going
to
Base
Form of
the Verb
Subject Be Not Going
to
Base
Form of
the Verb
I am
going
to
help later.
I am
not
going
to
help later.
He/She/
It
is He/She/It is
We/You
/ They
are We/You/
They
are

4. THE FUTURE WITH BE GOING TO
Information Questions
Wh- Word Be Subject Going to Base Form of the Verb
Who are you
going to
call later?
What is she do tomorrow?
When are they go to school?
Wh- Word
(subject)
Be Going to Base Form of the Verb
Who is
going to
come with me?
What is happen next?

5. The meaning of be
going to future forms
Situation Example
Predictions
(based on
evidence)
She’s going to have a baby in June.
Plans
We’re going to go to the beach on our next
vacation.
Intentions
(strong)
They aren’t going to go out tonight. They’re
going to stay home and watch a movie.

6. The Future with will
• “Will”, like all modal verbs in
English, does not change its form,
and it is followed by the simple
form of the main verb.
• “Will” is NOT usually used in first
person questions. Note also that
will is often shortened to ’ll.

7. THE FUTURE WITH WILL
Affirmative Statements Negative Statements
Subject Will Base Form
of Verb
Subject Will Not Base Form of
Verb
I
will leave tomorrow.
I
will not leave
tomorrow
.
He/She/
It
He/She/It
We/You
/They
We/You/
They
Yes/No Questions Short Answers
Will Subject Base Form
of the Verb
Yes Subject Will No Subject + Will + Not
Will you
help me? Yes,
I will.
No,
I won’t.
Will she she will. she won’t.
Will they they will. they will not.

8. The Future with WILL
Information Questions
Wh- Word Will Subject Base Form of
Verb
Who
will
he see at the wedding
tomorrow?
What they do later?
Wh- Word
(subject)
Will Base Form of
Verb
Who
will
leave first?
What happen next?

9. Watch out!
Negatives are made
with “will not” or the
contracted form
“won't”:
• He will not stop
smoking.
• He won't stop
smoking

10. The
meaning
of will
future
forms
• Like be going to, will expresses
intentions. However, be going to
implies that some planning has gone
into an intention, while will often
implies spontaneous, unplanned
intention.
• Also, unlike be going to, will is used
to express offers, promises, and
requests.
• Will is NOT usually used for fixed
plans or scheduled events.

11. Situation Example
Intentions
(spontaneous)
I’ll study harder this semester.
Offers and
promises
I’ll call you as soon as I get home.
I won’t forget.
Predictions
(based on previous
knowledge)
It will rain in the afternoon.
Requests Will you close that window?

12. Summary
Form Meaning / Usage Example
“Will” Intentions,
predictions,
offers,
promises,
requests
Angelo: I need a pencil.
Sarah: I'll lend you mine.
Robots will replace humans for many
jobs.
I will probably get a robot in the future.
“Going to” Intentions,
predictions,
plans
Angelo: Have you registered for the
class yet?
Sarah: Not yet. I'm going to register
tomorrow.
More people are going to live in smart
houses.