The future — will and be going to · 将来时 — will 与 be going to
Talking about the future
- English has a few ways to talk about the future.
- The two main ones at A2 are will and be going to.
- They overlap, but each has a "favourite" job.
I am going to study tonight; my phone has other plans.
谈论将来
- 英语有几种谈论将来的方式。
- A2 阶段最主要的两种是 will 和 be going to。
- 它们有重叠,但各有"最拿手"的用法。
我今晚打算学习；手机却有别的打算。
will — decide now, predict, promise
- will + base verb (same for everyone; won't = will not).
- On-the-spot decision: The phone's ringing — I'll get it.
- Prediction or promise: It will rain tomorrow. I won't be late.
will —— 当场决定、预测、承诺
- will + 动词原形(所有人称都一样;won't = will not)。
- 当场决定:我I 将will 打电话call （给你）you 今晚tonight.(我今晚给你打电话。)
- 预测或承诺:It will rain tomorrow. I won't be late.
be going to — plans & evidence
- am / is / are + going to + base verb.
- A plan you already have: We're going to visit grandma.
- A prediction from what you can see: Look at the clouds — it's going to rain.
be going to —— 计划与依据
- am / is / are + going to + 动词原形。
- 已有的计划:我们We （be）are 打算going to 拜访visit 奶奶grandma.(我们打算去看奶奶。)
- 根据眼前迹象的预测:Look at the clouds — it's going to rain.
The phone is ringing. Which is best? — “___ get it.” · 电话响了。哪个最合适? —— “___ get it.”
A decision made right now → use will: “I'll get it.” · 当场做的决定 → 用 will:I'll get it。
Complete the plan: We are ___ to visit grandma. (going / go) · 补全这个计划:We are ___ to visit grandma。(going / go)
Plans use be going to: “We are going to visit grandma.” · 计划用 be going to:We are going to visit grandma。
Translate into English: 明天会下雨。 · 翻译成英语:明天会下雨。
A prediction → will or going to: “It will rain tomorrow.” · 预测 → will 或 going to:It will rain tomorrow。
will or going to?
- Decided just now → will: I'll help you.
- Planned earlier → going to: I'm going to study tonight.
- Both can predict; going to leans on present evidence.
用 will 还是 going to?
- 当场决定 → will:I'll help you.(我来帮你。)
- 早就计划好 → going to:I'm going to study tonight.(我今晚打算学习。)
- 两者都能预测;going to 更依据眼前迹象。
will or going to? · 用 will 还是 going to?
'will' for a decision made now or a prediction; 'going to' for a plan you already have. · 当场决定或预测用 will;已有的计划用 going to。
Is this correct? “I will to call you tonight.” · 这句对吗? “I will to call you tonight.”
After will, use the base verb (no “to”): “I will call you tonight.” · will 后面用动词原形(不加 to):I will call you tonight。
Common mistakes
- ❌ I go to Shanghai tomorrow. → ✓ I am going to Shanghai tomorrow. — English must mark the future.
- ❌ We will going to visit grandma. → ✓ We are going to visit… / We will visit… — pick one.
- ❌ She will comes. → ✓ She will come. — after will, the base form.
常见错误
- ❌ I go to Shanghai tomorrow. → ✓ I am going to Shanghai tomorrow。—— 中文"明天去"没有标记,英语必须加将来形式。
- ❌ We will going to visit grandma. → ✓ We are going to visit… / We will visit…—— 两套结构只能选一个。
- ❌ She will comes. → ✓ She will come。—— will 后面用原形。
You decide at this moment to help: “I ___ carry your bag.” · 此刻当场决定帮忙:“I ___ carry your bag.”
A decision made right now → will. · 当场的决定 → will。
“The train leaves at 9 tomorrow.” — can the present simple talk about a timetable? · “The train leaves at 9 tomorrow.”——时刻表可以用一般现在时吗?
Yes — timetables (trains, flights, lessons) use the present simple, even for the future. · 可以——火车、航班、课程等时刻表用一般现在时,即使说将来。
- will + base verb = decisions, predictions, promises.
- be going to + base verb = plans and evidence-based predictions.
- Spontaneous → will; pre-planned → going to.
- will + 动词原形 = 决定、预测、承诺。
- be going to + 动词原形 = 计划与有依据的预测。
- 临时决定 → will;事先计划 → going to。
Write one sentence about a plan you have for this weekend. Use “be going to”. · 用 be going to 写一句话,说说你这个周末的一个计划。
Example: “I am going to visit my cousin on Saturday.” · 例如:I am going to visit my cousin on Saturday。