Although I know the general rules when to apply which tense, I'm often confused and do not really know which one to use. I can find pros and cons for each tense.
Two examples: In terms of spending vacation/holidays and having a doctor appointment, which tense is most natural? When is it OK to go with another tense?
I am especially unsure about the will-future. I've seen/heard something like "I will see the doctor at 4PM". This sounds like a fixed arrangement / schedule, but arguments for will-future are "spontaneous decision", "promise", or "opinion/hope". Is this incorrect use of non-natives? If not, what is the reasoning for saying it like that?
Additionally to this question, is my general understanding (see below) correct? Did I miss any arguments pro/con a particular tense and which one?
So, here's how I understand it:
If I've already booked a flight or have made an appointment, respectively, it's a (personal) arrangement, thus present continuous:
Next month, we're spending our vacation/holidays in Canada.
I'm seeing the doctor tonight.
Technically, vacation/holidays and doctor appointments are scheduled, thus present tense. On the other hand, I think I haven't seen any uses of present tense in that case. Is the key difference between an arrangement that I made myself and a schedule made by someone else? That is, I chose myself to do my vacation at this time as opposed to someone else scheduled my vacation.
I would use present tense, though, when I give the exact time as I give the exact schedule. Or is present tense wrong altogether1?:
We spend our vacation/holidays in Canada from September, 1st to the 12th.
I see the doctor at 6 o'clock.
If I haven't taken any actions but it's decided, it's my/our intention, thus going-to-future:
Next year, we're going to spend our vacation/holidays in Canada.
I'm going to see the doctor soon.
If I/we haven't made any decision, let alone take any actions, it's a prediction/opinion/hope, thus will-future:
(I think,) We will spend our next vacation/holidays in Canada.
(I think,) I will go to the doctor.
Another reason for will-future is when I make a promise, or a spontaneous decision:
Yes, we will spend our next vacation/holidays in Canada.
Yes, I will go to the doctor.
1In respect to arranged future events. I know that, for instance, the sentence "I will do that when I see the doctor" is correct. But that's another story.
Best Answer
To summarize what follows, the distinction between your different intents is defined less by the verb tense and more by the precision with which you specify future plans or appointments.
This is correct and acceptable usage, whether you've encountered it personally or not. The implication here is that plans have been made, whether plans for travel or an appointment, and you have every intention to follow those plans.
What looks like simple present tense here is actually the habitual present. It reads that you always spend your vacation/holiday in Canada from September 1 to September 12, or that you regularly see the doctor at 6 o'clock (perhaps you're married to this particular doctor).
Actually, this has similar meaning as your first example, but it's the lack of precision regarding the time frame ("next year" and "soon") which indicates that you're still in the planning phase.
There are, of course, two verbs here: "am/are/is going" and "to spend/see". The use of "am/are/is going" means that you have the intent of pursuing completion of the infinitive ("to spend/see"). As above, it indicates that you are well within the planning phase and the precision of the dates indicates how far along you are into the planning phase.
Actually, saying "We will spend" or "I will go" gives it a particular firm feeling, so "I think" would be mandatory to soften this. As with "We're going to" or "I'm going to", it indicates that you are in the planning phase and the generality of the time frame indicates that, while the destination has been decided, the time has not.
As mentioned above, prefacing this with "I think" softens it somewhat but, believe it or not, does so in different ways.
With the disagreement in number, i.e., "I think" and "we will", this implies a personal wish regarding the following: "I would like us to go to Canada, but I don't know if the family does."
Now that the number matches ("We think we will" and "I think I will"), this states a desire to do something while indicating little progress in the planning process.
In the right context, this is correct. Of course, if you're spontaneously deciding on the destination of your family's next vacation/holiday, you should be sure that the family will go along with it. Otherwise, you might say, "Yes, I'll encourage the family to spend our next vacation/holidays in Canada," or, "Yes, I'll propose that we spend our next vacation/holidays in Canada."
This is also the speech you might use to placate someone who is nagging you to do something. You'll get mixed results because, while you're using the firm "I will" or "we will", you're not providing a precise time frame, so it has a balance of firmness and indicates a lack of progress into the planning phase.