Differences between ways to express future actions

Question

I asked this question on a different site but I haven't gotten a useful answer. Could you tell me the difference in meaning between these sentences?

1. Do you think you will visit them next week?
2. Will you visit them next week?
3. Are you going to visit them next week?
4. Are you visiting them next week?
5. Are you going to be visiting them next week?
6. Are you planning to be visiting them next week?
7. Do you plan to visit them next week?

Will there be any difference in the answers?

1. I think I will visit them next week.
2. I will visit them next week.
3. I am going to visit them next week.
4. I am visiting them next week.
5. I am going to be visiting them next week.
6. I am planning to be visiting them next week.
7. I plan to visit them next week.

Can I use "planning to" instead of "going to"? (E.g. "Are you planning to visit them next week? — Yes, I am planning to visit them next week.") Which of these sentences show that the subject of conversation has already been discussed? For example, I talked with a friend of mine about my plans to visit somebody. So my friend is aware of my plans.

And my last question. Which of these seven sentences express that the action will certainly take place?

Answer 1

In my understanding, "planning to" just expresses the desire and the preliminary arrangements being made to do something.

On the other hand "going to" is used when the plan of doing something is completed and the action will be carried out soon.

For example, when I say "I am planning to buy a new car", the ultimate decision is not made. Here I am expressing my desire. However, when I say "I am going to buy a new car" the planning stage is over and I have made the final decision to buy a new car.

I use present continuous and say "I am buying a new car next week", only when I have made the decision, arranged the money and fixed even the time of buying the car. The action is immediate and certain.

Answer 2

going to

use (be) going to to talk about future plans and predictions....

present continuous for future arrangements

You can also use the present continuous for future arrangements which we have planned for a fixed time or place.

The present continuous is especially common with the expressions :

tonight tomorrow this weekend, etc..

For plans which which involve other people and have a fixed time and place, the present continuous is more common.

For plans which do not involve other people, be going to is more common.

Will (predictions)

to talk about a future predictions use :

• I think
• I suppose
• Maybe
• perhaps
• I'm sure

Will

• Decisions
• Offers
• Promises

Answer 3

1. Do you think you will visit them next week?

2. Do you plan to visit them next week?

It would be unusual for a speaker to respond to those questions with the OP's suggested examples: I think I will visit them next week, and I plan to visit them next week. Questions that begin with an auxiliary verb usually require a yes or no type of answer, in this situation the person expresses their decision made (at that moment) in the PRESENT.

i) Yes, I will / Definitely _{^{(A DEFINITE “YES”)}}
ii) I think so. _{^{(A HESITANT“YES”)}}
iii) I might. _{^{(A PROBABLE “YES”)}}
iv) I don't know, I haven't decided yet. _{^{(UNCERTAINTY)}}
v) No, I don't think so. _{^{(A PROBABLE “NO”)}}
vi) No, I won't / No, I don't _{^{(A DEFINITE “NO”)}}

The next question begins with the auxiliary verb will

3. Will you visit them next week?

Any of the short answers i) to vi), excluding Yes, I do and No, I don't, would be appropriate.

4. Are you going to visit them next week?

5. Are you visiting them next week?

6. Are you going to be visiting them next week?

There is no real discernible difference in meaning between 4, 5 and 6, it is a matter of personal choice whether you say or write one or the other. All three questions imply an action that is premeditated. The BE + VERB + ING (Present Continuous) is used to express a fixed, or planned arrangement in the future. BE+ GOING TO + VERB is commonly used for predictions, intentions, and also arrangements in the future. The BE + GOING TO + VERB + -ING (Future Continuous with "Be Going To") is used for actions in progress in the future.

The short answers express the speaker's decision made in the PAST.

i) Yes, I am
ii) I don't know yet.
iii) No, I'm not

7. Are you planning to visit them next week?
8. Are you planning to be visiting them next week?

Question 7 is the Present Continuous form of question 2. Question 8 is the Future Continuous with "present continuous". Here the verb plan has a similar meaning to think + about; e.g. Are you thinking about visiting them next week? Any of the answers from i) to iii) (above) would be appropriate.

Answer 4

When you use "WILL" that means you are responding to a situation given for the 1st time a one you haven't heard before.

Ann is your friend and gives you a phone call "I have lost my glasses today ... I am so desperate for them .." you respond, "I will help you to find them!" This means you are ready to do it but you don't know when you will join Ann in looking for her glasses.

Then Peter rings you up, "Hello, are you free this afternoon?" You respond "Sorry, I have just spoken to Ann and I am going to join her in looking for her glasses." This action has been planned already so that this will happen, that's why present continuous takes over.

As far as "planning to" vs. "going to":

Again, let's take an example: "I am planning to work from 6am till 6pm this week" doesn't mean you will stick to it; it's just a plan. "I am going to work from 6am till 6pm this week" means that you mean it, and you will do everything in your power to keep to it.