Future plans

How to Talk About Future Plans

Future plans can be discussed using various verb forms and constructions in English, including the simple future tense ("will"), the "going to" construction, and the present continuous tense when the plan is definite. The choice among these depends on the speaker's intention, the certainty of the plan, and whether the decision was made before speaking.

Examples of Expressing Future Plans

Simple Future (Will): "I will travel to France next year." (Decision made at the moment of speaking)
Going to: "I am going to start a new job in September." (Plan decided before speaking)
Present Continuous: "I am meeting with my advisor tomorrow." (Arrangement with a specific time)
Role in Communication

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Confusing the Use of "Will" and "Going to"

✅ Correct: "I am going to visit my grandparents this weekend." (Plan made before speaking)
❌ Incorrect: "I will visit my grandparents this weekend." (Using "will" suggests a spur-of-the-moment decision, which might not be the case.)

2. Using "Will" for Definite Arrangements

✅ Correct: "I am meeting Jane for lunch tomorrow." (Definite arrangement)
❌ Incorrect: "I will meet Jane for lunch tomorrow." ("Will" is less appropriate for plans that are already arranged.)

3. Overusing "Going to" for Immediate Plans

✅ Correct: "I will check the email now." (Immediate action)
❌ Incorrect: "I am going to check the email now." (While not strictly wrong, "will" is more natural for immediate actions.)

4. Neglecting the Present Continuous for Scheduled Events

✅ Correct: "We are flying to New York next month." (Scheduled event)
❌ Incorrect: "We will fly to New York next month." (Using "will" instead of the present continuous omits the sense of a firm plan.)