Level: intermediate
When we know about the future, we normally use the present tense.
1. We use the present simple for something scheduled:
We have a lesson next Monday.
The train arrives at 6.30 in the morning.
The holidays start next week.
It's my birthday tomorrow.
2. We can use the present continuous for plans or arrangements:
I'm playing football tomorrow.
They are coming to see us tomorrow.
We're having a party at Christmas.
3. We use will:
- when we express beliefs about the future:
It will be a nice day tomorrow.
I think Brazil will win the World Cup.
I'm sure you will enjoy the film.
- to mean want to or be willing to:
I hope you will come to my party.
George says he will help us.
- to make offers and promises :
I'll see you tomorrow.
We'll send you an email.
- to talk about offers and promises:
Tim will be at the meeting.
Mary will help with the cooking.
4. We use be going to:
- to talk about plans or intentions:
I'm going to drive to work today.
They are going to move to Manchester.
- to make predictions based on evidence we can see:
Be careful! You are going to fall. (= I can see that you might fall.)
Look at those black clouds. I think it's going to rain. (= I can see that it will rain.)
5. We use will be with an -ing form for something happening before and after a specific time in the future:
I'll be working at eight o'clock. Can you come later?
They'll be waiting for you when you arrive.
6. We can use will be with an -ing form instead of the present continuous or be going to when we are talking about plans, arrangements and intentions:
They'll be coming to see us next week.
I'll be driving to work tomorrow.
7. We often use verbs like would like, plan, want, mean, hope, expect to talk about the future:
What are you going to do next year? I'd like to go to university.
We plan to go to France for our holidays.
George wants to buy a new car.
8. We use modals may, might and could when we are not sure about the future:
I might stay at home tonight or I might go to the cinema.
We could see Mary at the meeting. She sometimes goes.
9. We can use should if we think there's a good chance of something happening:
We should be home in time for tea.
The game should be over by eight o'clock.
- Talking about the future 1
- Talking about the future 2
The future in time clauses and if-clauses
In time clauses with words like when, after, until we often use present tense forms to talk about the future:
I'll come home when I finish work.
You must wait here until your father comes.
They are coming after they have had dinner.
In clauses with if we often use present tense forms to talk about the future:
We won't be able to go out if it is raining.
If Barcelona lose tomorrow, they will be champions.
| Be careful! |
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We do not normally use will in time clauses and if-clauses:
but we can use will if it means want to or be willing to:
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Hello teachers,
I would like to be enlightened about these two sentences:
The computer doesn't work.
The computer won't work.
Are there any differences between them?
Thanks in advance!
Hello apostro'phe,
The meaning of each sentence is the same: there is a problem with the computer.
It's quite common for us to anthropomorhise machines like cars, washing machines, phones, computers and so on and talk about them as if they were people. Using won't is an example of this as it suggests that the computer has decided not to work today or is refusing to cooperate.
Here are some other examples of this kind of anthropomorphism:
My car doesn't like cold mornings.
This application can be a bit temperamental sometimes.
The computer's in a bad mood today!
The washing machines sounds a bit unhealthy.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello,
I’d like to ask about the verb ‘hope’.
Is it proper English or grammatically accepted to say “When are you hoping to finish the project?” And respond with, “We are hoping to finish the project next year?”
I’ve read that the verb hope can be accepted with an -ing form as long as it has ‘to infinitive’ following.
I’ve also read that this has been a topic of hot debate.
I would appreciate some clarification.
Thank you for your time.
Hello Riri83,
'hope' is generally considered a stative verb, and many grammars and teachers say that stative verbs are not used in continuous tenses.
The rule not to use continuous forms with stative verbs is a good general rule for beginners, but it is not completely true. It is true that in general we use stative verbs in simple tenses rather than continuous tenses, but it is not always incorrect to use them in continuous tenses.
The sentences you ask about are good examples of perfectly correct sentences where it is correct to use 'hope' in the present continuous. I don't know the full context or speaker's intentions, but most likely in this case, the continuous aspect is used to show that it is a developing situation.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish
Hello The LearnEnglishTeam,
I have some questions regarding the use of simple present tense to talk about future. I have picked up a paragraph from novel " The Railway Children" by E.Nesbit.
This 'ere's the automatic brake,” Bill went on, flattered by her enthusiasm. “You just move this 'ere little handle—do it with one finger, you can—and the train jolly soon stops. That's what they call the Power of Science in the newspapers.”
In the above paragraph, why the author has written " The train jolly soon stops" why not " The train will/ is going to stop ". Here I don't see any schedule or time tables.
Again the sentences like
1. I hope that helps.
2. I hope that love abides forever.
Why not " I hope that will/ is going to help".
Please make me understand so that I won't do any mistakes regarding this grammar.
