Guide to Expressing Future and Intention – TOEIC® Preparation

To excel at the TOEIC®, you must master the modal auxiliaries used to express an intention or an imminent future. This guide delves into the usage of will, the be going to construction, as well as less common phrases like shall, be about to, or be to. You will discover in which situations to use each form, how to structure them grammatically, and what nuances of meaning they convey.

1. lockquote{Will}: Expressing Simple Future and Spontaneous Decisions

Will represents the fundamental modal auxiliary for talking about the future in English. But be careful: its role is not limited to describing upcoming events. It also conveys decisions made instantly, promises, commitments, or general predictions.

A. lockquote{Will}: Translating an Instantaneous Decision

You use will when you make an immediate decision, without prior thought. It is a spontaneous reaction to a circumstance or a need that has just arisen. This modal signals that the speaker is reacting in the present moment.

• I'm tired. I think I will go to bed now. (Je suis fatigué. Je crois que je vais me coucher maintenant.)
• You dropped your pen. I'll pick it up for you. (Tu as laissé tomber ton stylo. Je vais te le ramasser.)
• I'm too tired. I won't go out tonight. (Je suis trop fatigué. Je ne sortirai pas ce soir.)
• Will you wait for me if I'm late? (M'attendras-tu si j'arrive en retard ?)

B. lockquote{Will}: Formulating an Offer or a Commitment

With will, you can offer help, make a formal commitment, or reassure your listener. This construction expresses a firm willingness to act and a credible commitment, often used to show your support or availability.

• I'll help you prepare for the test. (Je vais t'accompagner dans ta préparation à l'examen.)
• Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. (Ne t'en fais pas, je gère tout.)
• I won't forget to call you, I promise. (Je ne vais pas oublier de t'appeler, c'est promis.)
• Will you promise to be on time? (Peux-tu promettre d'arriver à l'heure ?)

C. lockquote{Will}: Describing a General or Neutral Future

Will is also used to refer to future events without a specific context or without concrete clues. It is used for general forecasts or facts considered inevitable.

• It will rain tomorrow. (Il pleuvra demain.)
• Sales will increase next quarter. (Les ventes progresseront au prochain trimestre.)
• The sun won't shine all day. (Le soleil ne sera pas présent toute la journée.)
• Will the economy recover soon? (L'économie va-t-elle rapidement se redresser ?)

2. lockquote{Be going to}: Translating a Planned Intention and Near Future

The be going to structure is extremely common and generally more explicit than will when referring to already established intentions or future events considered very probable. It consists of the verb to be (conjugated according to the subject), followed by going to, then the base form of the verb.

A. lockquote{Be going to}: Talking about a Prior Plan or Decision

We choose be going to when the intention or decision already existed before the moment of speaking. It is an action carefully considered or organized in advance, often accompanied by precise contextual elements. Unlike will, this form indicates that the speaker has already planned and confirmed their action.

• I'm going to move to London next month. (Je vais m'installer à Londres le mois prochain.)
• They're going to organize a party for his birthday. (Ils vont mettre en place une fête pour son anniversaire.)
• I'm not going to move to London next month. (Je ne vais pas m'installer à Londres le mois prochain.)
• Are they going to organize a party for his birthday? (Vont-ils mettre en place une fête pour son anniversaire ?)

B. lockquote{Be going to}: Formulating a Prediction Based on Clues

We use be going to to make a prediction when present elements clearly signal what is about to happen. This form is ideal when you rely on observable signs, reliable data, or obvious current circumstances.

• Look at those clouds! It's going to rain. (Regarde ces nuages ! Il va pleuvoir.)
• She's going to have a baby soon. (Elle va accoucher prochainement.)
• It's not going to rain today. The sky is clear. (Il ne va pas pleuvoir aujourd'hui. Le ciel est dégagé.)
• Is she going to have a baby soon? (Va-t-elle accoucher bientôt ?)

C. lockquote{Will} or lockquote{be going to}: How to Choose?

When to favor lockquote{will}?

• Instant Decision: When the decision is made at the very moment, without anticipation.
  • I'll help you with your bags. (Je vais t'aider avec tes bagages.) → The speaker decides immediately upon seeing the bags.
• Promise or Guarantee: To give assurance or confirm a future action.
  • I'll never leave you. (Je ne te quitterai jamais.)

When to favor lockquote{be going to}?

• Matured Intention or Established Plan: When the decision was made prior to the moment of speaking.
  • I'm going to quit my job. (Je vais démissionner.) → The decision to quit predated the conversation.
• Prediction Based on Evidence: When you rely on current clues or observable facts.
  • Look at the traffic. We're going to be late. (Regarde les embouteillages. Nous allons arriver en retard.)

3. lockquote{Shall}: Expressing Intentional Future (Mainly in British English)

Shall is a less common modal in contemporary English (especially in the US), but it remains present in certain expressions. It is mainly encountered in the first person (I, we). It can also appear in formal contexts (legal texts, contracts) to convey an obligation or a certainty regarding the future.

A. lockquote{Shall}: Making a Proposal, Suggestion, or Invitation

In British English, shall is frequently used to propose something or ask for an opinion. This construction is particularly common in questions in the first person singular or plural.

• Shall we go to the cinema tonight? (On va au cinéma ce soir ?)
• Shall I open the window? (Dois-je ouvrir la fenêtre ?)
• Shall we not discuss this matter further? (Ne devrions-nous pas approfondir ce sujet ?)
• Shall we meet at the usual place tomorrow? (On se retrouve au lieu habituel demain ?)

This use of shall is rare in American English, where alternatives like should or will are generally preferred. For example, an American would more likely say:

• Should we go to the cinema tonight?

