The future — will and be going to · El futuro — will y be going to
Talking about the future
- English has a few ways to talk about the future.
- The two main ones at A2 are will and be going to.
- They overlap, but each has a "favourite" job.
I am going to study tonight; my phone has other plans.
Hablando del futuro
- El inglés tiene varias formas de hablar del futuro.
- Las dos principales en el nivel A2 son will y be going to.
- Se solapan, pero cada una tiene su función preferente.
Voy a estudiar esta noche; mi teléfono tiene otros planes.
will — decide now, predict, promise
- will + base verb (same for everyone; won't = will not).
- On-the-spot decision: The phone's ringing — I'll get it.
- Prediction or promise: It will rain tomorrow. I won't be late.
will — decisión inmediata, predicción, promesa
- will + verbo base (igual para todos; won't = will not).
- Decisión sobre la marcha: Suena el teléfono — lo contesto.
- Predicción o promesa: Lloverá mañana. No llegaré tarde.
be going to — plans & evidence
- am / is / are + going to + base verb.
- A plan you already have: We're going to visit grandma.
- A prediction from what you can see: Look at the clouds — it's going to rain.
be going to — planes y evidencias
- am / is / are + going to + verbo base.
- Un plan que ya tienes: Vamos a visitar a la abuela.
- Una predicción basada en lo que ves: Mira las nubes — va a llover.
The phone is ringing. Which is best? — “___ get it.” · El teléfono está sonando. ¿Cuál es la mejor opción? — “___ get it.”
A decision made right now → use will: “I'll get it.” · Una decisión tomada en este momento → usar will: “I'll get it.”
Complete the plan: We are ___ to visit grandma. (going / go) · Completa el plan: We are ___ to visit grandma. (going / go)
Plans use be going to: “We are going to visit grandma.” · Los planes usan be going to: “We are going to visit grandma.”
Translate into English: 明天会下雨。 · Traduce al inglés: 明天会下雨。
A prediction → will or going to: “It will rain tomorrow.” · Una predicción → will o going to: “It will rain tomorrow.”
will or going to?
- Decided just now → will: I'll help you.
- Planned earlier → going to: I'm going to study tonight.
- Both can predict; going to leans on present evidence.
will o going to?
- Decidido justo ahora → will: Te ayudo.
- Planificado antes → going to: Voy a estudiar esta noche.
- Ambos pueden usarse para predecir; going to se apoya más en la evidencia actual.
will or going to? · ¿will o going to?
'will' for a decision made now or a prediction; 'going to' for a plan you already have. · 'will' para una decisión tomada ahora o una predicción; 'going to' para un plan que ya tienes.
Is this correct? “I will to call you tonight.” · ¿Es esto correcto? “I will to call you tonight.”
After will, use the base verb (no “to”): “I will call you tonight.” · Después de will, usa el verbo base (sin “to”): “I will call you tonight.”
Common mistakes
- ❌ I go to Shanghai tomorrow. → ✓ I am going to Shanghai tomorrow. — English must mark the future.
- ❌ We will going to visit grandma. → ✓ We are going to visit… / We will visit… — pick one.
- ❌ She will comes. → ✓ She will come. — after will, the base form.
Errores comunes
- ❌ I go to Shanghai tomorrow. → ✓ I am going to Shanghai tomorrow. — En inglés hay que marcar el futuro.
- ❌ We will going to visit grandma. → ✓ We are going to visit… / We will visit… — elige una opción.
- ❌ She will comes. → ✓ She will come. — después de will, la forma base del verbo.
You decide at this moment to help: “I ___ carry your bag.” · Tú decides en este momento ayudar: “I ___ carry your bag.”
A decision made right now → will. · Una decisión tomada en este momento → will.
“The train leaves at 9 tomorrow.” — can the present simple talk about a timetable? · “The train leaves at 9 tomorrow.” — ¿puede el presente simple hablar sobre un horario?
Yes — timetables (trains, flights, lessons) use the present simple, even for the future. · Sí — los horarios (trenes, vuelos, clases) usan el presente simple, incluso para el futuro.
- will + base verb = decisions, predictions, promises.
- be going to + base verb = plans and evidence-based predictions.
- Spontaneous → will; pre-planned → going to.
- will + verbo base = decisiones, predicciones, promesas.
- be going to + verbo base = planes y predicciones basadas en evidencias.
- Espontáneo → will; preplanificado → going to.
Write one sentence about a plan you have for this weekend. Use “be going to”. · Escribe una oración sobre un plan que tengas para este fin de semana. Usa “be going to”.
Example: “I am going to visit my cousin on Saturday.” · Ejemplo: “I am going to visit my cousin on Saturday.”