Future Tenses

FUTURE TIME

Will + infinitive

Be going to + infinitive

A decision at the moment of
speaking:
Julie: There’s no milk.
John: Really? In that case, I’ll go
and get some.

A decisionbefore the moment of speaking:
Julie: There’s no milk.
John: I know. I’m going to go and get some when this TV
programme finishes.

A prediction based on opinion:
I think the Conservatives will winthe next election.

A prediction based on something we can see (or hear)
now:
The Conservatives are going to win the election. They
already have most of the votes.

A future fact:
The sun willrise tomorrow.
For promises / requests / refusals /
offers:
I’ll help you tomorrow, if you like.

Other points about the future:
-We use the present continuous tense for definite futurearrangements. Often, it doesn't
really matter if we choose 'be going to' or the present continuous. In the following example,
there is really very little difference in meaning:
•
•

I'm going to thecinema tonight.
I'm going to go to the cinema tonight.

-We use the present simple tense in two cases. First, we use it for a timetabled event in the
future, like public transport or the start of aclass:
•
•

My train leaves at six tonight.
His class starts at 9am tomorrow.

Second, we use it after certain words, when the sentence has a future meaning. These words
are: before / after /as soon as / until / when:
•
•
•

I'll call you when I get home.
She's going to study after she finishes dinner.
Please drink some water as soon as you complete the race.

-We use the futurecontinuous for:
1. A continuous action in the future which is interrupted by a time or by another
action.
I’ll be waiting when you arrive.
At eight o’clock, I’ll be eating dinner.
(see the pastcontinuous which is used in a similar way)
2. A complete action in the future that will happen in the normal course of events.
The Government will be making a statement later.
Because this talks...