🎯 By the end of this 5 minutes, you can:

choose between will, going to and present continuous to express future plans, predictions and arrangements.

English has three main ways to talk about the future — and the choice carries meaning:

Form	Use	Signal	Example
will	Prediction or spontaneous decision	I think… / probably / maybe	I think I’ll take the job.
going to	Plan or intention (decided before now)	I’ve decided / I’m planning to	I’m going to resign next week.
Pres. cont.	Fixed arrangement (diary event)	tomorrow / next Tuesday	I’m flying to Paris tomorrow.

Evidence clue: If you can see evidence NOW that something will happen, use going to: ‘Look at those clouds — it’s going to rain.’

Task 1: Choose the right form

Will, going to, or present continuous?
1. ‘I’ve booked my ticket. I ___ fly to London next Thursday.’ (arrangement)
2. ‘Look at the traffic — we ___ be late.’ (evidence visible now)
3. ‘The phone is ringing — don’t move, I ___ answer it.’ (spontaneous decision)

💡 Show answer

1. am flying (fixed arrangement) · 2. are going to be (evidence now) · 3. will answer (spontaneous)

Task 2: Predict or plan?

What’s the difference in meaning?
A) ‘I’m going to study English this year.’ vs B) ‘I’ll probably study English this year.’

💡 Show answer

A = a firm intention (already decided, plan made) · B = a looser prediction (less commitment, might not happen)

Task 3: Your future

Write 3 sentences about your future using 3 different forms (one each: will / going to / present continuous).

💡 Show answer

Example: I think I’ll improve my reading this year. (prediction) / I’m going to start an online course in September. (plan) / I’m meeting my language partner on Friday. (arrangement)

Write a short paragraph (5 sentences) describing your plans for the next 3 months. Use all three future forms at least once each. Include one prediction, one firm plan, and one fixed arrangement.