Jitu_jaga
Hello jitu_jaga,
The statement about the brake is generally true, similar to a statement like 'Ice melts if you heat it' or 'When the sun goes down, it gets dark'. I think it would also be possible to use 'will' or 'going to' here, but the writer chose the other form.
Despite the fact that they refer to the future, we most often use present tense verb forms after 'hope'. You can see some examples and an explanation on this Cambridge Dictionary page.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hello! I have some questions. I've noticed on some sites the form "to be going to". Is there any difference between "be going to" and "to be going to" or is the second one not correct? Would it be correct if I say Complete the sentences with the correct form of 'to be going to'? I've also noticed that grammar books use the form "be going to" when giving explanation on this topic. Thank you!
Hello irinuca,
Sometimes we distinguish between the infinitive without 'to' (the base form) - be, look, have, go - and the infinitive with 'to' - to be, to look, to have, to go. Whether or not 'to' is needed depenends on the rest of the sentence, and often on the verb immediately preceding the infinitive. After 'need' we use 'to, but after 'should' we do not, for example.
I would suggest using 'be going to' as this allows for both forms with and without 'to'.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello,
I encountered a test (fill in the blank with the correct verb tense to complete the sentence) regarding the future tense, and there was this sentence:
'Have you reviewed the new financial report yet?'
'No, but I .....(stay) home this evening so I can study it then."
I presumed that there are three possible correct answers based on the usage of 'be going to', present continuous and will be+ ing form (instead of the present continuous or be going to when we are discussing plans, arrangements and intentions).
'No, but I'm going to stay home this evening so I can study it then."
'No, but I am staying home this evening so I can study it then."
'No, but I will be staying home this evening so I can study it then".
According to the answer key, the correct answer is: 'No, but I am staying home this evening so I can study it then".
My question is why only present continuous in this case and not also 'to be going to' or will be + ing form?
Hello hannah13,
You are correct that all three of those options are possible here. Unless there is something else in the context or task rubric then there is no reason why only the present continuous is correct.
This is one reason why we prefer not to comment on tests and exercises from elsewhere. We have no control over the design of the test and no way of knowing if it is of a good standard. The best person to contact with your question is the person who prepared the test.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello,
Please, on the future form "will".
If there is no idea about who I will be or what I will do when I grow up, and there are no plans for that time,
can I use the form "will" in the questions?
E.g. Who will I be / what will I do when I grow up?
Thanks for your help
Hi User_1,
Yes, sure. Using "going to" suggests that there is more of an idea, so it wouldn't fit this meaning.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks for your help!
I would like to ask about how to distinguish the present simple and the future simple when we want to talk about a plan or an activity happening in the future. Could you please tell me your idea about this exercise?
The Music Festival ________________ place this Sunday night, in the central stadium.
A. takes B. will take C. is going to take D. has taken
Thanks a lot!
Hello nanalee2024,
There's not enough context to really know what idea about the future this sentence communicates. Since it's not clear, A, B and C could all easily be correct and the verb forms would have the meanings explained above.
Sorry I can't give a more definitive answer!
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Thanks a lot. This is the reason why I get confused with this exercise.
I also want you to clarify when we use the present simple and the future simple or be going to when we want to talk about the future. What are the differences? Can you tell in detail what type of plans or activities we will use the appropriate tense?
Hello nanalee2024,
This information is on the page in the explanation above these comments:
Future forms are very much dependent on the context and on how the speaker sees the situation, as you can see. Very often there is a more than one form possible.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello Teachers,
Who's going to tell Jake? And who will tell Jake? Is there any differences in meaning? Could you explain it elaborately?
Hello jitu_jaga,
The differences between these forms is explained above. Could you please tell us what isn't clear for you, or what you think the difference is? I think we'll be better able to help you if we understanding where you're coming from.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hello Kirk,
I think in the first sentence the speaker is asking about plan who made earlier to ask Jake.
Whereas in the second sentence the speaker is insisting someonelse to take decision to ask Jake right at the moment of speaking.
If I am wrong, please correct t me.
Hello jitu_jaga,
Yes, you've got the right idea. If we say 'Who will tell Jake?', we are clearly asking for a volunteer -- as you put it, for someone to declare this at the moment of speaking.
'Who's going to tell Jake?' suggests that there may already be a plan of some sort, though perhaps it hasn't been finalized.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hi, I hope you can help me. I try to find out which translation is correct among the following:
I've bought a new laptop, but it doesn't work. I'll must bring back to the shop.
I've bought a new laptop, but it doesn't work. I'll have to bring back to the shop.
I think they won't spend their holydays by the sea again.
I don't think they will spend their holydays by the sea again.
Watch out! You're going to hurt yourself.
Watch out! You'll hurt yourself.
