Free worksheet
Try the quiz
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Introduction
What are your predictions about the future? Neil and Pippa talk about what they think will happen in the future, and our grammar guru Georgie explains the grammar of future predictions. Learn to use 'will', 'going to' and how to use the future perfect tense.
_____________
Grammar explanation
will and going to
These are often used interchangeably with no difference in use/meaning. Use both in one sentence to vary your language and avoid being repetitive.
Examples:
I think everyone's going to study at university in the future, so that'll mean that everyone is equally qualified – degrees won't matter as much.
People will continue moving to cities, so the countryside is probbaly going to be more natural.
going to
Use 'going to' when something seems certain because of evidence.
Examples:
She's going to pass her exams. She's studied so hard.
The weather is going to get hotter and wetter. We can already see the effects of climate change in lots of countries.
will
Use 'will' for general predictions, beliefs and predicted effects/responses to something.
Examples:
I think people will have less money in the future.
It'll rain later. It always does at this time of year!
by + time/date
will have + past participle (the future perfect tense)
This is often used for predictions personal to you. Use this to describe an action that you predict will be completed at some point in the future
Examples:
By the end of the day, I will have finished all of my work. Then I can finally relax!
You'll have qualified as a doctor by this time next year. Not long to go now!
To do
Test yourself using the quiz.
NEXT
Watch Tenses with Georgie
Try some of our other grammar programmes
Learning English Grammar ล่าสุด
Predicting the future
Episode 251007 / 07 Oct 2025
What's the difference between 'will' and 'going to'?
Hobbies we enjoy doing
Episode 250930 / 30 Sep 2025
Do you 'learn to play' or 'learn playing' a musical instrument?
Things we collect
Episode 250923 / 23 Sep 2025
What's the difference between 'loads of' and 'lots of'?
Regrets
Episode 250916 / 16 Sep 2025
Learn to talk about your regrets using wish, the third conditional and more
Reminiscing
Episode 250909 / 01 Aug 2025
Learn how to use would, used to and the past simple to talk about your memories
Preferences
Episode 250902 / 02 Sep 2025
What's the difference between prefer, would prefer and would rather?
To-do lists
Episode 250826 / 26 Aug 2025
What's the difference between 'need to do' and 'needs doing'?
