IELTS Grammar | Unit 5: Future Tenses 1 | Plans, Intentions and Predictions: Present Continous: Going to and Will

In this lesson, we are going to learn about the future tenses 1 which talk about plans, intentions and predictions, presen continuous: Going to and Will.

If you want to read other IELTS grammar points, you can also visit IELTS Grammar section for more.

Before getting into grammar points, we start with some warm-up activities

A. Context Listening

1. You are going to hear Tim, a sports team coach, talking to Amanda, a player in the team, about a trip they are going to make. Before you listen look at the pictures. Which sport does the team play? Which two countries will they visit?

2. Listen and complete the table below. Write no more than two words or a number for each answer.

3. Now listen again and write

A if Tim makes this statement
B if Amanda makes this statement
C if both Tim and Amanda make this statement

1 We’re travelling to Scotland by plane. ……………….
2 We’ll have fun even if the weather is bad. ……………….
3 The team will be pleased with the accommodation in Athens. ……………….
4 The two countries are going to provide very different experiences. 5 The team manager is holding a party on our return. ……………….

4. Look at the statements in Exercise 3 and answer these questions.

1 Which tense is used in statements 1 and 5?.
2 Which structure is used in statements 2 and 3 to refer to the future?
3 Which structure is used in statement 4 to refer to the future?
4 Which statements talk about a fixed arrangement?
5 Which statements are predictions?

B. Gammar

1. Present continuous

We use the present continuous to talk about plans or definite arrangements for the future: We’re staying in a small hotel. (we have made the arrangements)

Notice that time expressions are used or understood from the context in order to show that we are talking about the future (and not the present):
The manager is having a party just after we get back. (time expression given)
We’re playing four matches there. (future time expression understood)

2. Will

We use will

+ to make predictions, usually based on our opinions or our past experience:
I think it’ll be extremely hot there.

+ to talk about future events we haven’t arranged yet:
We’ll probably stay in some sort of mountain lodge there.

+ to talk about future events or facts that are not personal:
The best player on the tour will get a special trophy.
The prime minister will open the debate in parliament tomorrow.

+ to talk about something we decide to do at the time of speaking:
Tell me all about it and I’ll pass on the information to the rest of the team.

We often use will to make offers, promises or suggestions:
Don’t worry, I’ll let everyone know. (a promise)

3. Going to

Going to often means the same as the present continuous and will.
We use going to

+ to talk about events in the future we have already thought about and intend to do:
We’re going to hire a bus. (we intend to go, but we haven’t made the arrangements yet)
We’re going to get a boat to a couple of the islands.

+ to make predictions when there is present evidence:
Well, we’re certainly going to have a varied trip. (I am judging this from what I know about the plans)

Going to and will can follow words like think, doubt, expect, believe, probably, certainly, definitely, be sure to show that it is an opinion about the future:
I think it’s going to be a great trip.
I’m sure we’ll enjoy it whatever the weather.
It’ll probably rain every day.

We can often choose different future forms to talk about the same future situation. It depends on the speaker’s ideas about the situation:

Often there is very little difference between going to and will for predictions.

Grammar extra: Making predictions using words other than will

In formal writing we often use expressions other than will to predict the future (e.g. be likely to, be predicted to, be estimated to, be certain to):
The population is likely to increase to 22 million in 2011.
The average annual rainfall is predicted to be ten per cent lower than today’s figures.