Listen to these three moments in time. Do not write anything yet. Just listen.
What's happening in each one? Is it past, present, or future?
🎙 Speak: Tell me: are these about the past, now, or the future?
When you tell a story, people need to know: What were you doing while something else happened? That's past continuous.
When you make plans or predictions, you need two different tools: "I will" for sudden decisions and predictions, "I'm going to" for plans you've already made. Both are future, but they feel different.
Today we separate these three. Let's go.
Use past continuous when you want to say: "I was in the middle of something when something else happened."
Formula: was/were + -ing
Remember: Use past continuous for the background action. Use past simple for the interrupting action. "I was cooking when he arrived."
"I was driving to work when I saw a car accident."
You were driving (the background). Then you saw the accident (the interruption). Clear timeline.
"What were you doing yesterday at 3 PM?"
A question about a specific time in the past. The answer is a past continuous action: "I was in a meeting" or "I was studying."
"While they were eating, we were setting up the room."
Two activities at the same time in the past. Both use past continuous because they are parallel, background activities.
🎙 Speak: Tell me a moment when something happened while you were doing something else. Use past continuous.
I will start a sentence. You finish it using past continuous. Then say it out loud.
1. "Yesterday, I was..."
Example: "Yesterday, I was working on my laptop when my cat jumped on the keyboard."
2. "While I was [activity], my friend called me."
Example: "While I was having breakfast, my friend called me."
🎙 Speak: Tell me your two sentences now.
Use will when you decide something right now, or when you predict what you think will happen.
Formula: will + base verb
Key point: Use "will" for things you did NOT plan before. They are spontaneous or unpredictable.
"I'll meet you at 5 PM."
Instant decision. You didn't plan this before. You're deciding as you speak.
"I think your team will win."
Prediction. You don't know what will happen. You're making an educated guess.
"Don't worry. I will not forget."
A promise. You're assuring someone. You're committing yourself right now.
🎙 Speak: Make a promise using "will." Say it out loud.
Finish each sentence with "will" and then speak it.
1. "Next year, I will..."
Example: "Next year, I will visit my family."
2. "I think the weather will..."
Example: "I think the weather will be cold in winter."
🎙 Speak: Tell me your two sentences.
Use going to when you have already decided something. The plan already exists.
Formula: be + going to + base verb
Key point: Use "going to" for things you have already decided. The plan is real. It's not new.
"I'm going to buy a new laptop tomorrow."
You already decided this. You have the plan. Maybe you've already saved money or looked at prices.
"Look! That car is going to hit us!"
Obvious prediction. You can see it coming. The evidence is clear right now.
"What are you going to do this weekend?"
You're asking about a plan they've already made. You assume they have thought about it.
🎙 Speak: Tell me a plan you're going to do soon. Use "going to."
Complete these using "going to":
1. "This weekend, I'm going to..."
Example: "This weekend, I'm going to see my friends."
2. "Next month, I'm going to..."
Example: "Next month, I'm going to take a holiday."
🎙 Speak: Tell me your two sentences.
Both are future. But they feel different.
| will | going to |
|---|---|
| Instant decision "I'll help you move." You just decided. |
Already planned "I'm going to help you move." You prepared for this. |
| Prediction "It will rain tomorrow." You're guessing. |
Obvious prediction "It's going to rain — look at the sky!" You can see it now. |
| Promise "I will not be late." Commitment. |
Intention "I'm going to be on time." Personal resolution. |
🎙 Speak: Look at the table. Can you see the difference? Which one feels more planned?
For each situation, decide: will or going to?
Situation 1: Your friend says "Do you want tea or coffee?" You say: "I'll have coffee, please."
will — You just decided. You didn't plan to have coffee before they asked.
Situation 2: You booked a flight for next week. Your friend asks about your plans. You say: "I'm going to Paris next week."
going to — You already made this plan. You booked the flight.
Situation 3: Your phone battery is at 1%. You say: "My phone is going to die."
going to — You can see the evidence right now. It's an obvious prediction.
🎙 Speak: Now create your own sentences for each type. will for instant decisions, going to for plans.
Choose one card. Tell a story for 1-2 minutes using past continuous, will, and going to.
🎙 Speak: Tell your story now. Keep it natural. Don't worry about perfect.
...use past continuous for background actions, will for instant decisions and predictions, and going to for planned actions.
From memory. Speak your answer out loud.
1. When do you use past continuous?
When something was happening in the past, and something else interrupted it. Or for actions happening at the same time in the past.
2. What's the difference between "I'll go" and "I'm going to go"?
"I'll go" = instant decision, right now. "I'm going to go" = you already planned it. Different feelings of the same future.
3. Give me a sentence using past continuous.
For example: "I was cooking dinner when my friend arrived." The cooking was the background action.
🎙 Speak: Tell me something you were doing this morning. Then tell me something you will do today. Then tell me a plan you're going to do this week.