Talking about the future in English
14 concepts in English Grammar, in level order. Open one to read how it works and try practice items.
Elementary
- be going to — plans Talking about what you have decided to do.
- be going to — predictions Saying what you think will happen.
Pre-Intermediate
- be going to — plans and intentions Talking about decisions already made, with am, is, or are going to plus the infinitive.
- be going to — predictions from present evidence Predicting what will happen because of something you can already see.
- Choosing between present, past, and future verb forms Deciding which verb form a sentence needs from the time it refers to.
- might and might not for future possibility Saying that something is possible but not certain.
- Present continuous for future arrangements Using the present continuous with a future time expression for arrangements already fixed.
- when, as soon as, and until with the present simple for future time Using the present simple after time words even when the meaning is future.
- will and won't for offers, promises, and decisions Using will for instant decisions, offers, and promises, and Should I…? and Let's… for suggestions.
- will and won't for predictions Predicting the future and giving opinions about it with will and won't.
Intermediate
- Future forms — present continuous, be going to, will and won't Arrangements, intentions, and decisions made as you speak.
Intermediate Plus
- Future forms — will and be going to Offers, predictions, and plans.
Upper-Intermediate
- Future perfect and future continuous What will have happened, and what will be going on.
Advanced
- Expressing future plans and arrangements The full future repertoire, including future in the past.