Future Forms — Will, Be Going To & Present Continuous

Target Structures:

Will / Be going to / Present continuous (for future meaning)

Goal:

Use the correct future form depending on intention, plan, or prediction.

1. Warm-Up (3 min)

🗣️ Questions:

1. What are your plans for the weekend?

2. Do you think you’ll travel this year?

3. What are you going to do after this lesson?

💬 Sample Answers:

I’m meeting my friends tomorrow.
I think I’ll stay at home this weekend.
I’m going to cook dinner after this class.

🎯 Focus: natural use of different future forms in context.

2. Presentation (8 min)

A. “Will” → decisions, offers, promises, predictions

✅ Form:

I will / I’ll + base verb

✅ Use:

1. Decisions made at the moment of speaking

   I’m thirsty. I’ll get some water.

2. Offers and promises

   I’ll help you with your homework.
   I won’t tell anyone.

3. Predictions (with think, hope, probably, etc.)

   I think it’ll rain tomorrow.

B. “Be going to” → intentions and plans decided before speaking

✅ Form:

am / is / are + going to + base verb

✅ Use:

1. Intention (already decided)

   I’m going to start exercising next week.

2. Prediction (based on evidence)

   Look at those clouds! It’s going to rain.

C. “Present Continuous” → fixed future arrangements

✅ Form:

am / is / are + verb-ing

✅ Use:

1. Planned or arranged events (with other people, time & place fixed)

   I’m meeting my boss at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
   We’re flying to Paris on Friday.

D. Quick Summary Table

Future FormUseExampleWilldecision now, offer, promise, opinion-based predictionI’ll call you later.Be going topre-decided plan, evidence-based predictionShe’s going to study medicine.Present continuousdefinite arrangementI’m having dinner with my parents tonight.

3. Controlled Practice (6 min)

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets: will, be going to, or present continuous.

1. I think it ______ (rain) later.

2. Look at that car! It ______ (crash).

3. We ______ (meet) the new teacher at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

4. I’m tired. I ______ (go) to bed now.

5. She ______ (study) medicine next year. She’s already applied.

6. Don’t worry. I ______ (help) you.

7. They ______ (get) married next month. The invitations are ready.

8. Oh no! I forgot my wallet — I ______ (pay) you back tomorrow.

✅ Answer Key & Explanations

1. will rain → prediction (no evidence).

2. is going to crash → prediction based on evidence (the car).

3. are meeting → fixed arrangement (time given).

4. ’ll go → decision made now.

5. is going to study → plan/intention already decided.

6. ’ll help → spontaneous offer.

7. are getting → definite arrangement with time.

8. ’ll pay → promise.

🧠 Tip:

• “Will” = decision now or opinion.

• “Going to” = decided before now.

• Present continuous = arranged with someone.

4. Interactive Practice (5 min)

🗣️ Complete each sentence with your own idea:

1. I think I ______ in 10 years.

2. I’m going to ______ this weekend.

3. I’m ______ (arranged plan) next Friday.

4. I’ll probably ______ tomorrow.

5. It looks like it’s going to ______.

💬 Example:

I think I’ll live abroad in 10 years.
I’m going to watch a movie this weekend.
I’m meeting my cousin next Friday.

🎯 Focus: natural production of all three forms with personal relevance.

5. Free Practice (4 min) — Engaging Discussion Questions

Discuss and answer using will, be going to, or present continuous naturally.

1. What new skill are you going to learn this year?

2. Who are you meeting or seeing next week?

3. Do you think people will still use cash in 10 years? Why or why not?

4. What are you going to do if you suddenly win the lottery?

5. What’s something you will never do in the future?

6. What event are you looking forward to and when are you doing it?

7. Do you think your country will have more electric cars soon?

🎯 Focus: express personal opinions, evidence-based predictions, and planned actions with accurate forms.

6. Extra Discussion (3–4 min)

Conversation Questions:

1. Do you think robots will replace many jobs?

2. What are you going to do next summer?

3. Who are you meeting this week?

4. Do you think you will still live in the same place in 10 years?

5. What’s something you’re definitely not going to do in the future?

🎯 Encourage justification using real experiences and opinions.

7. Wrap-Up & Review (2 min)

🎯 Quick Recap:

FormWhen we use itExampleWillspontaneous, offer, opinion predictionI’ll open the door.Be going tointention, evidence predictionIt’s going to rain.Present continuousfixed planI’m seeing the doctor tomorrow.

💬 Mini Challenge:
Tell me:

• One thing you’ve planned (use be going to)

• One arrangement (use present continuous)

• One prediction (use will)