一般将来时主要用于：表示将要发生的动作或情况e.g. Tom will have a bike of his own.与这个时态连用的时间状语常用：tonight，tomorrow，the day after tomorrow，next week，in three hours，two days later 等。一般将来时态与其它结构表将来情况的区别：一般将来时态 ：主要从时间的角度表将要发生的动作或情况。be going to 结构 ：①表(主观上)打算或准备做某事时。 ②表有发生某事的预兆时。e.g. They are going to have a competition with us in studies. It is going to rain.据以上区别，故下面一句是错的：I am going to be eighteen years old next year.应改为： I shall be eighteen years old next year.be about to do sth 结构 ：意为“刚要做某事”、“马上要做某事”强调时间之紧迫性。e.g. We are about to discuss this problem.
