Talking About Future Plans and Intentions in English

In everyday conversations, we often need to talk about our future plans and intentions. For example, you may want to make weekend plans, share goals, or discuss upcoming events. Being able to express these ideas clearly in English helps you sound confident and natural.

When English speakers talk about the future, they don’t always use will. There are actually many ways to express future time, and choosing the right one depends on what you want to say — and how you want to sound.

Here’s a guide to help you talk about the future like a fluent English speaker, especially in conversations.

Talking About Future Plans and Intentions in English

Talking about future plans and intentions can be expressed in various ways:

1. Use the Present Simple for Schedules and Timetables

We often use the present simple when talking about fixed events, like transport times, appointments, or public events. You’ll hear this in travel conversations or when making plans.

Examples:

• “My flight leaves at 10 a.m. tomorrow.”
• “The movie starts at 8. Want to grab dinner before?”
• “School finishes next Friday.”

2. Use the Present Continuous for Personal Plans

When something is already arranged or decided, English speakers often use the present continuous.

Examples:

• “I’m meeting Anna for lunch on Friday.”
• “We’re staying in a cabin this weekend.”
• “He’s seeing the dentist at 4.”

🗣 Speaking Tip: This is perfect when telling someone what you’ve already planned — and it sounds very natural in everyday talk.

3. Use Will for Decisions, Promises, and Predictions

“Will” is often used when you’re deciding on the spot, making a promise, or predicting something.

Examples:

• “I’ll get the phone — just a sec!”
• “Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”
• “You’ll love this movie — it’s hilarious.”

🗣 Speaking Tip: Use “will” when you suddenly decide to do something, or when you’re trying to be helpful or polite.

4. Use Be Going To for Intentions and What You Can See

“Going to” is common in everyday English for future intentions or when there’s evidence something will happen.

Examples:

• “I’m going to start working out next week.”
• “Watch out! That cup is going to fall!”
• “We’re going to visit grandma this weekend.”

🗣 Speaking Tip: “Going to” makes your plans sound more certain than just “will.” Use it in conversation when you’ve already decided to do something.

5. Use Will Be + -ing for Ongoing Future Actions

Use this when something will be happening at a certain future time — great when coordinating with others.

Examples:

• “I’ll be studying at 9, so can we talk later?”
• “They’ll be traveling during the holidays.”
• “We’ll be waiting at the station when you arrive.”

🗣 Speaking Tip: It sounds polite and clear when talking about your schedule or setting expectations.

6. Use Want to, Plan to, Hope to… to Talk About Future Desires

These verbs are great for communicating your future hopes and plans, and they’re very common in casual conversation.

Examples:

• “I want to learn Spanish next year.”
• “We hope to get a dog soon.”
• “She plans to apply for the job.”

🗣 Speaking Tip: Use these to express personal goals and future dreams naturally in everyday talk.

7. Use May, Might, Could for Possibilities

If you’re not sure about the future, use these to soften your language and keep things flexible.

Examples:

• “I might go out later, depending on how I feel.”
• “We could see a movie, or just chill at home.”
• “He may join us, but he hasn’t decided yet.”

🗣 Speaking Tip: These are great when you want to keep your options open or avoid sounding too certain.

8. Use Should for Strong Probability

“Should” is helpful when you want to show you expect something to happen.

Examples:

• “We should be there around 7.”
• “The meeting should finish by noon.”
• “You should receive the email soon.”

🗣 Speaking Tip: This makes you sound confident but not too strong — polite and helpful in conversations.

9. Time Clauses and If-Clauses: Use the Present Tense for Future Meaning

In everyday English, we often talk about the future with words like “when,” “after,” or “if” — but we usually use the present tense, not “will.”

Examples:

• “I’ll call you when I get home.” (NOT when I will get home)
• “We’ll go out after we finish dinner.”
• “If it rains, we’ll stay inside.”

🗣 Speaking Tip: These are common in everyday conversations — especially when making or adjusting plans.

Talking about Future Plans: More Example Sentences

BONUS TIP: Avoid Overusing “Will”!

In spoken English, learners often use will too much. But native speakers use a mix of structures depending on context.

If you want to sound natural and fluent, choose the right future form for your message, not just what a grammar rule says.

In Conversation, Think Function — Not Form

When speaking, don’t stress too much about grammar rules. Instead, think about the purpose:

• Making a plan? → Use present continuous or going to
• Predicting? → Use will or might
• Offering or promising? → Use will
• Sharing dreams or intentions? → Use hope to / want to / plan to

Practice Time!

For more detailed explanations and examples of future forms, check out the Cambridge Dictionary’s guide on talking about the future.

Conclusion

Talking about your future plans is an important part of everyday communication. By practicing these phrases, you’ll feel more confident expressing your ideas in English.

Your Turn: What are your plans for next weekend or next month?

Related Pages

• More Speaking Lessons
• Making promises in English
• Future Tense In English
• Grammar Exercises: Future Plan
• The Simple Future Tense