Thank you in advance for your help
Hello dspatola,
In 1), only the second sentence is correct. We don't use two modal verbs ('will must') together as they are used in the first sentence.
In 2), we typically make the verb 'think' negative (as in the second sentence) rather than the other verb (as in the first sentence). But the first sentence is not incorrect; it's just unusual. Note, however, the spelling of 'holidays'.
Both of the sentences in 3) can be correct. It depends on the situation and/or speaker's intended meaning.
By the way, please let us know what you think is the correct or incorrect option when you ask us questions such as these. It helps us help you better if we can see what you are unsure about.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hello,
Wich of these sentences is correct? And why?
He has a meeting with the doctor in two hours.
He is having a meeting with the doctor in two hours.
Hi .Mariia,
Both of them are correct! In comparison, the second one emphasises the fact that the meeting has already been organised and confirmed relatively more.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
When you think of "will" always remember the song "we will rock you" and "i will survive". Also remember that "a will" (noun) is testament (document) that says what will be done in the future and is 100% (can't be changed).
What is the difference between
Next week I'll be visiting your city.
Next week I'm going to be visiting your city.
Hello Plokonyo,
Both sentences use the continuous aspect to talk about the city visit, so the main difference is the difference between 'will' and 'be going to'.
Both forms can be used to make a prediction. When they are used to make a prediction, 'be going to' more strongly suggests there is some evidence for this future event than 'will' does. Although the two sentences you ask about are probably not predictions, they could be depending on the context.
More likely these are statements about plans. 'be going to' shows that a plan is already in place; the plan was made before the moment of speaking. It speaks of your intention to visit the city next week.
The most common meaning of 'will' in speaking about the future is for a plan made at the moment of speaking. This doesn't really work in this context, but people do sometimes say something like 'Next week I'll be visiting your city'. In this case, it could be that someone else has arranged your travel plans or your schedule and has decided the details of this trip. In this case, 'will' is used to report a fact about the future. This suggests less intentional involvement on the part of the speaker than 'be going to', which we use to speak about intentions.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Dear team, I hope you are fine.
I saw a video, David Letterman's Final Show. He says, I love this segment. The name is "a comedy we would have done tomorrow."
Why is "would have done" used?
Another question: Which one is true?
Why is "would have done" used?
Why "would have done" is used?
Thank you
Hello Hosseinpour,
The correct question is 'Why is 'would have done' used?'
The answer to this question is as follows. We use 'would have done' when something was a possibility in the past but did not happen. For example:
I would have gone to the party, but I didn't get an invitation.
Although it seems odd to link a form like this which rooted in an unreal past with a future time reference ('tomorrow'), sometimes people do so. This is generally when the decision to do something in the future has been taken in the past. For example:
I would have gone to the party tomorrow, but I didn't get an invitation and now I have other plans.
Here, the party is tomorrow but the time to decide/arrange to go was in the past. It's an unusual use, but it occurs in contexts like this. Whether this is what Letterman had in mind or whether he was just playing linguistic games for comedic effect I can't tell you, however.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thank you sir, for the time and help.
Hi Team,
I'm learning the difference between the future tense "I will go tomorrow" and the future with present progressive "I am going tomorrow". What is the difference between them in these examples please? I know the grammatical difference but I was wondering when you would use one over the other. I know traditionally you use the future with present continuous for things that are scheduled or arranged but since both of these specify time is there any difference in use? thanks in advance
Hello Myetl,
The context and the speaker's intentions are key, but in general, for example, 'I'm going tomorrow' implies that you've already had your trip planned. You haven't decided to go just now as you're speaking with someone.
If you say 'I'll go tomorrow', it could be that you are making a promise to go to the person you're speaking with, or it could be that you've decided you will go just now while speaking.
I'd say this is the most typical distinction in meaning between these two forms, but, as always, other meanings are possible in specific situations.
Hope this helps!
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hello
I use the present simple for future I must happen in the present and happened in the past and future and I avoid giving instructions
I am talking about grammar this is correct ?
Hi HLH,
Sorry, I don't understand the question. Can you ask it again?
You can find some examples of how to use the present simple for the future at the top of the page above.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Hello, dear teachers and team!
Could you please help me with my confusion concerning "will" and "going to". It is quite understandable that will refers to spontaneous ideas and going to is used for planned actions. I've been a bit confused since I read that Cambridge Dictionary says: "One of the main uses of will is to refer to things in the future that we think are certain".
1. So, if someone asks me "What are your plans for Monday and Tuesday" can I answer "I will work" (=I am sure I'll do) or does it have to be "I'm going to work" (because it refers to my plan"? In the same way, can I ask someone "Will you work tomorrow?" or should it be "Are you going to work tomorrow?"
