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? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

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.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar test 1: Future plans: Grammar test 1

Grammar explanation

We use different verb forms to talk about our plans for the future, depending on what kind of plan it is: a spontaneous plan, a pre-decided plan or an 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?

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar test 2: Future plans: Grammar test 2

Try another grammar lesson

Language level

B1 - Intermediate

Hello,
Could you explain the difference between using the present continuous and be going to in the sentence below to me?
I’m moving / going to move house next week.

Hello Khangvo2812,

Both forms are grammatically correct. The difference is really about how the person sees the situation. Going to implies an intention - a plan in the person's head which could still change. The present continuous implies that the situation is seen as already arranged and is not going to change.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello Team,
Could you please help me with following sentence

1. _______ Anna and Steve _____________ to the party this Sunday? (come)
Wich option is better
a) Will Anna and Steve come to the party this Sunday?
b) Are Anna and Steve coming to the party this Sunday?

Hello .Mariia,

Both forms are possible. The first (with 'will') is asking for a guess or a belief. The second (with 'are coming') is asking about an arrangement (something you have arranged with Anna and Steve such as invitations and so on). In the context of the party the second (b) is more likely, I would say.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Could you check this sentence for me please?
Will you work domestically or abroad after graduation?

Hi Khangvo2812,

Grammatically, the sentence is fine! Did you have a question about any specific part of it?

Jonathan

LearnEnglish team

I was wondering whether there was a different in meaning between using will and present continuous in that context.

Hi Khangvo2812,

Possibly, yes! The present continuous shows an already-planned or already-organised future activity. So, if you use the present continuous for this question (Are you working domestically or abroad after graduation?), you are assuming that the other person has already made some plans. As you can see, this is quite a specific meaning. On the other hand, will can refer to the future more generally. It doesn't assume that the other person has already organised what to do after graduation.