Grammar Reference

6.1 ■ will and going to

will

Affirmative and negative
I You He / She / It We They	'll (= will) won't (= will not)	wait here.
Questions and short answers
Will	I you he / she / it we they	be all right?	Yes, I will. No, I won't.

Use

We use will and won't (= will not) to express:

• predictions, or future facts that we are certain about, often after the verb think.
  That plant won't survive for long without water.
  I don't think they'll win the competition.
• decisions made at the moment of speaking, offers and promises.
  It's very hot in this room. ~ I'll open the window.

going to

Affirmative and negative
I	'm (= am) 'm not (= am not)		going to work tonight.
He She It	's (= is) isn't (= is not)
We You They	're (= are) aren't (= are not)
Questions and short answers
Am	I	going to come?	Yes, I am. No, I'm not.
Is	he she it		Yes, he is. No, he isn't.
Are	we you they		Yes, we are. No, we aren't.

Use

We use be + going to:

• ■ to describe an intention.
  I'm going to start keeping a diary.
• to talk about a future plan.
  We are both going to study in the USA next summer.
• to make a prediction about the future based on something we can see in the present.
  Look at those clouds. It's going to rain.

Compare:

going to: They aren't going to stay in London very long. (This is their plan or intention.)

will / won't: They won't stay very long. (I predict this.)

6.2 ■ First conditional

We use the first conditional to talk about a possible present or future action or situation, and its probable result.

If you study hard at school,	you'll do well.
CONDITION	RESULT
if + present simple,	will + infinitive

If we put the result clause first, there is no comma.

You'll do well	if you study hard at school.
RESULT	CONDITION
will + infinitive	if + present simple

In a condition clause, if is followed by the present simple, even though the verb refers to the future.

If we miss the train, we'll be late for school.

NOT If we'll miss the train ...

It is possible to use a negative verb in either or both parts of a conditional sentence.

If he doesn't learn to read, he won't do very well.

6.3 ■ Zero conditional

We use the zero conditional to talk about a general fact that always or usually follows as a logical result of an action. The present simple is used in both parts of the sentence.

If you are tired,	you make more mistakes.
CONDITION	RESULT
If / When + present simple,	present simple

When the result clause comes first, there is no comma.

You make more mistakes if you are tired.

6.4 ■ Expressing probability

We express levels of certainty about the future using the following expressions:

Compare:

There probably won't be food shortages in twenty years' time.(= It is likely that there won't be.)

People might / may work from home more in five years' time.(= It is likely that they will.)

More and more people will probably work from home in five years' time.(= It is likely that they will.)