English: Future Plans & Goals

Level: B1. English has several ways to talk about the future, and the right one depends on how fixed and how certain your plan is. This lesson sorts out going to, will, the present continuous and might, then gives you the phrases to talk about goals, intentions and resolutions.

By the end of this page you can…

…describe your plans and goals, choose between going to, will and the present continuous, and soften a plan you are not sure about.

going to — plans and intentions

Use be going to + base verb for a plan or intention you have already decided before speaking. It is the everyday way to talk about the future you have in mind.

• I’m going to start a course next month.
• She’s going to look for a new flat.
• We’re not going to travel this summer.

going to is also used for a prediction based on what you can see now: Look at those clouds — it’s going to rain.

will — decisions, offers and predictions

Use will + base verb for a decision you make at the moment of speaking, for offers and promises, and for general predictions.

• (The phone rings) I’ll get it. — a decision made now.
• I’ll help you with that. — an offer.
• I think prices will rise next year. — a prediction/opinion.

Present continuous — fixed arrangements

For a fixed arrangement — something organised with a time, place or other people — use the present continuous (am/is/are + -ing). It feels more certain than going to because it is already booked.

• I’m meeting the doctor at four.
• We’re flying to Rome on Saturday.
• She’s starting her new job next week.

The time word (at four, on Saturday, next week) shows it is future, not now.

might and may — uncertain plans

When a plan is possible but not certain, use might or may + base verb. This is very useful at B1 for being honest about what you haven’t decided.

• I might look for a new job next year.
• We may go to the coast if the weather is good.

Talking about goals and intentions

To talk about goals, resolutions and hopes, use these fixed patterns with to + base verb:

• Plans: I’m planning to…, I intend to…, I’m hoping to…

• Hopes and wishes: I hope to…, I’d like to…, I want to…

• Goals: My goal is to…, I’m trying to…, I’ve decided to…

• My goal is to speak English fluently by next year.

• I’m planning to save some money every month.

• I’d like to travel more in the future.

Example sentences

Press play and copy the rhythm. Notice how fixed or certain each plan is.

1. I'm going to study abroad next year.
   going to for a decided plan.
2. She's going to look for a new job.
   An intention already in mind.
3. Look at the sky — it's going to rain.
   going to for a prediction from evidence.
4. OK, I'll answer the door.
   will for a decision made right now.
5. I'll help you move the boxes.
   will for an offer.
6. I think it will be a great year.
   will for a prediction or opinion.
7. I'm meeting my boss at four.
   Present continuous for a fixed arrangement.
8. We're flying to Rome on Saturday.
   A booked trip with a day.
9. She's starting her new job next week.
   An arranged future event.
10. I might look for a new flat.
    might for an uncertain plan.
11. We may go away if the weather's good.
    may for a possible plan.
12. My goal is to run a marathon.
    My goal is to + base verb.
13. I'm planning to save more money.
    I'm planning to + base verb.
14. I hope to finish my degree in June.
    I hope to + base verb.
15. I'd like to learn to drive this year.
    I'd like to for a wish.
16. I've decided to take a break.
    I've decided to for a settled choice.
17. I intend to apply for the course.
    I intend to is a firm plan.
18. I'm trying to eat more healthily.
    I'm trying to for an ongoing goal.
19. What are you doing this weekend?
    Present continuous question about plans.
20. I won't forget your birthday this time.
    won't (will not) for a promise.

Quick recap before you practise.

A short conversation

Sam: What are you doing after the summer? Aisha: I’m going to start a design course. I’ve already signed up. Sam: That’s great! I might do something similar, but I’m not sure yet. Aisha: You should. My goal is to work as a designer in a couple of years. Sam: Nice. Tell me how it goes — I’ll probably ask you for advice.

Usage notes

• will often contracts to ’ll: I’ll, she’ll, we’ll; the negative is won’t (= will not).
• going to shortens in speech to ‘gonna’: you will hear “gonna”, but write going to.
• shall (British, formal): Shall I open the window? offers help; shall is rare in everyday American English.
• Don’t use ‘will’ for arrangements: for something already booked, the present continuous is more natural: I’m seeing the dentist tomorrow, not I will see the dentist tomorrow (which sounds like a decision just made).
• Time clauses take the present, not will: after when, if, before, after, as soon as, use the present simple: I’ll call you when I arrive (not when I will arrive).

Practice

Practice

Future plans and goals practice

Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.

1 Which sentence shows a plan decided before speaking?

OK, I'll do it. I'm going to do it tomorrow. I do it tomorrow. I will doing it tomorrow.

