SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE (WILL and GOING TO)

We use ‘will’ and ‘going to’ for future events. It does not matter if something is one minute or one year in the future.

You would often use them to explain to your patients what will OR is going to happen during a test or procedure.

Taking blood

• “They’ll use (will use) a small butterfly needle attached to the specimen tube, so the blood will flow straight into the specimen tube.”

Allergy testing

• “First, they’ll clean your forearm and draw sections on it. Then they’re going to (are going to) give you small pricks with different substances in each area. Then you’ll wait several minutes to see if your skin will react to any of the substances or allergens.”

NOTE – Sometimes you can also use simple present tense for a routine or process that always happens.

Taking blood

• “They use a small butterfly needle attached to the specimen tube, so the blood flows straight into the specimen tube.”

Giving or donating blood

• “You fill out a form, and if everything is okay, you sit on a chair and they connect an IV to your arm with a needle; then they collect your blood in a bag. Afterward, you rest and they give you a drink.”