We use will + infinitive (without to) or the contraction ‘ll + infinitive when we:
•Make a decision at the moment of speaking
👉 There’s no milk! I will go and get some
•Make a prediction based on an opinion
👉 I think it will rain tomorrow
•Talk about a future fact
👉 The sun will rise tomorrow
•Make promises / requests / refusals / offers
👉 I‘ll help you with your homework
We create negative sentences with will + not + infinitive or with the contraction won’t + infinitive
👉 I won’t go to the party next week
👉 She will not pass the exam
We create questions using the formula Will + subject + verb ?
👉 Will you help me?
👉 Will they come to the match?
Be going to
We use be going to + infinitive to talk about:
•Plans or intentions that we have before the moment of speaking
👉 I‘m going to go to the cinema tonight
•Predictions based on something we can see/hear now. We need some evidence
👉 The Conservatives are going to win the election. They already have most of the votes.
Negative sentences and questions follow the same structure as the present simple:
👉 I‘m not going to go to the cinema tonight
👉 Are the Conservatives going to win the election?
Present Continuous
We use the present continuous to talk about future plans when we have decided a time and a place with other people. We normally use a future time expression like tomorrow, next week, at 7, etc. It is very common with verbs of travelling, and when we are meeting people.
👉 I’m meeting Sally at 7 → I have talked to her and we have arranged to meet (He quedado)
👉 I’m flying to New York tomorrow morning → I have the ticket (Es seguro)
👉 What time are you seeing your mother tomorrow?
👉 What are you doing tomorrow night?
Present Simple
We use the present simple to talk about future events that are scheduled or timetabled or after certain words like when, until, after, before, as soon as
👉 The train leaves at 4 (horario)
👉 Shops close at 6 (horario)
👉 My yoga class is tomorrow at 10 (horario)
👉 I’ll call you when I get home (when…)
👉 I’ll do the dishes before I leave (before…)
Summary of use cases
Will
•Instant decisions
•Predictions (opinion)
•Future Facts
•Promises or offers
Be going to
•Plans and intentions
•Predictions (evidence)
Present Simple
•Timetables
Present Continuous
•Arrangements