Business strategy: using 'will' and 'going to' for plans and predictions
1
Think about these questions before reading. Share your ideas with a partner.
- Think about a personal goal you have for the next year. What steps are you going to take to achieve it?
- Imagine you wanted to start a new business, like a café or an online shop. What would be the first three things you would need to plan?
- Why is it important for companies to have a clear plan for the future? What problems might they have if they don't plan ahead?
2
Planning the Community Garden
Listen to the dialogue. Notice how the vocabulary and grammar from the lesson are used.
3
Answer these questions in your own words. Support your answers with evidence from the article.
01What is the main priority for the community garden project, according to Marco?
Sample answerThe main priority is going to be getting everything ready before spring.
02What is the first planning step they are going to take?
Sample answerThey are going to draw up a plan this week.
03Why might the project's finances be a challenge?
Sample answerIt might be a challenge because they have a small amount of funding and must stick to the budget.
04What is the first step Marco mentions for getting the project started?
Sample answerThe first step is to set a target for how many volunteers they need.
4
Key vocabulary for business planning
Vocabulary
These expressions will help you discuss plans and strategies more effectively.
Examples
Set a target — to decide on a goal or result you want to achieve.
Usage note: We often use this with adjectives like 'realistic', 'ambitious', or 'clear'. For example, 'We are going to set a realistic sales target for the next quarter.'
Draw up a plan — to prepare and write down the details of a plan or agreement.
Usage note: This is a semi-formal phrase, perfect for business meetings. You can also 'draw up a contract' or 'draw up a budget'.
Stick to the budget — to spend only the amount of money that has been planned for something.
Usage note: The opposite is 'to go over budget'. For example, 'It's important that we stick to the budget for this project.'
The big picture — the overall situation or perspective, not the small details.
Usage note: You can say 'look at the big picture' or 'see the big picture'. It's useful when you want to remind people of the main goals.
Get something off the ground — to start a project or business successfully.
Usage note: This phrase is often used when talking about the difficult early stages of a new plan. For example, 'We'll need more investment to get the new service off the ground.'
5
Complete the sentences with words from the box. One word is extra.
Word bank
01For the next quarter, we need to set a realistic sales of increasing revenue by 10%.
02Before we present to the investors, we need to draw up a detailed business .
03It's crucial that we stick to the and don't overspend on marketing this year.
04Don't focus on small details; try to see the big to understand our long-term goals.
05We have a great idea, but we'll need a lot of investment to get the project off the .
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Grammar: future forms: 'will' vs. 'be going to'
Grammar
In English, we use both 'will' and 'be going to' to talk about the future. We generally use 'be going to' for plans and intentions we have already decided. We use 'will' for predictions based on opinion, offers, or for decisions made at the moment of speaking.
Examples
Our team is going to launch the new product line in the third quarter.
Use 'be going to' for a plan or intention that has already been decided.
I think this new strategy will boost our sales significantly.
Use 'will' for predictions, often with phrases like 'I think' or 'I believe'.
The client is on the phone? Okay, I'll take the call in my office.
Use 'will' for a spontaneous decision made at the moment of speaking.
Key points
- Use 'be going to' for plans and intentions made before the moment of speaking.
- Use 'will' for predictions, promises, offers, and spontaneous decisions.
- Common mistake: Don't use 'will' for a fixed plan. Say 'We're going to start the project next week,' not 'We will start...'
7
Find the mistake
Each sentence contains one error. Find and correct it.
01We have a detailed strategy. We will launch the new product next quarter.
Corrected version
We have a detailed strategy. We will are going to launch the new product next quarter.
02The company plans to invest on a new marketing campaign.
Corrected version
The company plans to invest on in a new marketing campaign.
03Our main strategic for next year is to expand into Asia.
Corrected version
Our main strategic strategy for next year is to expand into Asia.
04It's difficult to get a new business up the ground without funding.
Corrected version
It's difficult to get a new business up off the ground without funding.
05Every department are going to set a new target for the next quarter.
Corrected version
Every department are is going to set a new target for the next quarter.
06Oh, the phone is ringing. I'm going to answer it.
Corrected version
Oh, the phone is ringing. I'm going to I'll answer it.
07We must stick on the budget if we want to remain profitable.
Corrected version
We must stick on to the budget if we want to remain profitable.
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Useful phrases: presenting your plans in a meeting
Vocabulary
In a business meeting, you need to present your ideas clearly and professionally. Use these phrases to introduce your plans, explain your goals, and ask for feedback.
Examples
I'd like to walk you through our plan for... — to introduce your topic at the beginning of a presentation.
Register: Neutral/Formal. This is a polite and professional way to start. You can follow it with '...the next quarter,' or '...the new product launch.'
Our main priority is going to be... — to state your most important goal or objective.
Register: Neutral. Use this to highlight the key focus of your plan. For example, 'Our main priority is going to be improving customer satisfaction.'
To achieve this, we're going to... — to explain the specific actions you will take to reach a goal.
Register: Neutral. This phrase connects your goal to your actions. For example, '...we're going to hire two new support agents.'
We need to keep in mind that... — to introduce a potential problem or challenge.
Register: Neutral. This shows you have thought about the risks. For example, '...we need to keep in mind that the budget is tight.'
What are your thoughts on this approach? — to ask for opinions and feedback from your colleagues.
Register: Neutral/Informal. Use this to make the meeting more interactive and get input from others. A more formal version is, 'I'd welcome any feedback on this.'
So, to sum up, our plan is to... — to give a short summary at the end of your presentation.
Register: Neutral. This is a clear way to signal that you are finishing and to remind everyone of the key points.
9
Planning for success
Read the passage about creating a business plan.
Fill in each blank with the correct word or phrase from the word bank.
Word bank
Before you can a new project off the ground, it's essential to a detailed plan. First, you need to a clear target for what you want to achieve. It's also crucial to to the budget to avoid overspending. By focusing on , you can ensure all your daily tasks support your long-term goals.
10
Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use vocabulary from the lesson.
- In your country, what are the biggest challenges when trying to get a new business off the ground? Is it more important to have a lot of investment or a very detailed plan to stick to?
- Some business leaders say it's essential to draw up a detailed plan and stick to the budget no matter what. Others believe it's better to be flexible and change plans quickly. Which approach do you think is better for a new company today, and why?
- Think of a successful company you know. What kind of targets do you think they set for themselves each year? Do you believe their leaders focus more on the day-to-day details or on the big picture?