Will vs Going to vs Present Continuous

Tableau comparatif complet - Cabinet Action

Tableau comparatif principal

Critere Will Going to Present Continuous
Formation S + will + BV S + am/is/are going to + BV S + am/is/are + V-ing
Negation S + won't + BV S + am/is/are not going to + BV S + am/is/are not + V-ing
Question Will + S + BV? Am/Is/Are + S + going to + BV? Am/Is/Are + S + V-ing?
Decision Spontanee (au moment de parler) Deja prise (avant le moment de parler) Confirmee (avec date/lieu/heure)
Prediction Basee sur opinion/experience Basee sur des preuves visibles Non applicable
Degre de certitude Moyen a faible Eleve (preuve ou intention ferme) Tres eleve (fixe, organise)
Registre Tous registres Tous registres (informel a l'oral : "gonna") Tous registres

Tableau comparatif avance : tous les futurs

Forme Structure Usage principal Marqueur temporel typique
Will will + BV Prediction, promesse, decision spontanee tomorrow, next week, probably, I think
Going to be going to + BV Intention, prediction sur preuves tonight, this weekend, look!
Present continuous be + V-ing Plan fixe, rendez-vous confirme at 3 pm, on Monday, this evening
Future continuous will be + V-ing Action en cours a un moment futur this time tomorrow, at 8 pm
Future perfect will have + PP Action accomplie avant un moment futur by next Friday, by the time, by 2030
Future perfect continuous will have been + V-ing Duree d'une action jusqu'a un point futur by June, I will have been working for 5 years

Scenarios pratiques

Scenario 1 : Au bureau

Collegue : "The printer isn't working."

Vous : "I'll call IT right now." (decision spontanee = will)

Vous (5 min plus tard) : "I'm meeting the IT guy at 2 pm." (rendez-vous fixe = present continuous)

Vous : "He said he's going to replace the toner." (intention = going to)

Scenario 2 : Reunion d'equipe

Manager : "Who can present the Q3 results?"

Vous : "I'll do it." (volontariat spontane = will)

Manager : "Great. By Friday, you will have prepared the slides." (accompli avant une echeance = future perfect)

Vous : "Yes. I'm working on them tomorrow morning." (plan fixe = present continuous)

Scenario 3 : Conversation entre amis

Ami : "What are your plans for the weekend?"

Vous : "I'm having dinner with Sarah on Saturday." (plan confirme = present continuous)

Ami : "And Sunday?"

Vous : "I'm going to clean the house." (intention = going to)

Ami : "Do you want to see a movie in the evening?"

Vous : "Sure, I'll check what's on." (decision instantanee = will)

Le piege du conditionnel (if/when)

ConjonctionForme dans la subordonneeExemple
ifPresent simpleIf you come, I'll be happy.
whenPresent simpleWhen she arrives, we'll start.
as soon asPresent simpleAs soon as I finish, I'll call.
beforePresent simpleBefore they leave, I'll say goodbye.
afterPresent simpleAfter we eat, we'll go for a walk.
untilPresent simpleI'll wait until you get here.

Regle d'or : La proposition principale peut utiliser will, mais la subordonnee de temps utilise TOUJOURS le present simple. Cette regle n'existe pas en francais, d'ou les erreurs frequentes des francophones.

Expressions utiles avec le futur

ExpressionForme du futurExemple
be about toAction imminenteThe meeting is about to start.
be due toPrevu / programmeThe train is due to arrive at 5 pm.
be on the verge ofSur le point deShe is on the verge of quitting.
be likely toProbabiliteHe is likely to accept the offer.
be bound toCertitudeThey are bound to win.