FUTURE SIMPLE with WILL: will is a modal verb!
AFF: I will help you.
NEG: I won’t help you.
INT: Will you help me?
It’s used for…
- refusing (i.e.«I won’t help you!»)
- spontaneous decision to help someone else
- predictions with no evidence (we commonly use opinion phrases such as I think, I’m sure, I’m not sure, I believe, Maybe, Probably, Perhaps, It’s likely, I bet, I don’t know, I guess, In my opinion, etc.)
- promises
- next meeting (i.e. «I’ll see you»)
BE + GOING TO + VERB: used mainly for plans or ideas
AFF: I’m going to travel.
NEG: I’m not going to travel.
INT: Are you going to travel?
It’s used for…
- future plans
- predictions with visual evidence
- spontaneous decisions for our own personal needs
EXERCISES: WILL or GOING TO?
The PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE: only used in FUTURE ARRANGED PLANS
AFF: I’m traveling tomorrow (viajo mañana)
NEG: I’m not traveling tomorrow (no viajo mañana)
INT: Are you traveling tomorrow? (viajas mañana?)
EXERCISES:
GOING TO or Present Continuous?
WILL, GOING TO or Present Continuous?
SIMPLE PRESENT: rarely used in future, only for timetables (means of transport, classes, meetings, etc) or specific verbs such as «start«, «finish«, etc
AFF: The train leaves tomorrow at 9am
NEG: The train doesn’t leave tomorrow at 9am
INT: Does the train leave tomorrow at 9am?
EXERCISES: ALL FUTURE TENSES MIXED – WILL, GOING TO, Present Continuous or Simple Present?
