Unit 6 – talking about the future

English.

Let’s look at:
When and how we use going to.
When and how we use will.
When and how we use the present continuous.

When do we use going to, will and the present continuous for the future?

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for a new hobby and I’m not going to get up very late. I think I’ll be a lot happier. What about you?

I’m going to travel more. I’m visiting my sister in New Zealand in March; I can’t wait! When are you going to start your new hobby?

Look at the conversation. Are the friends talking about the past, present or future?

The future.

Look at what the girl says: ‘I’m going to look for a new hobby’. Is this an organised plan or an intention?

An intention. She doesn’t have a specific date, but she has decided to do it.

Look at what the girl says: ‘I think I’ll be happier’. Is this a fact or is it a prediction? Does she know for sure?

She doesn’t know for sure. It’s a prediction.

Look at what the boy says: ‘I’m visiting my sister in New Zealand in March.’ Is this a plan/arrangement?

Yes.

Is the plan organised? Does the boy have a date?

Yes, it is organised. The trip is in March.

I’m not sure, but definitely next year.

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education  Gold Experience 2nd Edition A2

for a new hobby and I’m not going to get up very late.

I’m going to travel more.

1. Going to for future intentions or things we have decided to do.

There is no organised plan at the moment. There is no date or time.

2. Will for future predictions or things we think or know.

I think I’ll be a lot happier.

This is a prediction. The girl is not sure; it is just something she thinks.

We often use I think/
I don’t think before will.

3. The present continuous for future organised plans/arrangements.

I’m visiting my sister in New Zealand in March.

This plan is definitely organised. The boy has a date. He probably has his plane ticket!

How do we make sentences with going to?

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education  Gold Experience 2nd Edition A2

the table and match the words below to the patterns.

to be

subject

verb infinitive

going to

?

?

?

?

Remember that with closed questions (yes/no), we use short answers. What is missing from the pattern?

subject

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education  Gold Experience 2nd Edition A2

you find in a dictionary.

Here we invert the verb to be and the subject.

How do we make the present continuous and will sentences?

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education  Gold Experience 2nd Edition A2

complete the gaps.

not to be

will

verb infinitive

verb -ing

subject

?

?

?

?

?

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education  Gold Experience 2nd Edition A2

present continuous are the same as with going to.

will

Look at the short answers for will.

Let’s practise!

This is the bare infinitive – there is no to.

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education  Gold Experience 2nd Edition A2