Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0020 · Lesson No.020 · 零基础英语第二十课 · Pre-A1 → A1

Plans and Future Time | 计划与未来时间

I’m going to study tonight. I’ll call you later. I’m meeting Anna tomorrow at three.
我今晚打算学习。我晚点会给你打电话。我明天下午三点要见 Anna。

Future English is not one tense. Beginners need a few high-value patterns that express different kinds of future meaning.

英语表达未来，不是只靠一个“将来时”。零基础阶段先掌握几套高频系统：计划、预测、即时决定、已经安排好的事情，以及明确的未来时间词。

Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.019 · Health and the Body

The future map | 未来时间路线

tomorrow, later, tonight
this weekend / next week / next month
be going to for plans and intentions
will for predictions and decisions
present continuous for arrangements — recognition and basic use
simple present for schedules — recognition
calendar and appointment language
in / on / at for future times
before / after / from / until
inviting and accepting/refusing
changing plans
confirming times
future negatives and questions
weather and travel future integration
Mandarin 会 / 要 / 打算 / 明天 vs English future choices

1. Tomorrow | 明天

tomorrow morning
tomorrow afternoon
tomorrow evening
tomorrow night

A time word can already place a sentence in the future when the grammar supports it.

2. Tonight | 今晚

I’m studying tonight.
I’m going to cook tonight.
I’ll call you tonight.

Different future forms can share the same time expression.

3. Later | 以后 / 晚点

I’ll call you later.
See you later.
I’ll do it later.

later is relative; exact time may be unclear.

4. This weekend | 这个周末

I’m going to rest this weekend.
We’re visiting family this weekend.

5. Next week / month / year | 下周 / 下月 / 明年

next week
next month
next year

Standard English normally says next week, not “in next week”.

6. In two days | 两天后

in two days
in three weeks
in one month

in + duration can mean after that amount of time.

7. The first future machine: be going to | 第一套：be going to

Use be going to + base verb for plans and intentions.

I’m going to study tonight.
She’s going to travel next week.
We’re going to buy a new table.

This is one of the safest beginner future forms for planned actions.

8. I am going to… | 我打算……

I’m going to cook.
I’m going to call my mother.
I’m going to study English.
I’m going to take the train.

9. He/she is going to… | 他/她打算……

She is going to work tomorrow.
He is going to visit his parents.

Keep the be verb: is going to.

10. We/they are going to… | 我们/他们打算……

We’re going to eat out tonight.
They’re going to travel next month.

11. Going to negative | going to 否定

I’m not going to work tomorrow.
She isn’t going to drive.
We aren’t going to stay long.

Negate the be verb system from Lesson 012.

12. Going to question | going to 问句

Are you going to work tomorrow?
Is she going to come?
What are you going to do this weekend?

The question uses be-question order.

13. The second future machine: will | 第二套：will

will + base verb is common for predictions, quick decisions, offers and promises.

It will rain tomorrow.
I’ll help you.
I’ll call you later.

14. I’ll | I will

I will call you. → I’ll call you.
I will help. → I’ll help.

I’ll is extremely common in speech.

15. Prediction | 预测

It will be hot tomorrow.
The train will arrive at six. — schedule/future statement depending on context
I think it will be busy.

Predictions are not the same as certainties.

16. Quick decision | 当下做决定

A: The phone is ringing.
B: I’ll answer it.

The decision happens now about a future action.

17. Offer | 主动帮助

I’ll help you.
I’ll carry that.
I’ll show you.

18. Promise / commitment | 承诺

I’ll call you tomorrow.
I won’t forget.

Do not make promises you cannot keep; this is language structure, not social advice.

19. Will negative: won’t | will not

I won’t be late.
It won’t rain all day.
She won’t come tomorrow.

won’t = will not.

20. Will question | will 问句

Will you come tomorrow?
Will it rain?
What time will you arrive?

will moves before the subject.

21. Going to vs will | 计划 vs 预测/决定

Beginner contrast:

I’m going to study tonight. — prior plan/intention
I’ll help you. — decision/offer now
It will rain tomorrow. — prediction

Real English is more flexible, but this distinction is a good starting map.

22. The third future machine: present continuous arrangement | 已安排的未来

I’m meeting Anna tomorrow.
We’re having dinner at seven.
She’s flying on Friday.

