Future Tense – “will” and “going to”

To speak about the future, you can use the following phrases:

1) Will [infinitive verb]

2) Be Going to + [infinitive verb]
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1) Use “will” when you are volunteering to do something in the future, or when you are deciding
at the time of speaking to do something in the future.

= a decision is made to do an action in the future

Example: Okay, if no one else will cook dinner, I will.

In this example, the phrase “will” is used because the speaker is volunteering to cook dinner.

Example: Wow, the grass is getting tall. I think I will cut it tomorrow.

In this example, the phrase “will” is used because the decision to cut the grass tomorrow is
being made at the time of speaking.

Example: Will you marry me?

In this example, the phrase “Will” is used because the decision to marry is being made at the
time of speaking.

Subject Will Verb (Infinitive) Complement

John will paint the house
Sara and Mike will go to the movies tonight

Will Subject Verb (Infinitive) Complement +?

Will John paint the house?
Will Sara and Mike go to the movies tonight?

Subject Will not/Won’t Verb (Infinitive) Complement

John won't paint the house
Sara and Mike will not go to the movies tonight

2) Use “be going + [infinitive verb]” when you have already decided to do something in the
future.
= a decision is made to do an action in the future.

Example: Todd and I are going to eat at the new restaurant tonight. Do you want to come with
us?

In this example, the phrase “be going to” is used because Todd and I have already decided to
go to the restaurant.
Example: After work, James and Nicollet are going to watch a movie.

In this example, the phrase “going to” is used because James and Nicollet have already decided
to watch a movie after work.

Subject Be Going To Verb (Infinitive) Complement

John is going to paint the house
Sara and Mike are going to go to the movies tonight

Be Subject Going To Verb (Infinitive) Complement +?

Is John going to paint the house?
Are Sara and Mike going to go to the movies tonight?

Subject Be Not Going To Verb (Infinitive) Complement

John is not going to paint the house
Sara and Mike are not going to go to the movies tonight

Directions: Circle the correct future tense phrase in the following sentences.

1. I am feeling energetic. So, I think I (will / am going to) wash my car.

2. It has been decided that we (will / are going to) climb Mount Everest next week.

3. -Who wants to come with me to the movies tonight?

-Oh that sounds fun. I (will / am going to) come with you.

4. We have already made plans for the vacation. We have decided that we (will / are going to)
visit uncle Bill in Montana.

5. Tonight seems like a nice night to be outside. I think I (will / am going to) go for a walk after
dinner.

6. -Have you thought about what you want to do after college?

-Yes, I have decided that I (will / am going to) become an engineer.

7. I guess I (will / am going to) help you clean the kitchen if no one else will.

8. My car tires look low on air. I think I (will / am going to) fill them up at the next gas station.

9. The weather man said that it (will / is going to) rain tomorrow.

10. Okay, I have an idea. After we play the game, we (will / are going to) get some ice cream!

11. I think my dad said we (will / are going to) go to the beach this weekend.

12. If the bus (will not / is not going to) start, how will we get to school on time?

Put in ‘will’ or ‘be going to’:

1. A: We don’t have any bread.

B: I know. I _______________ get some from the shop.

2. A: We don’t have any bread.

B: Really? I _______________ get some from the shop then.

3. A: Why do you need to borrow my suitcase?

B: I _______________ visit my mother in Scotland next month.

4. A: I’m really cold.

B: I _______________ turn the heating on.

5. A: Are you going to John’s party tonight?

B: Yes. Are you going too? I _______________ give you a lift.

6. A: What are your plans after you leave the university?

B: I _______________ work in a hospital in Africa. I leave on the 28th.
7. (The phone rings)
A: I _______________ get it!

8. A: Are you ready to order?

B: I can’t decide … Okay, I _______________ have the steak, please.

9. A: Are you busy tonight? Would you like to have coffee?

B: Sorry. I _______________ go to the library. I’ve been planning to study all day.

10. A: Why are you carrying a hammer?

B: I _______________ put up some pictures. Put up/hang up

Complete the sentences with the correct form of will or be going to and the verbs in brackets.

1. - When we get home, we _______________ (have) dinner.

2. - I know they _______________ (feel) very happy if they win the match.

3.- They’ve already decided on their next summer holiday. They _______________ do (do) a
tour of Norway.

4.- She thinks that the Take That concert _______________ be (be) really exciting.

