Future forms: "will", "be going to" and present continuous

Do you know how to talk about future plans using will, going to and the present continuous?

Look at these examples to see how will, going to and the present continuous are used.

• Oh great! That meeting after work's been cancelled. I'll go to that yoga class instead.

• I'm going to try to visit my relatives in Australia this year.

• The restaurant is reserved for 8. We're having a drink at Beale's first.

Explanation

We use different verb forms to talk about future plans depending on the type of plan: a spontaneous decision, a pre-arranged plan, or a confirmed arrangement.

will

We use will to talk about spontaneous plans decided at the moment of speaking.

• Oops, I forgot to phone Mum! I'll do it after dinner.

• I can't decide what to wear tonight. I know! I'll wear my green shirt.

• There's no milk. I'll buy some when I go to the shops.

going to

We use going to to talk about plans decided before the moment of speaking.

• I'm going to phone Mum after dinner. I told her I'd call at 8 o'clock.

• I'm going to wear my black dress tonight.

• I'm going to go to the supermarket after work. What do we need?

Present continuous

We usually use the present continuous when the plan is an arrangement – already confirmed with at least one other person and we know the time and place.

• I'm meeting Jane at 8 o'clock on Saturday.

• We're having a party next Saturday. Would you like to come?

We often use the present continuous to ask about people's future plans.

• Are you doing anything interesting this weekend?