future continuous (will be doing)
be due to
be about to; be on the point of; be just / just about to
going to
will
present continuous
future perfect continuous (will have been doing)
present simple
is / are to be
future perfect (will have done)
- referring to the next moment
- to describe formal arrangements
- schedules and timetables - to refer to the future in future time clauses or conditionals - to describe fixed events which are not simply the wishes of the speaker - calendar references
- to refer to scheduled times
- known facts - immediate decisions - promises, offers - predictions not based on evidence, but rather on personal opinion
- intentions or plans which have been made before the moment of speaking - predictions based on evidence
- to describe actions that will continue UP UNTIL a point in the future; most often used with a time expression
- fixed arrangements (especially social and travel arrangements); a time reference is usually included
- referring to a completed action in the future; most often used with a time expression
- events which will be happening at a future point - events which are going to happen anyway, rather than events which we choose to make happen - more polite way of asking questions than just "will"