2. Can I say "I will have a rest on Maldives" (I'm sure I will, I have already bought tickets and booked a hotel and I'm sure it will happen) or "I'm going to have a rest on Maldives" (I have already bought tickets and booked a hotel, so it's my plan).
I'm very very grateful for your help and thank you very much for answering this comment beforehand!
Hello howtosay_,
'Will' describes a decision, as you say. The key to understanding the second use is not the degree of certainty of the action but rather the concept of 'we think'. In other words, 'will' describes our belief in a certain outcome. That is why it is used in prophecies and guesses. It's also why we tend not to use it about our own actions unless we are making a promise or a threat. After all, we do not need belief in our own choice - the choice depends only on us.
1. For the reasons above, 'going to' is used in both examples here.
2. Again, 'going to' is more appropriate here.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello Team,
I have some confusion over the use of the term 'later' to talk about the future. For example, can I say "I will take the exam 6 months later" to refer to the future? Does it instead refer to the past?
Wouldn't it be more correct to say "I will take the exam in 6 months/ 6 months from now" to talk about the future? Why?
Thanks in advance!
Hello BeeJay,
'Later' is a comparative form which requires another time in the future as a reference point. For example:
> September or 'in two months' are the reference points for 'later' here.
Without this reference point you cannot use 'later':
> There is no reference point so 'later' cannot be used.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello,
Talking about the future, especially for plans/arrangements and plans/intentions.
As written above:
We can use the present continuous for plans or arrangements, and we use "be going to" to talk about plans or intentions.
For me, it is difficult to settle if they are plans/arrangements or plans/intentions.
In both cases, it comes naturally to me to use the form "be going to"; is it so grammatically incorrect?
Thanks for your reply.
Hi User_1,
An arrangement normally involves some sort of official process (e.g. "I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow" implies that the person has made an appointment; "I'm going to New York" implies booking tickets, hotels, etc.), or coordination with other people ("I'm meeting my friends for dinner tonight.").
These same things can also be described as intentions ("I'm going to see the doctor tomorrow"; "I'm going to go to New York"), so there's nothing wrong with using "going to". However, an intention does not necessarily involve making an arrangement. Intentions also include things that the person simply desires to do ("I'm going to drive to work today").
There is a large overlap between these meanings of the present continuous and going to. However, the present continuous does have that "arrangement" meaning, which comes in useful sometimes!
I hope that helps.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks for your help.
Sometimes, it is hard to identify that difference not so much when I write but by doing grammar tests.
Q12.Alice is going to have a baby.
It is a popular phrase, though it brings this question what if it is stated for the purpose of simple informaing, which suggests to use will. Are we allowed to use will in here?
Hello aeposp,
As with most future forms, the choice depends on how the speaker sees the situation. Going to is by far the most common form used in this context because it is a predictable process based on evidence we possess. Will is not grammatically incorrect, but it would suggest some kind of guess or prediction (fortune telling?), so it does seem unlikely.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Q11. Look at this conversation: A. do you have any plans for this weekend? B. No, I really don’t . I will/am going to eat dinner of course. And then probably I will/ am going to watch Tv for a little while.
A recource indicates both options fit the situation. But why? It seems either prediction on the basis of experience Or simply an instant decision. So why to use be going to?
Hi aeposp,
I think both will and am going to are both fine for the first one. Am going to is OK because it shows something that has already been decided before the moment of speaking. Since eating dinner is a regular and everyday activity, it can be understood in that way. For the second one, I would prefer will.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Q10. My father ___ definitely stay in hospital for two weeks.
Is it prediction based on evidence or personal knowledge and opinion or simply an information?
Hi aeposp,
It could be any of these functions, depending on the context in which it is said or written!
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Q9 . When a expert of any kind announces a knowledge he has achieved considering his prior knowledge and the evidence he observes – for examples a weather specialist who observes the radars and other data and comes to a conclusion considering his own knowledge- is it will or be going to we should use? Afterall, should we consider his announcement a neutral informing or a prediction of any kind?
Ex: Eastern Berlin ___ stay dry and sunny over the weekend.
Hi aeposp,
The presenter could use "is going to" to show a strong sense of certainty. "Will" is also possible, to present the information as the speaker's belief.
In this example, there is another factor to consider: the conventions of the type of text. Aside from the speaker's own intentions and understanding of the information, the speaker is also producing a kind of text that has its own characteristics for content, language and organisation, which have been established through many other texts produced previously. In my experience, weather presenters mostly use "will", and the speaker may also decide to follow this convention. This is true for not just weather forecasts but newspaper articles, academic articles and any other kind of text.
If you are interested in a particular type of text, it might be interesting for you to take some examples of it and see whether they use "will", "going to" or both, and in which circumstances.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team