Future Forms
English has several ways to talk about the future, each with its own nuance. This guide goes over the main forms so you can choose the right one for planning, prediction, intention, and quick decisions.
Will
Use will for spontaneous decisions, promises, offers, and predictions based on what you think. The form is simple: will + base verb.
Examples
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☀️ I’ll swim at sunrise tomorrow. | I will swim at sunrise tomorrow. |
| 🏖️ She’ll build a sandcastle later. | She will build a sandcastle later. |
| 🌅 They’ll sail home at sunset. | They will sail home at sunset. |
Turning Negative and Questions
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌧️ I won’t swim if it rains. | I will not swim if it rains. |
| ❌ She won’t go out in the storm. | She will not go out in the storm. |
| 🌩️ They won’t sail in high winds. | They will not sail in high winds. |
| ⛵ Will you sail at dawn? | Will you sail at dawn? |
| 🏄♀️ Will she surf tomorrow? | Will she surf tomorrow? |
| 🌊 Will they sail at sunset? | Will they sail at sunset? |
Short Forms
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Going to
Use going to for plans and for predictions when there is evidence. The structure is: subject + be + going to + base verb.
Examples
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🧭 We’re going to sail north tomorrow. | We are going to sail north tomorrow. |
| 🏄 I’m going to surf at first light. | I am going to surf at first light. |
| 🌊 She’s going to swim with the dolphins. | She is going to swim with the dolphins. |
Negative and Questions
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🚫 They aren’t going to sail tonight. | They are not going to sail tonight. |
| 🌧️ I’m not going to swim in the rain. | I am not going to swim in the rain. |
| ❓ Are you going to surf at dawn? | Are you going to surf at dawn? |
| 🌅 Is she going to sail at sunrise? | Is she going to sail at sunrise? |
| 🏊♂️ Are they going to swim offshore? | Are they going to swim offshore? |
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Present Continuous
Use the present continuous for definite arrangements, especially when time and place are set. Form it with: subject + be + verb-ing.
Examples
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🏄♂️ I’m surfing with friends tomorrow. | I am surfing with friends tomorrow. |
| ⛵ She’s sailing in the morning race. | She is sailing in the morning race. |
| 🌅 They’re swimming at sunrise. | They are swimming at sunrise. |
Negative and Questions
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🚫 I’m not surfing tomorrow. | I am not surfing tomorrow. |
| ❌ She’s not sailing at noon. | She is not sailing at noon. |
| ❓ Are they swimming at sunset? | Are they swimming at sunset? |
| 🏄♀️ Are you surfing in the morning? | Are you surfing in the morning? |
| ⛵ Is he sailing this afternoon? | Is he sailing this afternoon? |
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Simple Present
Use the simple present for scheduled events, like timetables and programs. This works well for things like flights, trains, and public events.
Examples
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌅 The tide rises at six. | The tide rises at six. |
| 🗺️ The race starts at sunrise. | The race starts at sunrise. |
| 🏊 The ferry leaves at seven o’clock. | The ferry leaves at seven o’clock. |
Negative and Questions
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🚫 The ferry doesn’t leave at six. | The ferry does not leave at six. |
| ❌ The race doesn’t start at noon. | The race does not start at noon. |
| ❓ Does the tide change at sunset? | Does the tide change at sunset? |
| 🕒 Does the ferry leave on time? | Does the ferry leave on time? |
| 🌊 Don’t the surfers start at dawn? | Don’t the surfers start at dawn? |
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Will vs. Going to
Will is better for quick decisions and offers, while going to suits planned actions and predictions with evidence. Context tells you which to use.
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Summary
English uses will, going to, the present continuous, and the simple present to express different kinds of future meaning. Practice each form with real examples to feel the difference.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025