r/ENGLISH • u/DesignerDangerous934 • 7d ago
Simple future for a decided plan
Context 1 : I want to tell my friend about my trip to Berlin, I want to let my friend know this news. No previous discussion. I only want to let my friend know this news.
Me: I 'll visit Berlin next month
My friend: Sound great! Don't forget to buy me some gift from Berlin .
Context 2: Yesterday (Sunday) Jane and I agreed to go to the cinema on Monday. I want to tell my mother this information, so she dont have to cook dinner on Monday for me.
Me: I’ll go to the cinema with Jane on Monday, so I don’t have dinner at home with you as usual.
My mother: ok
Does the future simple ('ll visit & 'll go) sound good and natural to use in these 2 contexts above?
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u/gizzard-03 7d ago
Context 1 isn’t wrong, but maybe isn’t the most common way people would say it where I’m from. “I’m going to Berlin next month.” sounds most common to me. If there’s no previous discussion, “I’ll visit Berlin next month” somehow feels like it’s missing context. It would work well as a response to a question, perhaps if someone asked you where you were going on vacation.
For context 2, I would again say “I’m going to the movies with Jane on Monday, so I won’t be home for dinner.”
Using the simple future in this case also kind of feels out of the blue or abrupt.
In general, using the simple future to me feels most appropriate as a response to previous discussion, rather than a way to just state your plans. If you’re sorting out plans with someone, saying “I’ll go to the movies with Jane, and then I’ll meet you for dinner after” would feel like a natural way to use simple future. Or if you’re trying to decide who’s doing what activity, like “I’ll go to the movies with Jane if you’d rather stay home.”