Future Tense for Kids: Rules for 'Will' and 'Going To'
The future tense in English lets children talk about tomorrow, next week, and their dreams. The two main forms are will and going to. A 5-year-old might say, "I will eat cookies," while a 12-year-old plans ahead with, "I am going to study biology." This guide to the future tense for kids explains when to use each form through simple examples, a side-by-side comparison, common mistakes, and quick activities you can practise at home.
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The Simple Future: Using 'Will'
The word 'will' expresses future-time ideas directly. Use it for quick decisions, promises, and predictions. Its structure never changes with the subject, making it a clear starting point when teaching the future tense for kids. With a 6-year-old, practise short "will" sentences during play: "The car will go fast!"
Data current as of July 2026.
Structure: Subject + will + Verb (base form)
- I will eat an apple.
- She will read a book.
- They will play outside.
- It will be sunny tomorrow.
The main verb stays in its base form every time, simplifying the pattern for English for primary school learners. For a negative sentence, add "not": I will not (won't) forget. For a question, move "will" to the front: Will you help me? Ask your child to build one positive sentence, one negative sentence, and one question with the same verb.
Making Plans with 'Going To'
Use 'going to' for plans and intentions decided before speaking, and for predictions supported by visible evidence. It pairs naturally with the present continuous tense. With a 9-year-old, talk through the weekend: "On Saturday I am going to play football." This gives future tense for kids a practical link to family routines and real plans.
Structure: Subject + am/is/are + going to + Verb
- I am going to visit my grandparents.
- He is going to build a tower.
- They are going to learn the language.
The form of "to be" must match the subject: use am with I, is with he, she, or it, and are with you, we, or they. The action verb remains in its base form: going to visit, not going to visits.
'Will' vs. 'Going to': Choosing the Right Form
The key question is when the decision was made. Use 'will' for an idea decided on the spot and 'going to' for an existing plan. Native speakers may blur the two in casual speech, but a clear distinction helps children master future-time grammar in both conversation and English writing for kids. For future tense for kids, begin with the four common situations below before exploring less predictable conversational uses.
Compare two prediction examples. "I think our team will win" expresses an opinion without visible proof. "Our team is going to win—the score is 5–0 with one minute left" uses present evidence. This contrast helps older children understand why both forms can refer to a future event while communicating different information.
Time Words That Signal the Future
Time words tell your child that a sentence refers to the future, making the correct form easier to choose. Point them out in stories and family conversations:
- tomorrow — "We will go to the park tomorrow."
- next week / next year — "She is going to start school next year."
- soon — "Dinner will be ready soon."
- later / tonight — "I am going to read a story later."
- in a minute / in an hour — "The bus will come in a minute."
When children hear one of these signals, they can prepare for a future form. Turn the pattern into a quick future tense for kids game: say a time word and ask your child to finish the sentence. You say, "Tonight…" and they answer, "…I am going to brush my teeth." Then swap roles so your child supplies the time word and checks your answer.
Practice Time: Future Tense for Kids
Fill in the blanks using 'will' or 'be going to' based on the context:
- The sky is very grey. It ______ rain soon.
- "I'm hungry." "I ______ make you a sandwich."
- We already bought tickets. We ______ see a movie tonight.
- I promise I ______ tidy my room later.
- She ______ start piano lessons next Monday.
Answers: 1. is going to, 2. will, 3. are going to, 4. will, 5. is going to
Ask your child to explain each choice after checking the answers. The clues are visible evidence in question 1, an immediate decision in question 2, a previous plan in questions 3 and 5, and a promise in question 4. Explaining the reason tests understanding more effectively than guessing the missing words.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Four errors appear often when children learn the future tense for kids. Catching them early prevents confusion and supports English reading for kids and accurate question formation. Use the correction column as a model rather than asking your child to repeat an incorrect form.
Correct one feature at a time. If your child says, "She will plays," respond with, "Yes, she will play." This recast preserves the conversation while giving a clear model. For repeated errors, write the short frame will + base verb or am/is/are + going to + base verb where your child can see it.
Practical Steps for Daily Practice
Short, regular practice works better than long study sessions, just as it did with the past simple tense. These four habits connect future tense for kids with plans, predictions, promises, and supportive correction:
- Plan with the calendar. Point at upcoming events and say them with "going to": "We are going to visit Grandma on Sunday." Ask your child to add one plan of their own.
- Play prediction games. Pause a film and ask, "What will happen next?" Every guess becomes a "will" sentence, and the next scene provides immediate feedback.
- Promise with "will". Turn chores into promises: "I will help you set the table." Let your child choose a realistic promise and say when they will complete it.
- Correct gently. Instead of saying "wrong," repeat the sentence correctly and let your child hear the fix. Ask for repetition only when the same error continues.
For more classroom-tested ideas, the British Council's LearnEnglish Kids grammar activities offer free games and worksheets that reinforce these future forms.
For rule wording, Wikipedia — English Grammar is a useful reference, while the examples here remain adapted for children.
Frequently Asked Questions
At What Age Should Children Start Learning the Future Tense?
Most children grasp the future around ages 5-6. Start with simple "will" sentences when they begin using time words such as "tomorrow." Keep the first examples connected to familiar events: meals, playtime, school, and family visits.
What Are Some Fun Ways to Practice the Future Tense at Home?
Ask your child to describe their "dream day." For an 8-year-old, suggest a short "future diary" about what they will do on vacation. Younger children can draw three pictures and describe each one with a "will" or "going to" sentence.
Is It Better to Teach 'Will' or 'Going to' First?
Start with 'will' because its structure is simpler and does not change with the subject. Once your child uses it comfortably, introduce 'going to' for specific daily plans. Teaching one contrast at a time keeps future tense for kids manageable.
How Can I Explain the Future Tense Without Using Complicated Grammar Terms?
Call it "Tomorrow Talk." Focus on meaning—things that have not happened yet—rather than memorizing labels. Children learn the future tense in English by using it to discuss real plans, predictions, and promises.
Want to keep building your child's grammar? Explore our guides to the present simple tense, modal verbs for kids, and the 100 most common vocabulary words.
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