Future forms

Future forms

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Decisions, plans and arrangements

Difference between be going to and the present continuous

Offers, promises and suggestions

Predictions

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Decisions, plans and arrangements

We use will to make a spontaneous decision (= a decision while we are speaking): OK, I'll come for a run with you. We use be going to to talk about future intentions or plans (= decisions we made earlier): We're not going to stay at that hotel again. We use the present continuous to talk about arrangements (= fixed plans, usually involving other people and specific times and places): She's travelling to Central America on Sunday.

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Difference between be going to and the present continuous

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There is not a big difference in meaning between be going to and the present continuous to talk about future plans/arrangements. Often both are possible: I'm visiting/I'm going to visit my sister this weekend.

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Offers, promises and suggestions

We use will to make offers and promises: I'll help you, if you like. I'll always be here when you need me. We use can+l/we in questions to make offers and shall+I/we to make suggestions. A Can I carry that for you? B Oh, yes, please. A Shall we go swimming on Saturday? B That's a good idea.

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Predictions

We use will to make predictions based on our opinions: I'm sure you'll learn a lot when you go travelling. Don't put that there! It'll fall off. We use be going to to make predictions based on concrete facts (= things that we can see or information that we have read): We should leave soon. The roads are going to be busy. It's not going to rain. There isn't a cloud in the sky.

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In negative sentences, say I don't think + will. I don't think the forest will recover. NOT I think the forest won't recover.

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