'Will', 'Going To', and Present Continuous
In English, we don't just have one way to talk about the future. The tense you use depends entirely on how spontaneous you are being. Are you ripping off your clothes in the heat of the moment, or did you pencil in a cheeky hookup for 9:00 PM next Tuesday? Let's sort out your future tenses so you can schedule your conquests like a pro.
1. He texted me at 2 AM. It was an obvious , but I was already asleep.
2. I don't have time for a full date tonight, but we could meet up for a before work.
3. Do you want to come upstairs to my flat for a ?
4. Can I take a on tonight? I'm absolutely .
5. He works out every single day, his in the bedroom must be incredible.
Are you deciding right now, or did you plan this hookup yesterday? Choose your tense carefully.
| Tense | When to use it | Cheeky Example |
|---|---|---|
| Will / Won't | Spontaneous decisions made *at the exact moment of speaking*. Also used for promises. | "Wow, you look fit. I will pay for the cab." "I promise I won't tell anyone." |
| Going To | Intentions. You have already thought about it and decided to do it, but the details aren't 100% confirmed. | "I am going to text him tonight." (The intention is there!) |
| Present Continuous (am/is/are + verb-ing) |
Fixed arrangements. It's in the diary. Time and place are sorted. | "I am meeting Dave at 8 PM at the hotel." |
Notice how Ryan and Sam use different future tenses to figure out their plans!
1. (The phone rings) "Don't worry, I it!"
2. "I can't go to the pub tonight. I dinner with my new girlfriend's parents at 8 PM."
3. "Look at those dark clouds! It ruin my hair." (Prediction based on evidence!)
Decide if the sentence needs 'will' (spontaneous) or 'am/is/are + verb-ing' (fixed plan).
1. (You just realized you have no condoms) "Oh no! Wait here, I (run) to the shop right now."
2. (It's in your calendar) "I (fly) to Paris next weekend for a romantic getaway."
Looking to boost your English speaking skills and sound nice, natural, and like a proper native? Don't just read about it—live it.
Come and join me for a bespoke English lesson online at nativeuk.com today and get your fluency sorted.
Book a SessionWant even more natural sounding English to impress your mates at the pub? We’ve got the secret stash of slang you won't find in school books.
Check out our Words section and dive into our Blog. You’ll be sounding like a native speaker in no time at all.
Read the Gossip