Learning English

Finn
Hello again. Welcome to 6 Minute Grammar with me, Finn.

Emma
And me, Emma. Hello.

Finn
In today’s programme we’re looking at two ways to talk about the future.

Emma
Let’s start with some sample sentences. Rob, can we have an example of a future arrangement?

Rob
Sure. Farid is meeting his cousin at the airport on Saturday.

Emma
Thanks Rob. The sentence Farid is meeting his cousin at the airport on Saturday describes an arrangement, made between two people, to do a particular activity, at a particular time.

Finn
Yes, and we can use present continuous, that’s subject plus am, is or are plus verb i-n-g to talk about this type of future arrangement. Now, let’s look at going to. We use going to with an infinitive verb to talk about future plans – things we intend to do. An example please Rob?

Rob
When I finish university, I’m going to spend a year travelling.

Finn
I’m going to spend a year travelling. That sounds like an exciting plan. And another please:

Rob
Simon and Ibrahim are going to spend the whole weekend playing football. 

Finn
So Simon and Ibrahim have some interesting plans too. But, do they seem very similar to arrangements, would you say, Emma?

Emma
Well yes, they do. We can often use either the present continuous or going to for future plans.

Finn
So we could say: I’m meeting some friends for a drink tonight.

Emma
Or you could say: I’m going to meet some friends for a drink tonight.

Finn
But sometimes we can only use going to. Here’s an example.

Rob
It’s really cold. I think it’s going to snow.

Finn
It’s going to snow. That isn’t a plan, and it isn’t an arrangement.

Emma
But the speaker can say what’s going to happen, based on the present situation – whatever is happening now.

Finn
And to do this, it’s subject plus am, is or are, plus going to plus an infinitive verb without to.

IDENT
You’re listening to BBC learning English.

Finn
And we’re looking at present continuous for future arrangements, and going to plus a verb to talk about future plans and arrangements – and things we know are going to happen based on the present situation.

Emma
That’s right. So, Finn, are you doing anything interesting tonight?

Finn
Well, I’m taking my girlfriend to the theatre and the play is starting at 7 o’clock.

Emma
Ooh very good. What are you going to [gonna] see?

Finn
Aha! Emma I do believe you’re asking me questions about my future arrangements and plans! You asked me a yes/no present continuous question:

Emma
Are you doing anything interesting tonight?

Finn
And you asked me a question word going to question:

Emma
What are you gonna see? You’re quite right Finn, and I used a special short form of going to that we usually only find in informal spoken English: I said gonna. Gonna. It’s very common in spoken English. What are you gonna see?

Finn
That’s right. The long form is: What are you going to see?

Emma
And the informal short form is: What are you gonna see? What are you gonna see?

Finn
Well, I’ll tell you later – but first, it’s time for a quiz. So, question 1: Imagine you’re at a football match. Your team is playing really well. Do you say a) I’m sure they’re going to score a goal! Or do you say b) I’m sure they are scoring a goal!

Emma
And the answer is a) I’m sure they are going to score a goal!

Finn
That’s right – based on the present situation – they are playing well – we can talk about a probable future situation with going to: I’m sure they are going to score a goal.

Finn
Right, question 2 - which is correct? a) We’re gonna going by train. b) We’re going go by train. Or c) We’re gonna go by train.

Emma
It’s c) We’re gonna go by train. It’s the shorter, spoken form of: We’re going to go by train.

Finn
Now, number 3. Which is a correct future sentence: a) Hurry up – the train is leaving. Or b) Hurry up – the train is going to leave in ten minutes?

Emma
And the correct answer is b) the train is going to leave in ten minutes. Sentence a) needs a time expression to give it future meaning.

Finn
Yes indeed. Well, I’m going to leave in a minute, because I’m going to see a Shakespeare play with my girlfriend. See you next time, Emma!

Emma
Don’t forget - there’s lots more about this on our website at bbclearningenglish.com.

Both
Bye!