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B1 grammar · teens and adults

Will, going to and present continuous

Three ways to talk about the future and what each says: a decision made now, a plan or a prediction from evidence, an arrangement already in the diary.

Teens · AdultsCEFR B1 · Intermediate

Age
Ages 12+
Level
B1
Skill
Grammar
Format
Teacher guide
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The rule

  • Will: a decision made at the moment of speaking, a promise or an offer, and a prediction based on opinion. I'll get it! I think it'll be cold.
  • Be going to: a plan or intention decided before now, and a prediction from evidence you can see. I'm going to quit. Look at the sky — it's going to rain.
  • Present continuous: a fixed arrangement with other people, usually with a time or place. I'm meeting the client at ten.
  • Present simple for timetables and schedules: The train leaves at 7:15.
  • After when, if, as soon as, before and after, use the present, not will: I'll call you when I arrive.

Form

UseForm
Willwill ('ll) + verb · won't + verb
Going toam / is / are going to + verb
Present continuousam / is / are + verb-ing + time
Timetablepresent simple: The film starts at 8.
Time clauseswhen / if / as soon as + present
Printable worksheetPresentation (PPT)

Example sentences

Tap a sentence to hear it. The translation follows each one.

Quick check: choose the right form

Five sentences from this page, each with one gap. Choose the form that fits; when it is right, you hear the whole sentence.

  1. I will blank you the link after the meeting.

  2. I'm blank to apply for a master's degree.

  3. Look at the traffic! We are going to blank late.

  4. I think AI will blank most jobs.

  5. What are you blank this weekend?

Common mistakes

What learners actually say, why, and which first language makes it typical.

Typical for Russian and Spanish speakers

I will call you when I will get home.I will call you when I get home.

After when, if, as soon as, before and after, English uses the present even about the future. Russian says «когда приду» (future) and Spanish «cuando llegue» (subjunctive), so learners add a second will.

Typical for Russian and Spanish speakers

Tonight I go to the cinema with Marta.Tonight I'm going to the cinema with Marta.

Russian («вечером я иду в кино») and Spanish («esta noche voy al cine») use the present simple for plans. English uses the present continuous for an arrangement; the present simple is for timetables.

I will to send the report tomorrow.I will send the report tomorrow.

Will is a modal: the verb after it has no to and no -s.

How to teach it

  1. Diary first: give each learner a week planner with three fixed appointments. In pairs they try to arrange a meeting using only the present continuous: Are you doing anything on Thursday? — I'm seeing the dentist.
  2. Instant decisions: role-play a busy office or a café. Problems pop up (The printer's broken! We've run out of milk!) and learners react on the spot: I'll call IT. I'll go and get some.
  3. Evidence predictions: show photos a second before something happens (a cyclist and a deep puddle). Learners say what is going to happen.
  4. Don't promise a rule that fits every sentence: native speakers often accept more than one form. Teach the typical use and accept alternatives that sound natural.

Questions teachers ask

Will or going to: is there a hard rule?

No. In many sentences both are fine. The clear cases: instant decisions and offers take will; plans already made take going to; evidence you can see right now takes going to.

Why do learners say “when I will arrive”?

Russian uses the future after «когда», and Spanish uses the subjunctive after «cuando». English uses the present simple in time clauses about the future. Practise it as a chunk: I'll call you when I get there.

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