We detail the use of shall for making suggestions further in this course

B. lockquote{Shall}: Formal or Legal Context

In legal documents, contracts, or official texts, shall is used to establish obligations or actions to be performed. It expresses a clearly defined certainty or requirement. This usage is rigid and standardized, making it a preferred choice in these contexts.

• The tenant shall pay the rent on the first day of each month. (Le locataire devra régler le loyer le premier jour de chaque mois.) → This sentence expresses an explicit contractual obligation. Shall formulates a non-negotiable rule here.
• The company shall provide a safe working environment. (L'entreprise devra garantir un environnement de travail sécurisé.)
• The employee shall not disclose confidential information. (L'employé ne devra pas divulguer d'informations confidentielles.)
• Shall the contractor submit the documents by the agreed deadline? (L'entrepreneur devra-t-il remettre les documents dans les délais convenus ?)

4. lockquote{Be about to}: Evoking an Imminent Action

The phrase lockquote{be about to + base verb} is particularly useful for describing an action very close in time, almost immediate. It is used for something that will happen in a very short time, sometimes literally in a few seconds or minutes.

• I am about to leave the office. (Je suis sur le point de quitter le bureau.)
• He isn't about to give up now. (Il n'est pas près d'abandonner maintenant.)
• Are you about to start the meeting? (Es-tu sur le point de démarrer la réunion ?)

5. lockquote{Be to}: Talking about a Scheduled or Planned Event

The structure lockquote{be to + base verb} is often used in a formal context or in the press to express that an event is officially scheduled, planned, or ordered.

• The president is to visit the capital next week. (Le président doit se rendre dans la capitale la semaine prochaine.)
• They are to be married in June. (Ils doivent se marier en juin.)

6. Verbs Expressing Planning or Intention

Although these verbs are not modal auxiliaries in the strict sense, they are frequently used to express intention or the future realization of an action. These verbs are followed by the infinitive and are often part of present tense sentences to talk about a planned future.

Among the most common:

• Plan (to do something)
  • I plan to take the TOEIC® exam next month. (Je prévois de passer l'examen TOEIC® le mois prochain.)
• Intend (to do something)
  • She intends to apply for a job abroad. (Elle a l'intention de candidater pour un poste à l'étranger.)
• Expect (to do something)
  • We expect to finish the project by Friday. (Nous comptons terminer le projet d'ici vendredi.)

Conclusion

To succeed in your TOEIC®, it is crucial to master the subtleties between these different ways of expressing the future or an intention. The two most important constructions to know remain will and be going to, as they are omnipresent both in writing and in speech.

Variations such as shall, be about to, or be to may appear in more specific contexts (British English, formal situations, or elevated register). Finally, using verbs such as plan, intend, or expect allows for clearly expressing an intention while maintaining a direct and natural style.

Summary Table: Modals and Structures Expressing Intention or Near Future

Essential Points to Remember: Modals of Intention and Near Future

1. Difference between lockquote{Will} and lockquote{Be going to}: Do not confuse a general forecast (It will rain tomorrow.) with a prediction based on visible evidence (It's going to rain.).
   • Will is used for spontaneous decisions, promises, and general forecasts without immediate clues.
     • I'll call you later. (Je vais t'appeler plus tard.) → Decision made instantly.
   • Be going to marks a considered intention or a prediction supported by observable clues.
     • Look at the clouds. It's going to rain. (Regarde les nuages. Il va pleuvoir.)
2. Nuances with lockquote{Shall}: Do not use lockquote{shall} in an informal or casual context.
   • In British English, shall is often used to propose a suggestion or an invitation (Shall we go?).
   • In legal English, shall expresses a strict obligation or a rule, but it is uncommon in daily conversation.
   • American English: Shall is generally replaced by should or will in most situations.
3. lockquote{Be about to} vs lockquote{Be going to}: Do not use lockquote{be about to} if the action is planned for a distant future.
   • Be about to is used only for very imminent actions, often in the following instant.
     • I'm about to leave. (Je suis sur le point de partir.)
   • Be going to can cover longer periods, for planned projects or predictions.
     • I'm going to leave next week. (Je vais partir la semaine prochaine.)
4. lockquote{Be to}: Formality and Strict Planning
   • Be to is reserved for very formal or official contexts (e.g., press, contract).
     • The president is to visit the capital next week. (Le président doit visiter la capitale la semaine prochaine.)
   • This structure is rarely used in speech and might seem too rigid in a common conversation.
5. Check the Clues to Choose between lockquote{Will} and lockquote{Be going to}:
   • If evidence or a clue is visible or known, use be going to.
     • Look at that car! It's going to crash. (Regarde cette voiture ! Elle va s'écraser.)
   • If no evidence is available and it is a general forecast, use will.
     • The stock market will recover soon. (Le marché boursier se redressera bientôt.)
6. Intention Verbs: Be mindful of the time nuance
   • Verbs like plan, intend, or expect are not modals, but their use in the present or future adds precision.
   • I plan to take the TOEIC®. (Je prévois de passer le TOEIC®.) → Considered intention.
   • They are often preferred in formal or written contexts.
   • These verbs do not combine with modals (I will plan to... is incorrect).

Other Courses on Modals

To deepen your understanding of modals, you can consult our various courses on the subject:

• 🔗 Overview of Modals for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Guide to Expressing Ability for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Guide to Expressing Permission for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Guide to Expressing Obligation for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Guide to Expressing Prohibition for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Guide to Expressing Lack of Obligation for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Guide to Expressing Advice for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Guide to Expressing Suggestion and Proposal for the TOEIC®
• 🔗 Guide to Expressing Probability and Uncertainty for the TOEIC®

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