Hello learners! We’re back with another guide on tenses, and this time it’s the future. Before we dive into today’s topic, I’ve got a quick question for you.
What are you doing this weekend?
Stop scrolling and think of your answer and phrase it in English. Chances are that the answer you have in your mind includes the word “will. ”
For example, is your answer something along the lines of,
The will + verb construction helps you talk about the future. While your sentence is grammatically correct, there is one huge problem – native speakers don’t really talk like that in their daily conversations.
In this post, we discuss four different ways to talk about the future – without using awkward constructions using will. By the time, you finish reading this post, you would be a step forward in your journey to speak English fluently. That’s not it. In this post, we won’t just focus on grammar rules. Instead, we’ll discuss real-life future situations and explain how you can talk about them using future tense.
Think about your answers for the following questions:
Generally, we use simple present tense to discuss future scheduled events. These are events that are already planned, and you cannot change the schedule. They are bound to happen.
Notice, how in each of these examples, even though we’re discussing a future event, we do not use “will. ” Instead, we use the simple present tense to discuss scheduled events in the future.
Next, think about these questions:
These questions focus on your plans for a future date. You might have made plans for these events ahead of time. For example, you might have purchased tickets to visit your home during the holidays. When discussing plans and arrangements, we generally use the present continuous tense. This includes using “going to + verb “ .
Remember that the present continuous tense also works for things that you’re doing right now. Let’s look at a few examples to understand this difference:
Now, let’s look at a question that focuses on the future:
Here are a few more examples where you use the present continuous tense to talk about future plans:
Previously, we discussed plans for the future. With a plan, you usually make arrangements and are sure that it’ll happen. An intention is when you want to do something but haven’t made any arrangements yet.
Here are a few examples:
Do you notice that when discussing an intention, we use “going to + infinitive” verb form. You use the same form when you make a prediction using evidence. Here are a few examples:
English fluency tip: Native speakers often connect the words “going + to. ” So, when they say these words, it sounds like “gonna. ”
Read these questions and consider how you’ll answer them:
It’s finally time to talk about the future using “will. ” When you predict something based on how you feel, think, or believe, you use the structure, “will + verb. ” Here are a few examples:
You can also use “will” to talk about factual future statements.
Similarly, you use “will” for immediate decisions. Here are a few examples:
The best way to improve your English is to practice and practice. Enroll in our online classes for fluent English to be a part of our learner’s group and improve your conversational skills. Gain the confidence to speak English fluently in professional and personal situations.
I’d love to be a part of your English learning journey and help you practice using these forms naturally and correctly. To get started, think of the best ways to answer these questions using the rules you learnt in this post:
Go through the post again to help you frame the answers to these questions. You can share your answers with me on my social network pages. I look forward to helping you improve your English fluency!
Keep learning!
Enter your Email ID below to get our insightful blogs into your inbox.
