FUTURE: PRESENT SIMPLE, PRESENT CONTINUOUS, WILL & BE GOING TO

Future simple (will)

1. We use 'will' to talk about things which will possibly happen. We often combine it with
expressions such as think, suppose, hope, believe, probably, maybe...

I suppose I will start next week.

Marion hopes that she will pass the entrance exam.
We won't probably accept your offer.

2. We use it to express our decisions made at the moment of speaking.

What can I do? Well, I'll ask my dad.

Which blouse do you like more, madam? - The blue one. I'll take it.

Going to

1. We use this form to express our intentions or decisions made before the moment of speaking.

Mum, where is dad? I am going to ask him for help.

Why do you need my credit card? - Because I am going to buy a new blouse.

2. We use it when we want to say that something is certain to happen because we can see some
clear evidence.

Oh, no! We are going to lose the match. It's 5:0.

Look at Samantha. She's going to have a baby.

Present continuous

It is used to talk about personal future arrangements.

I am seeing the dentist at 3 o'clock tomorrow.

We are coming back from holiday on Sunday.

Present simple

It is used to talk about timetables and scheduled events.

The exhibition starts on 10 May.

Sir, your express train departs from platform six at 11.15.
1) Hannah, you must take an umbrella. It ________________________________ (rain).

2) Attention, please! On your marks. The next race_________________________ (start) at

9.30.

3) I __________________________ (go) to the cinema with Sarah, my classmate, tonight.

We already have tickets.

4) Paul can give the book to Marion. He ____________________________ (see) her in the
leisure center in the afternoon.

5) The flight number BA 308 from London to Los Angeles _______________________

(leave) at 11.15.

6) We have no plans for the summer. Perhaps we _____________________________(stay)

at home all the time.

7) I'm sorry, I can't eat anything today. I _______________________________(have) an

appointment at the hospital tomorrow.

8) Fasten your seatbelts, please. The plane _______________________________(land) in

five minutes.

9) I can't wait till tomorrow. We __________________________ (fly) to Madrid to visit the

Prado Museum.

10) Madam, wait a minute. I _____________________________ (hel) you with the luggage.
It's too heavy.

11) Do you know that they _______________________________ (open) another

supermarket in our town on 1 September?

12) Have you heard the news? Our boss ______________________________ (promote)
Irene to a group manager next month.

13) I'm sorry. We can't come at 10 o'clock. We ______________________________ (meet)

a veterinary doctor because of our cat.

14) I don't know what to do. I think I __________________________ (send) a message to

Marion before I talk to her.