This form often describes an arranged future event with a known time or plan.

23. Arrangement means something is organised | 已经安排

Compare:

I’m going to meet Anna sometime next week. — intention
I’m meeting Anna on Tuesday at three. — arrangement

The distinction is useful, not absolute.

24. The fourth future pattern: schedules | 时刻表未来

The train leaves at 8:30 tomorrow.
The class starts at nine.
The shop opens at ten.

English often uses simple present for fixed schedules.

25. Calendar | 日历

Check the calendar.
Put it on the calendar.
What’s on the calendar tomorrow?

26. Appointment | 预约

I have an appointment tomorrow.
My appointment is at three.
I’m seeing the doctor at three. — arranged-future form

27. Meeting | 会议 / 见面

I have a meeting at ten.
I’m meeting David at ten.

meeting can be a noun or part of the verb meet.

28. At + clock time | at + 时间点

at three
at 8:30
at noon

29. On + day/date | on + 星期/日期

on Monday
on Friday morning
on 12 September

30. In + month/year/part of day | in + 月/年/时段

in October
in 2027
in the morning

But: at night.

31. Before | 之前

Call me before six.
I will eat before the meeting.

32. After | 之后

I’ll call you after work.
We’re going home after dinner.

33. From…to… | 从……到……

The meeting is from two to three.
I work from Monday to Friday.

34. Until | 直到

I’ll be here until five.
The shop is open until ten.

35. Are you free? | 你有空吗？

Are you free tomorrow?
Are you free this weekend?
Are you free at three?

This opens invitation and planning language.

36. Would you like to…? | 你愿意……吗？

Would you like to have coffee?
Would you like to come with us?

This is a polite invitation pattern. You can learn it as a chunk before mastering all uses of would.

37. Do you want to…? | 你想……吗？

Do you want to have lunch?
Do you want to go tomorrow?

More direct and informal than Would you like to…?.

38. Accepting | 接受邀请

Yes, I’d love to.
Yes, that sounds good.
Sure.
Yes, I’m free.

39. Refusing politely | 礼貌拒绝

Sorry, I can’t.
I’m sorry, I’m busy then.
I can’t make it. — recognition phrase
Maybe another time.

You do not need to give private reasons.

40. Changing a plan | 改计划

Can we change the time?
Can we meet later?
Can we meet on Friday instead?
I need to change my appointment.

41. Instead | 改成……

Can we meet at four instead?
Let’s take the train instead.

instead marks the replacement option.

42. Confirming | 确认计划

We’re meeting at three, correct?
Friday at ten. Is that right?
See you tomorrow at six.

Repeat the key time and place.

43. Cancelling | 取消

I need to cancel.
I need to cancel my appointment.
I’m sorry, I can’t come.

Keep the message clear. Policies and fees depend on the service.

44. Weather + future | 天气与未来

It may rain tomorrow, so I’m going to take an umbrella.
It will be hot, so we’ll leave early.

Future forms connect prediction to plan.

45. Transport + future | 交通与未来

I’m taking the 8:30 train tomorrow.
We’re going to take the bus.
The train leaves at 8:30.

Arrangement, intention and schedule can describe the same journey from different angles.

46. Health + future | 健康与未来

I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.
I’m seeing the doctor at three.
I’m going to rest tonight.

47. Shopping + future | 购物与未来

I’m going to buy a coat this weekend.
I’ll order it online.

48. Plan A / Plan B | 备用计划

If it rains, we’ll take the bus. — conditional preview
If the shop is closed, we’ll go tomorrow. — preview

You do not need to master conditional grammar yet. Recognise the idea of a backup plan.

49. Mandarin transfer: 明天 + verb | English still needs a natural future form

Mandarin can often rely strongly on the time word:

我明天去。

English choices include:

I’m going tomorrow. — arrangement/context
I’m going to go tomorrow. — intention
I’ll go tomorrow. — decision/promise depending on context

Do not search for one permanent future marker.

50. Mandarin transfer: 会 | 会不总是 will

Chinese 会 can express ability, likelihood or future meaning. English may use can, will, may or another form depending on meaning.

我会游泳。 → I can swim.
明天会下雨。 → It will/may rain tomorrow depending on certainty.

51. Mandarin transfer: 要 | 要不总是 going to

Chinese 要 can express want, need, intention, obligation or near-future meaning.