Check

Show answer

I'm going to do it tomorrow. — 'going to' is for a plan already in your mind.

2 Decision made now: The phone's ringing — I ____ get it.

Check

Hint: the future form for an on-the-spot decision

Show answer

will — Use 'will' (I'll) for a decision made at the moment of speaking.

3 Fixed arrangement: I ____ meeting the doctor at four. (use be + -ing)

Check

Hint: present continuous: I ___ meeting…

Show answer

am — Present continuous (I'm meeting) is used for a fixed arrangement with a time.

4 Put the words in order to state a goal.

is toMya marathongoalrun

CheckReset

Show answer

My goal is to run a marathon — The pattern is 'My goal is to + base verb': My goal is to run a marathon.

5 Match each form to its use.

• going to Match for going to — choose — a decided plana decision made nowa fixed arrangementan uncertain plan
• will Match for will — choose — a decided plana decision made nowa fixed arrangementan uncertain plan
• present continuous Match for present continuous — choose — a decided plana decision made nowa fixed arrangementan uncertain plan
• might Match for might — choose — a decided plana decision made nowa fixed arrangementan uncertain plan

Check

Show answer

• going to → a decided plan
• will → a decision made now
• present continuous → a fixed arrangement
• might → an uncertain plan

Each future form signals how fixed or certain the plan is.

6 Which sentence is correct?

I might to go. I might go. I will to go. I'm might go.

Check

Show answer

I might go. — After might/may/will, use the base verb with no 'to'.

7 Time clause: I'll call you when I ____ there. (arrive)

Check

Hint: after 'when', use the present simple, not will

Show answer

arrive — After when/if/before, use the present simple: when I arrive.

How to say it

A few future forms are easy to mishear. Copy the audio.

• going to is often said “gonna” in relaxed speech: “I’m gonna go” — but write going to.
• ’ll is very short: I’ll is almost “ale”, we’ll is “weel”; don’t turn it into a full “will”.
• won’t rhymes with “don’t”: “wohnt”, not “wont” (which means a habit).
• goal is one syllable: “gohl”, with the long o.

Quiz

Check yourself

Future plans and goals quiz

10 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.

0/10 0 answered

1. 1Which sentence shows a decision made at the moment of speaking?

   A I'm going to help you. B I'll help you. C I'm helping you tomorrow. D I help you.
   Show answer

   I'll help you. — 'will' (I'll) marks a decision made as you speak.

2. 2Choose the plan you decided earlier.

   A OK, I'll cook. B I'm going to cook dinner tonight. C I cook dinner tonight. D I will cooking dinner.
   Show answer

   I'm going to cook dinner tonight. — 'going to' is for a plan already in mind.

3. 3Which is the natural way to say a fixed arrangement?

   A I will see the dentist tomorrow at nine. B I'm seeing the dentist tomorrow at nine. C I see the dentist tomorrow at nine. D I going to see the dentist.
   Show answer

   I'm seeing the dentist tomorrow at nine. — Present continuous (I'm seeing) suits a booked arrangement with a time.

4. 4Pick the correct sentence.

   A I might to look for a job. B I might look for a job. C I might looking for a job. D I'm might look for a job.
   Show answer

   I might look for a job. — After 'might', use the base verb with no 'to'.

5. 5Complete the goal: My goal is ___ speak English fluently.

   A to B for C that D of
   Show answer

   to — 'My goal is to + base verb': My goal is to speak…

6. 6Which uses 'going to' for a prediction from evidence?

   A I'm going to be a teacher. B Look at those clouds — it's going to rain. C She's going to call later. D We're going to move house.
   Show answer

   Look at those clouds — it's going to rain. — 'going to' predicts from what you can see now (the clouds).

7. 7Choose the correct time clause.

   A I'll call you when I will arrive. B I'll call you when I arrive. C I call you when I arrive. D I'll call you when I arriving.
   Show answer

   I'll call you when I arrive. — After 'when', use the present simple, not 'will'.

8. 8What does 'won't' mean?

   A want to B will not C would not D was not
   Show answer

   will not — won't is the contraction of 'will not'.

9. 9Which sentence states an uncertain plan?

   A I'm definitely going on Friday. B I may go on Friday if I'm free. C I'm going on Friday. D I go on Friday.
   Show answer

   I may go on Friday if I'm free. — 'may' (or 'might') marks a possible but not certain plan.

10. 10Choose the correct offer.

    A I carry that for you. B I'll carry that for you. C I'm carry that for you. D I going to carry that.
    Show answer

    I'll carry that for you. — 'will' is used for an offer made on the spot.

Recap cheat-sheet

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