Making Plans

Abdul  : Have you read the novel which I lent you?

Hayyi  : Not yet. I am going to read it tonight.

The sentence “I am going to read it tonight.” is used to make a plan. When we are expressing a prior plan (something we intend to do in the future because in the past we have made a plan or decision to do it), we use be going to. In the dialogue, the boy has made a plan that he is going to read the novel tonight.

Although ‘will’ is used to express future time, it is not used to express a prior plan. The uses of ‘will’ are:

1.      To express a prediction

Example: Be careful! You’ll hurt yourself!

2.      To express willingness.

Example:

Nita           : There is a knock at the door.

Talia          : I’ll open it.

Here are some other expressions we can use to make plans.

Making Plans

·         I’m thinking of taking the subject ·         I’m certainly going to… ·         I’m going to… that’s for sure. ·         I’m hoping to… ·         I thought I might… ·         I’m not going to… If I can help it. ·         I’m certainly not going to… ·         I don’t really feel like …. ·         I’m not really planning it.