Unit 6 – talking about the future

There are many ways we can talk
about the future in English.
Let’s look at:
1.
When and how we use going to.
2.
When and how we use will.
3.
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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Gold Experience 2nd Edition A2

3.

Function: When do we use them?
Next year, I’m going to look 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 not sure,
but definitely
next year.
An intention. She
doesn’t have a specific
date, but she has
decided to do it.
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?
Look at the
conversation. Are the
friends talking about the
past, present or future?
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Gold Experience 2nd Edition A2
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 what the girl says: ‘I think
I’ll be happier’. Is this a fact or is it
a prediction? Does she know for
sure?
Look at what the boy says: ‘I’m
visiting my sister in New Zealand
in March.’ Is this a
plan/arrangement?
Is the plan organised? Does the
boy have a date?
She doesn’t
know for sure.
It’s a prediction.
Yes.
Yes, it is
organised. The
trip is in March.

4.

Function: When do we use them?
1. Going to for future intentions or things we have decided to do.
Next year, I’m going to look for a new
hobby and I’m not going to get up very
late.
I’m going to travel
more.
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.
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This plan is definitely organised.
The boy has a date. He probably
has his plane ticket!
Gold Experience 2nd Edition A2
How do we make
sentences with going to?

5.

Form: How do we use going to?
positive
subject
I
going to
?
verb infinitive
am
He/She/It
is
You/We/They
are
going to
travel.
Look at the examples in
the table and match the
words below to the
patterns.
subject
to be
going to
verb infinitive
negative
subject
to be
going to
I
am not (’m not)
He/She/It
is not (isn’t)
You/We/They
aren’t (aren’t)
going to
?
travel.
question
short answer
(qu. word + )
to be
(Where) am
Remember that with closed questions
(yes/no), we use short answers. What is
missing from the pattern?
?
?
verb infinitive
subject
I
I
going to
(Where) is
she/he/it
(Where) are
you/we/they
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Yes/No,
Gold Experience 2nd Edition A2
eat?
Yes/No,
he/she/it
you/we/they
to be (+ or -)
am/’m not.
is/isn’t.
are/aren’t.

6.

Form: How do we use going to?
positive
subject
to be
I
am
He/She/It
is
You/We/They
are
going to
going to
verb infinitive
travel.
The verb infinitive is what
you find in a dictionary.
negative
subject
to be
going to
I
am not (‘m not)
He/She/It
is not (isn’t)
You/We/They
aren’t (aren’t)
verb infinitive
short answer
Yes/No,
going to
subject
am/’m not.
I
travel.
Yes/No,
he/she/it
you/we/they
question
(qu. word + )
to be
subject
(Where) am
I
(Where) is
she/he/it
(Where) are
you/we/they
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going to
going to
Gold Experience 2nd Edition A2
verb infinitive
to be (+ or -)
is/isn’t.
are/aren’t.
Here we invert the verb
to be and the subject.
eat?
How do we make the
present continuous and
will sentences?

7.

Form: How do we make sentences?
present continuous
positive
subject
to be
I
am
He/She/It
is
You/We/They
are
verb -ing
working
(next
week).
negative
?
verb -ing
I
am not (’m not)
He/She/It
is not (isn’t)
You/We/They
aren’t (aren’t)
working
(next
week).
subject
question
will
Use the words
below to
complete the
gaps.
positive
?
subject
not to be will
I/You/He/She/It will
/We/They
verb infinitive
negative
verb -ing
subject
subject
I/You/He/She/It will not/won’t
/We/They
will not (won’t)
verb infinitive
go.
verb infinitive
go.
question
(qu. word + )
to be
?
?
(Where) am
I
(Where) is
she/he/it
(Where) are
you/we/they
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working
(next
week)?
Gold Experience 2nd Edition A2
(qu. word + )
will
subject
(Where) will
I/you/he/she/
it/we/they
?
go?

8.

Form: How do we make sentences?
will
present continuous
positive
subject
to be
I
am
He/She/It
is
You/We/They
are
verb -ing
working
(next
week).
The short
answers for the
present
continuous are
the same as
with going to.
positive
subject
will
I/You/He/She/It will
/We/They
subject
to be
verb -ing
I
am not (‘m not)
He/She/It
is not (isn’t)
You/We/They
aren’t (aren’t)
working
(next
week).
This is the bare
infinitive – there
is no to.
question
(qu. word + )
to be
subject
(Where) am
I
will not (won’t)
(Where) is
she/he/it
(Where) are
you/we/they
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education
Gold Experience 2nd Edition A2
Look at the short
answers for will.
verb infinitive
I/You/He/She/It will not/won’t
/We/They
go.
question
(qu. word + )
will
subject
(Where) will
I/you/he/she/it/w
e/they
verb -ing
working
(next
week)?
go.
negative
subject
negative
verb infinitive
verb
infinitive
go?
short answer
Yes/No,
Yes/No,
subject
I/you/he/
she/it/we/
they
will/won’t
will/won’t.
Let’s
practise!

9.

Practice activities
Fill the gaps with the correct future form.
’ll/will watch
1. I think I………………………..(watch) TV this evening. I’m too tired to play football.
’s/is starting
2. My brother……………………….(start) guitar lessons next week at the local community centre. I think
’ll/will enjoy
he……………….(enjoy)
it.
’m/am going to do
3. Next year, I…………………………….(do)
more exercise. I need to find a really good gym first.
aren’t going to travel/
aren’t travelling
4. My parents…………………………(not travel) to my cousin’s wedding because it’s too far.
will not/won’t arrive
isn’t finishing
5. Charlie…………………………(not arrive) on time because he…………………..(not
finish) work until 7.30pm.
are you going to do/
are you doing
’m/am going to tidy
6. A. What…………………………………..(do) this weekend? B. I……………………………..(tidy) my room – very boring!
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Gold Experience 2nd Edition A2

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