🎯 Why This Matters
To express intentions, predictions, and plans.
Correct future tense selection for different contexts.
🇪🇸 The Challenge
Will vs Going to. Spanish has 'iré' (future tense) and 'voy a ir' (going to), but the English distinction based on spontaneity vs planned actions is more nuanced.
🇲🇽🇨🇴🇦🇷 Using Present for Future
Problem: Spanish often uses present tense for near future ('mañana voy')
Watch out: Saying 'Tomorrow I go to the doctor' instead of 'Tomorrow I'm going to go...'
✅ Fix: English usually needs an explicit future form (will or going to), not present
🧠 Mental Note: For planned future events, use 'going to' or Present Continuous
🇪🇸 Future simple overuse
Problem: Spain Spanish uses simple future more than LatAm
Watch out: Always using 'will' when 'going to' would be more natural
✅ Fix: For plans and evidence-based predictions, prefer 'going to'
🧠 Visual Explanation (The Mental Fix)
The Decision Moment
WILL = instant decision or promise. GOING TO = I already made plans or I see evidence.
🗣️ Pronunciation Guide
How Spanish speakers should pronounce this structure:
Will contraction and gonna
Spanish Habit: Pronouncing 'will' and 'going to' in full
English Reality: 'Will' contracts to 'll. 'Going to' becomes 'gonna' in speech
Examples:
- I will → I'll /aɪl/
- going to → gonna /ˈɡɑːnə/
- I'm going to → I'm gonna /aɪm ˈɡɑːnə/
Practice: 'Gonna' is standard in spoken English. Don't write it, but definitely say it!
📖 How It Works
Teacher Recommendation: Self-study friendly
Time Investment: 4 hours
🔑 Signal Words (Memory Anchors)
These words/phrases appear with this structure:
| English | Spanish | Example |
|---|---|---|
| will | -ré/-rá (futuro simple) | I will call you later / Te llamaré luego |
| going to | voy a / va a | I'm going to study / Voy a estudiar |
| I think...will | creo que...-rá | I think it will be fine / Creo que estará bien |
| I promise | prometo | I promise I will be there / Prometo que estaré ahí |
💬 Real Examples
Let's see this structure in action with correct vs incorrect usage:
Example 1: Spontaneous decision
✅ CORRECT: "The phone is ringing. I'll get it."
🇪🇸 Translation: "El teléfono está sonando. Yo contesto."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "The phone is ringing. I'm going to get it."
Why wrong? Spontaneous decision (just decided now) = WILL, not GOING TO
Example 2: Pre-planned action
✅ CORRECT: "I'm going to start a new job next month."
🇪🇸 Translation: "Voy a empezar un nuevo trabajo el próximo mes."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "I will start a new job next month. (if already planned)"
Why wrong? Already decided/planned = GOING TO is more natural
Example 3: Prediction with evidence
✅ CORRECT: "Look at those dark clouds. It's going to rain."
🇪🇸 Translation: "Mira esas nubes oscuras. Va a llover."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "Look at those dark clouds. It will rain."
Why wrong? When you have EVIDENCE for your prediction, use GOING TO
✏️ Practice Exercises
Ready to test your understanding? Let's practice!
🚀 What to Study Next
More in "Verb Tenses"
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