我要水。 → I want water.
我要走了。 → I’m going to leave / I have to go, depending on context.

Translate the function, not just the word.

52. Mandarin transfer: 打算 | going to is often useful

我打算明天学习。 → I’m going to study tomorrow.

This is a clean intention mapping for beginners.

53. Listening: gonna | 口语中的 gonna 认识

In informal speech, going to is often reduced and may sound like gonna. In formal writing, use going to.

Beginners should recognise the reduced sound but do not need to imitate it immediately.

54. Listening: I’ll / we’ll / won’t | 缩写

I’ll = I will
we’ll = we will
won’t = will not

These small forms carry important future meaning.

55. Reading practice A: weekend plan | 阅读 A

Mei is going to visit her sister this weekend. She is taking the train on Saturday morning. The train leaves at 9:10. Her sister is meeting her at the station. They are going to have lunch together and visit a museum. If the weather is good, they will walk home.

What is Mei going to do?
When is she travelling?
What time does the train leave?
Who is meeting her?
What may they do if the weather is good?

56. Reading practice B: changed appointment | 阅读 B

David has a dental appointment on Tuesday at four, but a work meeting is moved to the same time. He calls the clinic and asks, “Can I change my appointment?” The clinic offers Wednesday at 10:30. David says, “Yes, that works. Wednesday at 10:30, correct?”

When is the first appointment?
Why does David need to change it?
What new time is offered?
How does David confirm?

57. Reading practice C: weather plan | 阅读 C

Anna is going to have a picnic tomorrow, but the forecast says it may rain in the afternoon. She changes the plan. She will meet her friends at a café instead. They are meeting at twelve. If the weather improves later, they may walk in the park.

What is Anna’s first plan?
What does the forecast say?
What is the new plan?
What time are they meeting?
What may they do later?

58. Writing practice: tomorrow plan | 写明天计划

Write six sentences:

what you are going to do
where
what time
transport
one prediction
one backup plan

59. Writing practice: calendar | 写日历

Create three fictional appointments:

Monday 3:00 — English class
Wednesday 10:30 — doctor
Saturday 12:00 — lunch with Anna

Then write full sentences for each.

60. Speaking practice: invitation | 邀请口语

A: Are you free on Saturday?
B: Yes, I am.
A: Would you like to have lunch?
B: Yes, that sounds good.
A: How about twelve?
B: Twelve is fine.

61. Speaking practice: change the time | 改时间

A: We’re meeting at three.
B: Sorry, can we meet later?
A: How about four?
B: Four is good.

62. Error clinic | 常见错误诊所

Common error	Better English	What broke?
I going to study. ✗	I’m going to study. ✓	be missing
She going to come. ✗	She’s going to come. ✓	be missing
I will to call you. ✗	I will call you. ✓	base verb after will
I won’t to go. ✗	I won’t go. ✓	base verb after won’t
Are you will come? ✗	Will you come? ✓	mixed systems
In next week ✗	next week ✓	time expression
on tomorrow ✗	tomorrow ✓	no preposition needed

63. First weak link diagnosis | 第一个卡点诊断

I know future time words but no sentence frame → going to/will.
I omit be before going to → be-system repair.
I add to after will → modal base-verb repair.
I use one future form for every meaning → intention/prediction/arrangement distinction.
I can make a plan but cannot negotiate time → invitation/change/confirmation language.
I understand written plans but miss contractions → I’ll/we’ll/won’t listening.

64. Retrieval lab | 提取练习

我今晚打算学习。 → ______
她明天打算工作。 → ______
我晚点会给你打电话。 → ______
明天会很热。 → ______
我明天三点见 Anna。 → ______
火车明天八点半出发。 → ______
你明天有空吗？ → ______
可以改时间吗？ → ______
星期五十点，对吗？ → ______
我明天不能来。 → ______

Suggested answers: I’m going to study tonight. / She’s going to work tomorrow. / I’ll call you later. / It will be hot tomorrow. / I’m meeting Anna tomorrow at three. / The train leaves at 8:30 tomorrow. / Are you free tomorrow? / Can we change the time? / Friday at ten, correct? / I can’t come tomorrow / I won’t be able to come tomorrow depending on meaning.

