Future Forms in English

I'm not going to talk about future tense and predictions, but other uses of future tense.Going to and present continuous for future

Going to – plans and intentions that we have;

I'm going to pay Mum a visit later today. She's not feeling well.

Strong intentions.

I'm going to learn German next year. It's something I've always wanted to do.

Present continuous – something that had been planned earlier – some sort of planning has taken place. You have a plan now. That's why we often call this present –future. You've made an appointment, you've phoned somebody about it, etc. You might write these things in your diary – if you have one.

The Jones's are coming round to dinner this evening. (I've called them)

I'm having my haircut this afternoon. (I have an appointment)

But I could say those above with ‘going to' as well.

Be careful – present continuous doesn't work well if you want to express strong intention about something you've been thinking about doing, like your intention to learn German:

I'm learning German next year – does not express that intention.

Better:

I'm going to learn German next year, if it's the last thing I do.

I'm going to keep asking her until she says yes.

In British English, you'll hear present continuous used more with verbs of movement.

I'm just popping out to buy a newspaper.

Are you coming down the pub, Dave?

Where are you going for your holidays this summer.Will

Will does not talk about any planning at all. It describes actions in the future when you decided to do that thing at that moment.

I can't open this tin of tomatoes.

I'll do it for you!

Mum told me she was feeling lonely.

Really? I'll give her a call this afternoon.

So then we need to remember that when we talk about these future actions later. We just used the past tense of these forms.Past tense of going to

I was going to study German this year but I haven't started yet.

You said you were coming down the pub, Dave. Where are you?

The Jones's were going to come to dinner this evening, but they can't make it.

So the past tense of ‘will' is ‘would'

You said you would open this tin of tomatoes. Well you haven't done it.

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Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and...