5.- “What are your plans for this evening?” I _______________ meet (meet) my friends and
then go to
a birthday party.

6.- If you revise for the exam , I’m sure you _______________ get (get) a good result.

7.- The weather forecast is good for the next few days. It _______________ (be) very sunny.

8.- I can’t come on the march tomorrow. I _______________ look after (look after) my cousins.

9.- In the future, I think humans _______________ wipe out (wipe out) many different species.

10.- He is buying some butter and eggs because he _______________ make (make) a cake
later.

11.- This homework is very easy. I know we _______________ do (do) it very quickly.

12.- In five years time, I _______________ be (be) at university.

13.- She wants to get her mum a birthday present. But she _______________ buy (not buy) it
today.

14.- Their suitcases are packed. They _______________ go (go) on holiday.

15.- If we go to Paris, we _______________ take (take) lots of pictures.

16.- My brother thinks it _______________ snow (snow) tomorrow.

17.- It’s very late! Hurry up or we _______________ be (be) late for work.

18.- Look at that boy at the top of that tree! He _______________ fall (fall).

19. - When we go home, we _______________ watch (watch) TV. We don’t want to miss our
favorite program.

20.- I’m sure they _______________ lose (lose) the match.

21.- It’s very hot in here. I _______________ (open) the window.

22.- It’s a secret! OK I _______________ tell (not tell) anyone.

23.- My cousin _______________ (work) in the UK for a year.

24.- I _______________ love (love) you forever. Pop the question Pop (propose)
25.- I’m thirsty. I _______________ get (get) you a glass of water.

ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY

Adverb Percentage Meaning

Always 100% All of the time
Almost always 95-99% Most of the time
*Usually 90-99% Most of the time
*Often 80-90% Much of the time
*Frequently 60-80% Many times
*Generally 60-70% Commonly
*Sometimes 50% Some of the time
Occasionally 30-40% At a times – from time to time
Seldom 10-20% On only a few occasions
Rarely 5-10% On only a few occasions
Hardly ever 1-5% Very seldom – scarcely ever
Almost never 1-5% Not most of the time
Never 0% Not at any time
* may also occur at the beginning or end of a sentence. The others, their usual position is in the middle of a sentence.

WHERE DO ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY COME IN THE SENTENCE?

Word order can be confusing with adverbs of frequency. Here are different rules for placement
in sentences.

1. If the sentence has one verb in it (e.g. no auxiliary verb) we usually put the adverb in the
middle of the sentence, i.e. after the subject and before the verb:

Subject / adverb / verb / predicate (complement)

Tom usually goes to work by car. Tom doesn’t usually go to work by car
Mary often asks me for help. Mary doesn’t often ask me for help

2. The adverb usually comes after the verb "be":

Subject / verb (to be)/ adverb / predicate

Tom is often late.

Anne isn't usually sick.
Peter isn't always right.

This is not the case if we put the adverb at the beginning or end of the sentence for emphasis.
This rule also does not apply to short answers:

Is she usually on time?

Tell her not to be late.
Yes, she usually is. Yes. She is usually
She never is. Yes. She is never

The rule is broken in other cases too, e.g.

Conversation 1

Speaker A: What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at school?

Speaker B: I normally am at school at this time, but my teacher is ill.

Conversation 2

Speaker A: You're late again!

Speaker B: Usually, I am late on Mondays because the traffic is so bad.

Conversation 3

Speaker A: Tom is late again!

Speaker B: Tom usually is late.
3. If the sentence has more than one verb in it (e.g. auxiliary verb) we usually put the adverb
after the first part of the verb:

Subject / helping verb or modal / adverb / main verb / predicate

I can never remember his name.

Anne doesn't usually smoke.
The children have often complained about the playground facilities.

Exception:

In sentences with "have to" the adverb is in position A (Subject / adverb / have to / main verb /
predicate):

We often have to wait for the bus.

She never has to do any housework.
They sometimes have to stay after class.

4. For emphasis we can put the adverb at the beginning or end of the sentence. At the end is
unusual - we usually only put it there when we have forgotten to put it in earlier.

A. Adverb, / subject / main verb / predicate

B. Subject / main verb / predicate /, adverb

Sometimes, we go to school by bus.

Often, he waits for her after class.
Usually, Peter arrives early for work.
We go to school by bus, sometimes.
They like to watch TV, often.