65. Ten-minute daily practice | 每天十分钟

2 min	future time words	未来时间词
2 min	going to	计划
2 min	will	预测决定
2 min	arrangements/calendar	安排
2 min	one planning dialogue	计划口语

66. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练

Day 1	tomorrow/next/later	时间词
Day 2	going to positive	计划肯定
Day 3	going to negative/questions	计划问否
Day 4	will/won’t	预测决定
Day 5	arrangements/schedules	安排时刻表
Day 6	invite/change/confirm	协商
Day 7	one-minute future plan	综合输出

67. Self-test: 35 questions | 35 题自测

Translate: 明天。
Translate: 今晚。
Translate: 下周。
Translate: 两天后。
Say: 我今晚打算学习。
Say: 她明天打算来。
Make going-to negative.
Ask a going-to question.
Say: 我晚点会打电话。
Say: 明天会下雨。
Make will negative.
Ask a will question.
Say: 我明天三点见 Anna。
Say: 火车八点半出发。
Translate: 日历。
Translate: 预约。
Translate: 会议。
Use at with a time.
Use on with a day.
Use in with a month.
Ask: 你明天有空吗？
Invite someone to lunch.
Accept an invitation.
Refuse politely.
Ask to change the time.
Confirm Friday at ten.
Correct: I going to study.
Correct: I will to call you.
Correct: Are you will come?
Correct: in next week.
Correct: on tomorrow.
Explain going to vs will at beginner level.
Explain arrangement vs intention.
Write a three-item future calendar.
Give a one-minute future plan.

Answer key | 答案

1 tomorrow; 2 tonight; 3 next week; 4 in two days; 5 I’m going to study tonight; 6 She’s going to come tomorrow; 7 e.g. I’m not going to work; 8 e.g. Are you going to work?; 9 I’ll call later; 10 It will rain tomorrow; 11 e.g. I won’t go; 12 e.g. Will you come?; 13 I’m meeting Anna tomorrow at three; 14 The train leaves at 8:30; 15 calendar; 16 appointment; 17 meeting; 18 at three; 19 on Monday; 20 in October; 21 Are you free tomorrow?; 22 Would you like to have lunch?; 23 Yes, that sounds good; 24 Sorry, I can’t; 25 Can we change the time?; 26 Friday at ten, correct?; 27 I’m going to study; 28 I will call you; 29 Will you come?; 30 next week; 31 tomorrow; 32 prior plan/intention vs prediction/decision; 33 arranged event with time/other party vs intention; 34–35 answers vary.

68. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师

Do not teach “the future tense” as one box. Give learners a functional map: going to for plans, will for predictions/decisions, arranged present continuous for fixed personal plans, and simple present for schedules.

For Mandarin speakers, show that future meaning is often carried by time words plus context in Chinese, while English frequently marks the structure more explicitly.

Use calendars, appointment cards and route schedules. Future grammar becomes meaningful when attached to actual time slots.

Teach confirmation. Planning failures often come from wrong date, wrong time or wrong place rather than difficult grammar.

69. What the first twenty lessons now give you | 前二十课形成了什么？

Range	Control
001–004	identity, objects, wants, space
005–008	numbers, time, family, routine
009–012	food, repair, questions, negatives
013–016	people, clothes, home, shopping
017–020	weather, travel, health language, future plans

The learner can now describe the present, ask for missing information, reject wrong information, complete common transactions and talk about what comes next.

70. Final real-world challenge | 最终真实任务

Give three going-to plans.
Give two will predictions.
Give one quick decision with I’ll.
Give one arranged future meeting.
Read one timetable future sentence.
Invite someone.
Accept and refuse politely.
Change a meeting time.
Confirm date, time and place.
Give a one-minute plan for tomorrow.

Next natural nodes | 下一批自然节点

Lesson No.021 · Yesterday and Past Time · 昨天与过去时间
Lesson No.022 · Work and School · 工作与学校
Lesson No.023 · Phones and Messages · 电话与信息
Lesson No.024 · Invitations and Social English · 邀请与社交英语

Back to Chinese Edition Hub · 返回中文版入口

Reference floor: British Council A1 Elementary · British Council A1–A2 Grammar · Cambridge Essential Grammar in Use A1–B1.

Small Group Tutorials

How to Learn Basic English (Chinese Edition) | Lesson No.020 | Plans and Future Time | 计划与未来时间