1. Future Tense
Forms

2. Introduction
In English, there are many ways of talking about events in the future. Many students find it difficult to decide which form to use in a particular situation.

3. Basic meanings of the forms
Most students know that “will” and “going to” are used to talk about future time in English. However, we also use the present progressive (“be” + ING) and the present simple tense. Here are the basic rules.

4. Form Meaning / Usage Example “Will” “Going to” Present Continuous
volunteering to do something deciding at the time of speaking to do something
Angelo: I need a pencil. Sarah: I'll lend you mine.
“Going to”
talking about something that is already decided
Angelo: Have you registered for the class yet? Sarah: Not yet. I'm going to register tomorrow.
Present Continuous
talking about something that is already arranged
Angelo: Do you want to go to the movies tonight? Sarah: Sorry, I can't. I'm playing soccer.
Present simple
talking about a schedule, timetable or program
Angelo: What time does the next bus
leave? Sarah: It leaves at six.

5. Predicting the future
When you are predicting what you think will happen in the future, you should choose the form based on how certain you are. If you're not too sure, it's fine to use “will”, but if you're nearly certain about something, it's best to use “going to”.
I think it will rain (I'm not sure, but it looks like it might.) It's going to rain (I'm sure it's going to rain — I can see black clouds in the sky.)

6. Exercises
Masako: What time does the History class start tomorrow? Chris: __________ at two-thirty.
It is going to start
It will start
It starts

7. Exercises
2. Masako: There's no milk in the fridge. Chris: Really? __________ some tomorrow.
I’m going to get
I’m getting
I’ll get

8. Exercises
3. Masako: Have you decided what to do about your broken washing machine? Chris: Yes. __________ tomorrow.
I’ll have it fixed
I’m going to have it fixed
I have it fixed

9. Exercises
4. Masako: Are you free for lunch tomorrow? Chris: Sorry! __________ tennis with Yong Soo.
I’m playing
I’ll play
I play

10. Exercises
5. Masako: Have you ever been to Paris? Chris: No, but __________ next year with my parents.
I’m going
I go
I’ll go

11. Exercises
6. Masako: Has Sue made up her mind about university yet? Chris: Yes — I spoke to her last night. __________ to Calgary.
She’s going to go
She will go
She goes

12. Exercises
7. Masako: What time should we go to the airport? Chris: The plane __________ in half an hour. I think we should leave now.
Will land
Lands

13. Exercises
8. Masako: How many books did you buy? Chris: I don't know. __________ them.
I’m going to count
I count
I’ll count
I’m counting

14. Exercises
9. Masako: Joe borrowed your car. Chris: WHAT? __________ him. I need it!
I’ll kill him
I’m killing him
I kill

15. Exercises
10. Masako: It's starting to rain. Chris: Don't worry. __________ you my umbrella.
I’ll lend
I lend
I’m lending