Talking about Future Plans and Predictions in English

Talking about Plans and Predictions

Asking About Plans	Hiding Plans
What is your plan? What are you going to do ...? What do you intend to do ...? What are you planning to do ...?	I’ve got a particular plan. I can’t tell you now. You’ll see (later). Let’s wait and see.
Stating Plans	Predicting
My plan is .... I’m going to .... I intend to .... I’m planning to ....	Do you think ... will ...? ...will ..., I expect / suppose. You will .... It’s going to ....

Note:

A. Differences between "WILL" and "BE GOING TO".

• “Will” is often used to express an unplanned and spontaneous decision.
• “Will” is usually used to indicate a future event or action with little certainty.
• “Be going to” is used to express something that is planned in the future.
• “Be going to” is also used to express something that is going to happen in the near future, or it is almost certain to happen.

See also:

• Contrasting Future Forms: "Be Going To" VS "Will"
• Differing the Usage of WILL from BE GOING TO

B. Example Dialogue: Discussing Plans

Two friends are talking about their plans for the weekend.

Yusi: "What are you doing this weekend, Waqi?"

Waqi: "Oh, I've got something special planned."

Yusi: "What is it?"

Waqi: "Sorry, I can’t say right now. You’ll find out soon enough."

Yusi: "Come on, tell me! What’s your plan?"

Waqi: "I told you, you'll just have to wait and see. What about you? What’s on your agenda?"

Yusi: "I think I’ll watch "Rumah Angker". You know, that horror movie."

Waqi: "Hmm, if I were you, I’d pick something else."

Yusi: "Really? But I love horror movies. They’re so thrilling!"

Waqi: "Thrilling? I think it’s just not worth watching."

Yusi: "Why’s that?"

Waqi: "Honestly, I don’t get why people still want to watch movies about ghosts and superstition. In today’s world, with all the technology and knowledge we have, it feels outdated."

Yusi: "Do you think all movies should be based on logic? And besides, horror films are becoming more popular every day."

Waqi: "That’s the problem. When a movie becomes a hit, a ton of similar ones follow. Movie producers just keep churning out the same genre because they think it’s what people want."

Yusi: "But when a movie is popular, it means people enjoy it, right? What’s wrong with that?"

Waqi: "Sure, but filmmakers often just jump on the bandwagon, making cheap copies without caring about quality. They end up creating a bunch of flash-in-the-pan movies."

Yusi: "Flash in the pan? What do you mean?"

Waqi: "It means something that gains quick popularity but fades away just as fast."

Yusi: "Ah, that’s new for me. Anyway, you still haven’t told me your plans. What are you up to this weekend?"

Waqi: "Guess."

Yusi: "Hmm, you’ll probably go swimming, right? You love swimming."

Waqi: "Not this weekend, maybe next time."

Yusi: "Then you’re going out of town, I suppose?"

Waqi: "Nope. This weekend is my dad’s birthday, and we’re planning a surprise party for him."

Yusi: "A surprise party? That sounds like so much fun!"

Waqi: "Definitely! I’m really looking forward to it."

C. Exercise

Answer these questions.

1. What is the topic of the conversation?
2. What is the most probable relationship between the speakers?
3. What is Yusi's plan for the weekend? And what is Waqi's?
4. What does Yusi think about Waqi's plan?
5. Rewrite the sentences that indicate the speakers' plan.
6. Rewrite the sentences that indicate the speakers' prediction or guess.

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