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So, you’ve been learning about different ways to express the future, and you still have a lot of doubts. You aren’t sure how to use constructions like “I am going to see my sister.” or when to put “will go” or “will be going” in your sentences. These forms all seem so similar to you.
Well, sign up for a course in a California school of languages and ask your teachers to clarify everything unclear. And, of course, read and practice a lot on your own. There’s simply no other way to go about this.
However, check out this article where we’ll compare the Simple Future Tense and the Future Continuous Tense, and explain the differences between will and be going to. Read on!
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE AND THE FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE?
To understand the main difference between the Simple Future Tense and the Future Continuous Tense, let’s look at the following examples:
I will get home at 9 tonight.
When I arrive, my sister will be watching TV.
In the first sentence, we have a future simple form because we are describing a short activity that will happen in the future (you’ll just open the door and come inside the house).
However, in the second sentence, the activity is much longer, and it will be in progress at a certain moment in the future (when you enter the house, your sister will be looking at the TV screen).
WHEN SHOULD I USE WILL OR BE GOING TO?
Will or be going to constructions usually cause a lot of trouble to students as they seem to have similar meanings. But you can’t use them interchangeably, as you’ll see from the examples below.
PREDICTIONS
Both constructions express predictions, but will is used to talk about predictions based on the speaker’s personal beliefs and hopes, whereas the be going to form is used for predictions based on some solid evidence. Let’s look at these sentences:
- I think Margaret studied so hard. She will pass the entrance exam.
In this situation, the speaker believes Margaret studied hard and shares their hopes about the entrance exam. The speaker doesn’t have any firm evidence.
- I watched the weather forecast. It is going to rain tonight.
The speaker has some concrete evidence - the weather forecast. The speaker isn’t revealing their beliefs.
PLANS
Both forms are used for plans, but we use will for decisions/plans made at the time of speaking. The be going to form, on the other hand, indicates a pre-elaborated plan. Let’s compare the following sentences:
- I am tired now. I think I will stay at home and watch TV tonight.
The speaker made this plan at the moment of speaking based on their feelings at that moment.
- I am going to visit my grandparents in the countryside next week. I can’t wait!
In the sentence above, we have a definite plan made sometime before the speaker uttered the sentence.
WHERE IN CALIFORNIA CAN I FIND A RELIABLE SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES?
Reading blog posts and working on your own may suit you because you’re in your comfort zone. But if you want to get a handle on English, you’d better attend some classes too. At the College of English Language, trained teachers will simulate real-life situations in high-tech classrooms, and you’ll get immersed in the language sooner than you think.
And if you are looking for an extra challenge, we have amazing news for you. In addition to general English and international exam preparation classes, we also offer other fantastic courses, including English Plus Surfing or English Plus Volunteer. Here, you can practice the language and ride the California waves, or you can volunteer at the San Diego History Center, assist visitors in the information booth, and discover a lot about the history of the area. Sounds awesome? Visit us in San Diego, Santa Monica, or Pacific Beach, and let your language learning adventure begin today!
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