1043 - How To Talk About the Future

We're going to have a meeting tomorrow.

We're having a meeting tomorrow.

Maybe we'll have a meeting tomorrow.

All three of these sentences talk about the future, right?

But they don't feel exactly the same.

So what's the difference?

If you've ever wondered when we use going to have,

having, or will have,

today's podcast English lesson is going to make this really clear.

Welcome to another happy English podcast coming to you from New York City.

And here's your English teacher, Michael.

All right. Thank you, John.

And thanks everyone.

It's Michael here from Happy English.

And I help people speak English better.

This is Happy English Podcast Episode 1043.

How native speakers talk about the future.

Now, you may remember from a previous episode

that we have a few different grammar patterns we can use

to talk about the future, like going to and will.

And even the present progressive.

But today, I want to focus less on the grammar

and more on how these are actually used in real life.

Let's start with going to.

We use going to when we talk about plans or intentions.

For example, I'm going to visit my parents this weekend.

That means I've decided to do it.

It's my plan.

Or we're going to have a meeting at three o'clock on Friday.

That means we've made that decision.

It's something we intend to do.

So, going to is all about your intentions or plans.

When you've decided to do something, you are going to do it.

Like, I'm going to buy a new car.

That's my decision.

And it's not just for personal plans.

We use going to when we talk about official decisions.

For example, the city is going to install red light cameras

at all major intersections this summer.

Amazon is going to build a new distribution center in New Jersey.

Next, let's look at the present progressive,

which is the be verb followed by an ING.

We often use the present progressive to talk about future plans

where the time and place have been arranged.

For example, I'm meeting a friend tomorrow.

Or we're having a class at three o'clock on Friday.

Or Jenny is flying to Chicago next weekend.

In these cases, the plan is not just an idea.

It's already set up.

Maybe you already made the reservation

or you already agreed on the time.

And in everyday conversation, we often use the present progressive

for plans that involve movement.

Like, I'm going to a party on Friday.

Or Jack is driving to Boston this weekend.

That's the key difference between these two ways

to talk about the future.

Going to talks about plans and decisions.

For example, the city is going to lower the sales tax next month.

They made that plan.

Or I'm going to buy a new car.

That's something I've decided to do.

But we tend to use the present progressive

when we talk about the time or place of our plans.

Like, we're having a lesson at three tomorrow.

Or I'm making lasagna for dinner tonight.

True story.

We also use going to when we talk about situations

that are out of our control.

Or when we make predictions based on what we see.

For example, the weather says it's going to rain all day.

Or we have a new boss.

It's going to be interesting to see how she works.

In these cases, we're not talking about a plan.

We're talking about what we expect will happen.

By the way, when we ask people about their plans,

we very often use the present progressive.

For example, what are you doing this weekend?

Or are you working tomorrow?

Or is Jack coming to the meeting?

Yeah, you can also use going to in questions

like what are you going to do this weekend?

But the present progressive usually sounds more natural

and conversational now.

Let's talk about will.

We use will in a few different ways.

But when it comes to the future, we often use will

when we talk about ideas or thoughts that are not fixed plans.

For example, I think I'll clean the garage this weekend.

Or maybe I'll take a few days off next month.

In these cases, you're not talking about something that's arranged.

It's just an idea.

And you'll often hear will used with words like maybe

or I think when we talk like this.

Maybe I'll clean out the garage this weekend.

We also use will when we talk about predictions or possibilities.

For example, I think it'll rain tomorrow.

Or I'm sure you'll enjoy that movie.

In these cases, we're not talking about a plan.

We're just talking about what we believe will happen in the future.

So will is often used when the plan is not fixed yet.

It's just an idea or a prediction.

And here's one last idea about how we talk about the future.

We use the simple present to talk about schedules or timetables.

These can be general like work starts at nine o'clock

or the bus comes every 15 minutes.

But we also use the simple present to talk about future events

when the time is fixed.

For example, the party starts at eight o'clock on Friday.

Or my flight leaves at 6.30 tomorrow morning.

So let's put this all together.

Here are the main ways we talk about the future in English.

We use going to for plans and decisions.

I'm going to buy a new car.

We use present progressive for arrangements.

Often when we mention the time or place.

I'm meeting Jack for lunch tomorrow.

We also often use the present progressive for asking about plans.

What are you doing this weekend?

We use will for ideas or plans that are not set.

Maybe I'll stay home tonight.

We also use will for predictions.

I think it'll rain tomorrow.

And we use the simple present for schedules and timetables.

The party starts at eight on Friday.

So use your challenge.

Think about your plans for this week.

Try to make one sentence using going to one sentence

using the present progressive and one using will.

That's how you can make this language your own.

Because as you know, the best way to remember English like this

and any other word of phrase in English is to take that word or phrase.

Write it in a sentence that's true for you or true in your world

and then memorize your sentences.

Hey, thanks for listening.

And remember, learning another language is not easy,

but it's not impossible.

And I'm here to help you on your journey.

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