The Future Tense With Will and Going to

The future in English can be rather confusing. There are two future forms used in most conversations: the future with will and the future with going to. The main difference between the two forms is that going to is used for plans and intentions made before the moment of speaking, and the will to speak about the future at the moment of speaking. Study these basic forms and then use the referenced resources to practice these forms. Teachers can print out these materials for use in-class, or find help with how to teach future forms, as well as the lesson plans suggested below. The Future With Will There are two basic future tenses used to describe things that happen in the future. Besides these two there are some other future tenses which can be started on the advanced future tenses page. The first future tense is the future with will. Use the future with will to talk about an event in the future that you have just decided to do, for predictions and for promises. Examples: I think Ill go to that party next week.The economy will get better soon.Yes, I will marry you. Future With Will Structure: Positive:  Subject will verb (I, You, He, She, We, They) will come to the party. Negative:  Subject will not (wont) verb (I, You, He, She, We, They) wont have time tomorrow. Questions:  Question word will subject verb What will (he, she, you, we) they do? The Future With Going To The future with going to is used to express events you have already planned in the future and your intentions for the future. We sometimes also use the present continuous for planned events in the near future. Examples: Shes going to attend university and study to become a doctor.Were going to make the presentation next week. Future With Going to Structure: Positive:  Subject to be going to verb I am going to attend the meeting.(He, She) is going to attend the meeting.(You, We, They) are going to attend the meeting. Negative:  Subject to be not going to verb Im not going to visit Rome next year.(He, She) isnt going to visit Rome next year.(You, We, They) arent going to visit Rome next year. Questions:  Ã‚  (Question word) to be subject going to verb Where am I going to stay?Where is (she, he) going to stay?Where are (you, we, they) going to stay? Additional Future Tense Resources Here is an in depth guide to  both the future with will and with going to.Take the  Future Forms Quiz for Advanced LearnersResource for ESL Teachers. This intermediate lesson focuses solely on the future with will and going to and  includes a step by step guide through the lesson and handouts to use in class. Activities With the Future With Will and Going to Some activities that will help you practice: Planning a Party - Dialogue concentrating on the future with will and going to.The Meeting - Dialogue with schedules, future plansThe Oregon Weather Forecast - Dialogue with the use of the future with will for predictions, weather vocabularyEnglish Tenses Timeline Chart - study how the future forms with will and going to relate to other tenses on a timeline.