Future
Will and going to for future actions and predictions.
Future
Simple Future Tense
What you'll learn
- Use will + base verb for promises, instant decisions, and predictions.
- Use am/is/are + going to + base verb for plans already decided.
- Recognise signal words: tomorrow, next week, soon, later.
- Use shall with I/we in formal questions.
Key concepts
Level 1 — will + base verb
I will help you with homework. It will rain tomorrow (prediction).
Level 2 — going to + base verb
We are going to visit Jaipur next month. (plan made earlier)
Level 3 — Choosing will vs going to
| Situation | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | going to | We are going to play cricket on Sunday. |
| Promise | will | I will call you after dinner. |
| Sudden decision | will | The bag is heavy — I will carry it. |
| Timetable | simple present | The bus leaves at 7 a.m. |
Level 4 — Negative and questions
She will not (won't) come. Will you join us for lunch?
NCERT anchor: Marigold 4; CBSE Class 4 — plans and predictions with will and going to
Worked example
Complete: We ___ (visit) the zoo next Sunday. (plan already made)
Step 1 — Plan + fixed date → **going to**.
Step 2 — We → **are going to visit**.
Answer: We **are going to visit** the zoo next Sunday.
Promise: I ___ help you with your project.
Step 1 — Promise → **will**.
Step 2 — will + base verb **help**.
Answer: I **will help** you with your project.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Why it happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| I will goes tomorrow | Adding -s after will | I will go tomorrow |
| They going to play | Missing am/is/are | They are going to play |
| Will going to rain? | Mixing will and going to | Will it rain? OR Is it going to rain? |
| Tomorrow I buy a book (plan) | Simple present for personal plan | Tomorrow I am going to buy a book |
Quick check
- Fill: I ___ call you later. (promise)
- Fix: They going to play cricket.
- Future of: She will ___ (study) hard.
- Stretch: Write one sentence with will (prediction about monsoon) and one with going to (your plan for summer vacation).
Revision tip: Sort sentences into two columns: will vs going to — say why each fits.
Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Simple Future Tense.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- What you'll learn
- Key concepts
- Worked example
- Common mistakes
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