Expressing the future

Talking about the future

In English we use many different forms to talk about the future. These different forms are used to express different meanings.

Therefore the form we use depends on the kind of future action or situation we want to express.

The four main forms (Review- B1 level)

Will + infinitive To be + going to + infinitive

Present Continuous Present Simple

Future Plans, Intentions and ArrangementsMatch example with uses

“Ok, I'll go if you go” I'm going to graduate first

and then look for a job abroad.

We are meeting our lawyer tomorrow too sort out the problem.

The flight leaves at 10 O'clock and arrives at 12 o'clock.

Time tables/ schedules/itineraries

Spontaneous decision

(made as you speak) A plan/arrangement to do

something A premeditated intention to

do something

Future Plans, Intentions and Arrangements(key)

“Ok, I'll go if you go” I'm going to graduate first

and then look for a job abroad.

We are meeting our lawyer tomorrow too sort out the problem.

The flight leaves at 10 O'clock and arrives at 12 o'clock.

Spontaneous decision

(made as you speak) A premeditated intention to

do something A plan/arrangement to do

something Time tables/

schedules/itineraries

Therefore:

Present simple: The train leaves in 5 minutes. (reading a schedule)

Present continuous: We are leaving tomorrow on the 5 o'clock train. (plan)

Will: I'll send you a message when I am on the train (spontaneous decision)

I think we'll be able to get the 5 o'clock train if we don't stop running. (prediction)

Going to + infinitive: We are going to catch the 5 o'clock train tomorrow so we don't miss the

beginning of the lesson. (intension)

(1) Will / Won't + infinitive

It is used to express a spontaneous decision to do something in the future, (decision made as you speak).

Eg: I'll open the window. It's getting hot in here. I'll go if you go. I'll pay for this. I won't buy it. It's too expensive I'll get the next train. It's getting late.

Other uses of WILLMatch

When you... agree to do something: Ask someone to do

something Refuse to do something Make promises Bargain Offer help Ask for help

I'll help you fix your printer Will you work over time? Will you open the door for

me. I'll phone you later I'll give you a discount if

you order over 100 items I won't work over time I'll work over time.

Other uses of WILLKey

When you... agree to do something: Ask someone to do

something Refuse to do something Make promises Bargain Offer help (shall) Ask for help

I'll work over time. Will you work over time? I won't work over time I'll phone you later I'll give you a discount if

you order over 100 items I'll help you fix your printer Will you open the door for

me.

WILL/ Shall

I'll help you finish the report. Shall I help you finish the report? Shall we go? Shall I open the window?

We can use Shall to offer to do something or to help with “I” and “we”.

Will for: Giving personal opinions

I think..... I suppose...... I gues.... I hope..... I imagine.... I'm certain... I'm sure.....

+ WILL / WON'T + verb

(2) To be + going to + infinitive

It is used when we have thought about what we want, hope or intend to do in the future. A premeditated intention to do something.

Eg: I'm going to study all night to make sure I maximise my chances for the exam tomorrow.

(3) Present Continuous It is used to express a definite plan or

arrangement to do something in the future. We often use a time phrase like tomorrow, next

week/month/year, at seven o'clock, next season etc...

It is also possible to use going to + infinitive with little difference. (present continuous usually expresses more certainty)

Eg: I'm going to graduate in June.

I'm graduating in June.

(4) Present Simple

It is used to talk about future time-tables, schedules or itineraries.

Eg:The train arrives at 5pm tomorrow and on Saturdays it arrives at 5.30 pm.

Future Probability and Certainty

To talk about our future opinions and predictions we can use:

Will + infinitive or Going to One is more personal opinion One is more informed opinion

Eg: I'm certain I'll win the match Eg: From what I have read in the paper it seems

lime there is going to be a world wide recession.

Sometimes it is not always easy to distinguish personal and informed in which case you may use both forms.

To talk about facts (in the future)

Use both

Will + infinitive or Going to

Eg: our company will be 15 years old next year Eg: our company is going to be 15 years old next year

B2 level

For the exam you will also need to be able to use the:

Future continuous Future Perfect

Future continuous:

will be + verb ing

I will be seeing my boss at that time.

You will be going to New York this time tomorrow

He will be living in paris this time next year.

She will be doing her presentation on that day.

They will be closing their company next month

When is it used?1) action in progress in future:

The company will be closing soon due to bankruptcy.This is expected to happen at a certain point

This time next year the company will be funding a new research project.

This tense is used to express what will be happening at a certain point in future

2) polite offer – enquiry/request:Will you be joining us for a drink later?

Will you be visiting us again soon?Will you be sending us the reports soon?

(this is a more formal way of saying: will you join us for a drink later? Or will you visit us again soon? ...)

Future PerfectWill have + past participle

The company will have contacted all its staff by the end of the week to inform them about our

new product.

(something will be completed before a point in the future)

Time markers: by next week.....This time next year......

Future perfect also used....(Match use on the left with the example on the right)

To express a condition or situation which starts before and still exists at a specific point in the future.

To express certainty about a single action in the past. The action always happens:

eg: Don't phone Martin, it's 6.30, he will have already gone home.

Eg: This time next year, we will have been in business for ten years.

Key - Future perfect also used....

To express a condition or situation which starts before and still exists at a specific point in the future.

Eg: This time next year, we will have been in business for ten years.

To express certainty about a single action in the past. The action always happens:

eg: Don't phone Martin, it's 6.30, he will have already gone home.

Futures Review/practice1) Where …..(go) for your holidays?

2) Will you ............. (visit) us agian soon? (to be very formal/polite)

3) Don't worry if you have forgotten your wallet, I …...(lend) you some money.

4) What time …...(the plane/leaving)?

5) By next year I …...(work) for this company for 10 years.

6) What do you think …...(happen) if share prices continue to fall?

7) Our partnership …...(be) ten years old next week.

8) She has promised that she …....(never/show) anyone our computer records again.

9) …........(you/finish) that job by this time tomorrow? Because...

10)When this contract is finished, I........(have) a long relaxing holiday somewhere sunny.

1) Where are you going for your holidays? (intensions/plan)

2) Will you be visiting us agian soon? (to be very formal/polite)

3) Don't worry if you have forgotten your wallet, I'll lend you some money. (spontaneous decision)

4) What time is your plane leaving?

5) By next year I will have worked for this company for 10 years.

6) What do you think will happen if share prices continue to fall?

7) Our partnership will be/is going to be ten years old next week.

8) She has promised that she will never show anyone our computer records again.

9) Will you have finished that job by this time tomorrow? Because...

10)When this contract is finished, I'm going to have a long relaxing holiday somewhere sunny. (your intension)