Future plans

Grammar | B1

Talking about future plans in English

Talking about the future in English is difficult. We don’t have a future tense, but use a variety of different structures to talk about the future in different ways.

These structures include the future forms will, going to and present continuous.

This is challenging for students – you have to be careful to choose the correct form for a specific context.

Will, going to and present continuous can all be used to talk about future plans and future, but with a difference in meaning.

This exercise contains 4 micro-dictations in which people use will, going to, and present continuous to talk about future plans. See how much you can understand, fill in the gaps, and then read the explanation for why a specific future form is used.

Feel free to ask any questions if you are unsure about anything. Good luck!

Introduction

Imagine you’re at work and it’s about 12.30. One of your colleagues comes up to you and asks you the following question:

“I’m going to the cafe for lunch. Do you want anything?”

Now listen to three possible answers to this question. Each answer uses a different future form, and communicates a different kind of future plan.

Going to + verb

Accent: Scotland

Will + verb

Present continuous

Will, going to and present continuous

Accent: Northern England

Now listen to this final sentence – it contains all three future forms. Can you explain why she uses each one?

Summary

When you’re describing future plans in English, remember the following rules:

Use going to + verb to describe a future plan or intention.

e.g. I’m going to play tennis on Saturday = I’m planning on playing tennis on Saturday.

Use will + verb to describe a spontaneous decision about the future.

e.g. There aren’t any tennis courts available. Oh well, I’ll go to the cinema instead.

Use present continuous to describe a future arrangement – something that is fixed in some way.

e.g. I’m playing tennis with Mike at 3pm on Saturday afternoon – I reserved the court last week.

Any questions? Feel free to ask!