5. When using adverbs of frequency in the question form, put the adverb before the main verb.

Auxiliary verb / subject / adverb / main verb / predicate /?

Do you often go to the cinema?

Did he sometimes leave the classroom?
Do they usually come late to class?

Note: "Never", "seldom", "rarely" and other adverbs of frequency with a negative sense are not
usually used in the question form.

6. When using adverbs of frequency in the negative form, put the adverb before the main verb.

Subject / helping verb / adverb / main verb / predicate

They don't often go to the cinema.

She doesn't usually wait for an answer.
Peter doesn't normally want to come with us.

7. Negative adverbs (seldom, rarely, etc.) are NOT used with a negative auxiliary verb.

CORRECT: Ana never eats breakfast.

INCORRECT: Ana doesn’t never eat breakfast.

8. Ever is used in question about frequency. It means “at any time”.

- Do you ever take the bus to work?
- Yes, I do. I often take the bus

Ever is also used with not.

- I don’t ever walk to work. = I never walk to work

Ever is not used in statements.

INCORRECT: I ever walk to work.

How often do you go to the movies? I’m asking for the frequency
Do you ever go to the movies? I’m asking if you go to movies
 *Usually
*Often
*Frequently
*Generally
*Sometimes
Sometimes, Tom helps Mary with her homework.
Tom sometimes helps Mary with her homework.
Tom helps Mary with her homework, sometimes.

Practice

Directions: Rewrite each sentence on the line. Use the percentages to decide which adverb to
use. Then, decide whether the adverb comes before or after the verb.

Example: Selma catches the 9:15 bus to town. (80–90%)

Selma often catches the 9:15 bus to town.

Example: She is late for work. (1–10%)

She is rarely late for work.

1. We watch the news at 6:00. (100%)

2. My wife drives me to work. (50%)

3. Our neighbor’s son goes to football practice after school. (95–99%)

4. My mom leaves her keys on the kitchen table. (80-90%)

5. The baby is hungry when he wakes up. (100%)

6. The planes take off on time. (90–99%)

7. The school bus is here by 7:30 a.m. (5–10%)

8. I go shopping after work. (30–40%)

9. The kids are ready when the school bus arrives. (1–10%)

10. I am happy when it rains. (0%)

Read each situation, and then answer the questions.

1. Jorge usually does his homework. Raul always does his homework. Diego never does his
homework. Who is the best student?

2. The weather in Florida is rarely cold. It is sometimes cold in Mississippi. It is usually cold in
Alaska. If you don’t like cold weather, which state might be a good place for you to live in?

3. Sally seldom walks to work. Carol often walks to work. Betty walks to work, sometimes. Who
might drive to work more than walk there?

4. I usually put sugar in my coffee. Rick sometimes puts sugar in his tea. Gabrielle always puts
sugar on her cereal. Who uses sugar the most frequently?

5. My grandmother sometimes takes a walk after dinner. My brother always runs five miles
every morning. I hardly ever exercise. Who gets the most exercise?

6. Ramon rarely watches the news in English. Ivan usually listens to public radio in English.
Nadia seldom watches movies in English. Nadine always prefers to talk to her friends in their
native language. Who probably hears the most English in a day?

7. Joe is seldom late to work. Adam is usually late to work. Steve is rarely late to work. Who will
the boss most likely give a warning to first? Likely = probably
8. Mattie often spends three hours per day reading e-books on e-reader. Her dad is a professor,
and he usually reads a chapter in his textbook two nights per week. Her grandfather used to
read the newspaper, but now he seldom does. Who probably reads the most?

Write a new sentence using an Adverb of Frequency. Use the information in the parenthesis to
determine which Adverb of Frequency should be used. Underline the verbs.

1. My family eats breakfast together. (This happens every morning)

2. My sister Mariana makes scrambled eggs for breakfast. (This happens most of the time)

3. She adds potatoes and green pepper to her eggs. (This happens much of the time)

4. There isn’t any meat in her scrambled eggs. (She’s vegetarian) (Hint: use because)

5. My brother Lucas eats a couple of pieces of toast with butter and jam. (He does this every
day)

6. He has a huge cup of black coffee with his toast. (He does this about half the time)

7. He is a quiet guy, so he doesn’t talk much at the breakfast table. (He is quiet most of the time,
and he almost never talks)

8. My family doesn’t start the day without having breakfast together. (This does not happen at
any time)