GOING+TO+FUTURE+PLANS

=media type="custom" key="24202390"= = = =Simple Future=

Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.

FORM Will
[will + verb] Examples:
 * You **will help** him later.
 * **Will** you **help** him later?
 * You **will not help** him later.

FORM Be Going To
[am/is/are + going to + verb] Examples: [|Complete List of Simple Future Forms]
 * You **are going to meet** Jane tonight.
 * **Are** you **going to meet** Jane tonight?
 * You **are not going to meet** Jane tonight.

USE 1 "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action
"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often, we use "will" to respond to someone else's complaint or request for help. We also use "will" when we request that someone help us or volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily do something. Examples: > B: I**'ll make** some sandwiches. > B: I**'ll get** you some coffee. > B: I**'ll get** it.
 * I **will send** you the information when I get it.
 * I **will translate** the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.
 * **Will** you **help** me move this heavy table?
 * **Will** you **make** dinner?
 * I **will not do** your homework for you.
 * I **won't do** all the housework myself!
 * A: I'm really hungry.
 * A: I'm so tired. I'm about to fall asleep.
 * A: The phone is ringing.

USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise
"Will" is usually used in promises. Examples:
 * I **will call** you when I arrive.
 * If I am elected President of the United States, I **will make** sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.
 * I promise I **will not tell** him about the surprise party.
 * Don't worry, I**'ll be** careful.
 * I **won't tell** anyone your secret.

USE 3 "Be going to" to Express a Plan
"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future. It does not matter whether the plan is realistic or not. Examples: > B: We **are going to meet** at 6 PM. > B: Sue **is going to make** John's birthday cake.
 * He **is going to spend** his vacation in Hawaii.
 * She **is not going to spend** her vacation in Hawaii.
 * A: When **are** we **going to meet** each other tonight?
 * I**'m going to be** an actor when I grow up.
 * Michelle **is going to begin** medical school next year.
 * They **are going to drive** all the way to Alaska.
 * Who **are** you **going to invite** to the party?
 * A: Who **is going to make** John's birthday cake?

USE 4 "Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction
Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions are guesses about what might happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the following examples, there is no difference in meaning. Examples:
 * The year 2222 **will be** a very interesting year.
 * The year 2222 **is going to be** a very interesting year.
 * John Smith **will be** the next President.
 * John Smith **is going to be** the next President.
 * The movie "Zenith" **will win** several Academy Awards.
 * The movie "Zenith" **is going to win** several Academy Awards.

IMPORTANT
In the Simple Future, it is not always clear which USE the speaker has in mind. Often, there is more than one way to interpret a sentence's meaning.

No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Simple Future, [|Simple Present] is used. Examples:
 * When you **will arrive** tonight, we will go out for dinner. //Not Correct//
 * When you **arrive** tonight, we will go out for dinner. //Correct//

ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc. Examples:
 * You will **never** help him.
 * Will you **ever** help him?
 * You are **never** going to meet Jane.
 * Are you **ever** going to meet Jane?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples: [|More About Active / Passive Forms] =This has been taken from the Englishpage.com / [|English Page]=
 * John **will finish** the work by 5:00 PM. //Active//
 * The work **will be finished** by 5:00 PM. //Passive//
 * Sally **is going to make** a beautiful dinner tonight. //Active//
 * A beautiful dinner **is going to be made** by Sally tonight. //Passive//

EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS

 * [|Verb Tense Exercise 18] Will and Be Going to
 * [|Verb Tense Exercise 19] Will and Be Going to
 * [|Verb Tense Exercise 20] Will and Be Going to
 * [|Verb Tense Exercise 21] Simple Present and Simple Future
 * [|Verb Tense Exercise 22] Simple Present and Simple Future
 * [|Verb Tense Exercise 23] Simple Future and Future Continuous
 * [|Verb Tense Exercise 24] Simple Present, Simple Future, Present Continuous, and Future Continuous
 * [|Verb Tense Practice Test] Cumulative Verb Tense Review
 * [|Verb Tense Final Test] Cumulative Verb Tense Review