Future Plans

Future Plans

We use different verb forms to talk about our plans for the future – depending on what kind of plan it is.

1.   Will à We use will to talk about plans decided at the moment of speaking.

·         I forgot to phone my mum. I’ll do it after dinner. He decides to phone his mum when she

·         is speaking – she didn’t have a plan.I can’t decide what to wear tonight. I know. I’ll wear my black dress.

·         There’s no milk in the fridge. I’ll buy some when I go to the shops.

2.   going to à We use going to to talk about plans decided before the moment of speaking.

·         I’m going to phone my mum after dinner. I told her I’d call at 8 o’clock. He decided to phone his mum before he speaks – he already had a plan.

·         I’m going to wear my black dress tonight. I need to pick it up from the cleaners.

·         I know there’s no milk. I’m going to get some. It’s on my shopping list.

3.   present continuous à We can also use the present continuous to talk about future plans. We usually use it when the plan is an ‘arrangement’ – more than one person is involved 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?

·        Are you doing anything interesting this weekend? We often use the present continuous to ask about people’s future plans.