Future FormsA1–B1

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Plans, arrangements, decisions, offers and predictions with going to, the present continuous, will and the present simple. A plan made before speaking takes going to, a decision made while speaking takes will: I'm going to visit Ana. I'll open the door.

No information at the current level. This view starts at A1: choose A1 or a higher level.

CheatsheetA1–B1

Point	Rule	Example
am / is / are going to + V	plans and intentions; predictions with evidence	We're going to visit Granada. / Look at those clouds. It's going to rain.
am / is / are + V-ing	present continuous: a fixed arrangement, with a future time	I'm seeing the dentist on Friday.
A2will / 'll / won't + V	decisions now, offers, promises, opinions (I think)	It's cold. I'll close the window. / I think she'll win.
A2V / V-s	present simple: timetables	The train leaves at 6:15.
B1Prediction	opinion or guess (I think): will; evidence now: going to	I think it'll be a good year. / Watch out! You're going to fall.
B1Arrangement or intention	fixed arrangement: present continuous; intention: going to	I'm meeting Sam at 8. / I'm going to learn Italian.
Trap	plans take going to	I'm going to buy a car tomorrow.
A2Trap	will makes questions by itself	Will you come?

Form: be going toA1

Form	Structure	Example
Affirmative	am / is / are + going to + V	She is going to study.
Negative	am / is / are + not + going to + V	We aren't going to wait.
Question	Am / Is / Are + subject + going to + V?	Are you going to cook?

going to stays the same for every person; only be changes.
After to the verb is in the base form: I'm going to eat.

Form: willA2

Form	Structure	Example
Affirmative	will / 'll + V	I'll help you.
Negative	will not / won't + V	He won't come.
Question	Will + subject + V?	Will you call me?
Short answer	Yes, I will. / No, I won't.	Will she come? — Yes, she will.

will is the same for every person and takes the base verb: she will go.
Speech uses 'll (I'll, she'll) and won't.

Pronunciation: gonna and 'llA1–A2

Written	Sound	Example
going to	/ˈɡəʊɪŋ tə/ → informal /ˈɡɒnə/	I'm going to call him.
A2'll	/əl/ after a consonant, /l/ after a vowel	She'll call you.
A2won't	/wəʊnt/	It won't rain.

gonna is informal speech; writing and exams use going to.

UseA1–A2

Use	Example
going to: plans and intentions	We're going to visit Granada.
going to: prediction with evidence	Look at those clouds. It's going to rain.
present continuous: fixed arrangements	I'm seeing the dentist on Friday.
A2will: decision at the moment of speaking	It's cold. I'll close the window.
A2will: offers	I'll carry your bag.
A2will: promises	I won't tell anyone.
A2will: opinions and predictions (I think)	I think she'll win.
A2present simple: timetables	The train leaves at 6:15.

The present continuous needs a future time and a plan with a fixed person or place.
See Present continuous and Present simple.

Signal wordsA1–A2

Expression	Example
tomorrow / tonight	We're going to cook tonight.
next week / month / year	I'm travelling next week.
on Friday / at the weekend	She's leaving on Friday.
A2in two days / in a minute	I'll call you in a minute.
A2soon / later	He'll be here soon.
A2I think / probably	It'll probably rain.

probably goes after will and before won't: It will probably rain. / It probably won't rain.

Compare: will and going toA2–B1

will	going to
decision made now	plan made before
The phone is ringing. I'll answer it.	I'm going to call Tom tonight. I decided yesterday.
B1opinion or guess (I think)	evidence now
B1I think it'll be a good year.	Watch out! You're going to fall.

A fixed arrangement takes the present continuous; an intention takes going to: I'm meeting Sam at 8. / I'm going to learn Italian.

Typical errorsA1–A2

✗	✓	Rule
I buy a car tomorrow.	I'm going to buy a car tomorrow.	plans take going to
I'm going to to travel.	I'm going to travel.	going to + base verb
She is going to goes.	She is going to go.	going to + base verb
A2He will goes.	He will go.	will + base verb
A2Do you will come?	Will you come?	will makes questions by itself