Lesson 6: Tomorrow

English has no special ending for the future. We use helper words instead. A helper verb is a verb that helps the main verb. In this lesson, the helpers are “will” and “going to”.

Will

Use “will” and the base verb. It does not change with the person: “I will”, “she will”, “they will”. The short form is “I’ll”. The no form is “won’t”.

Use “will” when you decide at that moment. The phone rings and you say, “I’ll get it!” Use it also for promises and guesses: “I will help you.” “It will rain tomorrow.”

Going to

Use am, is or are, then “going to” and the base verb: “I am going to visit my aunt.”

Use it for a plan you made before: “We are going to move next year.” Use it also when you can see a sign now: “Look at the clouds. It is going to rain.”

So remember two pictures. “Will” is a quick decision. “Going to” is a plan in your diary.

A rule with if

After “if”, do not use “will”. Use the present simple: “If it rains tomorrow, we will stay home.” Do not say “If it will rain”.

Time words

These words go with the future: “tomorrow”, “next week”, “in two days” and “soon”.

Try it

Choose “will” or “going to”:

1. Look at the sky! It ___ rain.
2. “I am cold.” “I ___ close the window.”
3. We have tickets. We ___ visit Rome next week.

The answers are: is going to, will, are going to.

Next time, we will learn how to ask questions.