Different Futures
Future Forms Compared
The main difference between the future with 'will', and the future with 'going to' is that the future with 'will' is used for decisions made at the moment of speaking. In other words, use 'will' to express your reaction to a situation.
Don't worry. The donor will be excited by our proposal.
Don't worry. I'll bring in a third party to help with mediation.
Don't worry. I will apply the doctrine fairly.
The future with 'going to', on the other hand, is used to make a statement about something you have decided before the moment of speaking.
Are they going to work on development-related projects in India?
Sheila isn't going to attend the conference on ecology and eco-technology in developing countries.
The lobbyist isn't going to visit the White House without a campaign contribution check in hand.
Scheduled Events in the Future
Use the present continuous to express scheduled or planned events in the near future.
Example:
We're manufacturing the sound bite for the six o'clock news on Tuesday.
We're gathering at the corporate funded dinner party for lobbyists at nine o'clock on Tuesday.
When are you pitching for the sponsorship?
He is attending the specific cause fundraising event on Wednesday at two o'clock.
Positive Form:
Subject + to be + verb + -ing + (object(s))
We're manufacturing the sound bite for the six o'clock news on Tuesday.
Negative Form:
Subject + to be + not + verb+ ing + (object(s))
He is attending the specific cause fundraising event on Wednesday at two o'clock.
Question Form:
(Question Word) + to be + subject + verb + ing?
When are you pitching for the sponsorship?