GrammarUnit 6: THE FUTURE

Talking about the futureBe going to

The cinema’s going to be full…

WillPeople will travel to space as tourists.

Present continuousProfessor Collins is speaking again at the space conference tomorrow.

Simple PresentThe train leaves at 9:00 am.

Grammar Note Now

Cancun

I’m going to Cancun next week. I think I’ll have fun.I’m catching a 5:00 flight.I come back at 8:00 on Sunday.

Grammar Note Now

Madonna

Madonna/give/concert Maybe/I/go It/take place/Saturday It/start/7:00 pm

WILL/GOING TO The Simple Future has two different forms in

English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings.

I will probably go to Italy next Summer

I am going to fly to Italy next Saturday

FUTURE TENSES: WILL / GOING TO

I will travel to Japan next year → prediction prediction (not near future)(not near future)

I am going to study German at school intention (near future)(near future)

Future Tense: Will Form

Affirmative: I will (I’ll) travel to Madrid in October

Interrogative : Will you travel by bus?

Negative : I will not travel - won’t

Will you travel by train or by bus?I won’t travel by bus I will probably travel by train

1- Instant/spontaneous decisionsInstant/spontaneous decisions: Ok, I’ll see you on Friday.

2- Personal opinions Personal opinions : (I think, I suppose, I guess, I hope) I think I’ll stay in this evening.

3- Promises, offers, requestsPromises, offers, requests: Don’t worry, I’ll go and buy some food for you.

4-Predictions based on what we thinkPredictions based on what we think: We’ll never understand the future in English.

Future Tense: Uses of Will

WILLWILL

I left the door open. I’ll close it right now.

(In the restaurant)

W :What would you like to drink?

I’ll have a cup of coffee, please.

Did you call Sue?

No, I forgot it.

I’ll call her tonight

Instant decisionsInstant decisions

Decisions at the Decisions at the time of speakingtime of speaking

I am little hungry.

I think I’ll have a sandwich.

I don’t think I’ll go out tonight. I am too tired.

Personal opinionsPersonal opinions

Don’t worry. I will help you with your homework.

I will love you forever.

Will you marry me?Offers Offers

Promises Promises

RequestsRequests

Predictions Predictions based on based on what we what we think)think)

You will be rich one day.

Future Tense:Going to Form

Affirmative: I am going to travel by plane

Interrogative : Are you going to travel by plane? Negative : I am not going to travel by plane because I am going to fly in a hot air balloon.

Future Tense: Uses of Going to

1- Future plans, intentionsFuture plans, intentions: : I’m going to study a lot this year.

2- Decisions before the moment of speaking: Decisions before the moment of speaking: I’m going to have party next weekend.

3- Predictions based on what we can see at Predictions based on what we can see at the moment (present evidence): the moment (present evidence): I feel terrible. I’m going to be sick.

•I'm going to buy a new laptop computer next week.

Offers Offers

PromisesPromises

Plans, Plans, Intentions Intentions

John has decided to Have a party. He’s going to invite lots of people.

Offers Offers

PromisesPromises

Decisions before Decisions before the momentthe momentof speaking of speaking

I AM GOING TO : I HAVE DECIDED TO DO STH.

Today, I am going to read my favourite novel, then I am going to phone my best friend and finally I am going to drive my new motorcycle.

•Look at that car! It is going to crash into that tree.

Offers Offers

PromisesPromises

Predictions on Predictions on presentpresent

evidenceevidence

PREDICTIONS WITH PRESENT EVIDENCE

Look at those black clouds!

It’s going to rain.

She is pregnant.

She’s going to have a baby.

1) Why are you working so hard these days?

- Because I’m going to buy (buy) a car, so I’m saving.

2) What (you) are you going to buy Jill for her birthday? (buy)

- A CD.

-mmm But She hasn’t got a CD player.- In that case, I will (buy )her a book.

3) Dad, can you mend this for me?

- I’m sorry. Ask Mum. will do it for you.She

4) Why have you got so many eggs?

-Because I am going to

5) I haven’t got enough money to get home.

- I will lend (lend) you some. How much do you need?

(make) an omelette.

6) A: Why are you holding a piece of paper? B: I …………………….. (write) a letter to my friends back home in Texas 7) A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up! B: I …………………(get) you a cup of coffee.

8) We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We ……………………. (visit) Paris, Nice and Grenoble.9) I think he …………………. (be) the next British Prime Minister.

am going to

will

are going to

will

OTHER WAYS OF EXPRESSING THE FUTURE The simple present and present continuous are also used to express future time. These are often used used in connection with schedules.

The train leaves at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow.She is meeting a new client at six o’clock in the evening and she is travelling by bike through the forest.

Future with Present Simple and Present Continuous

We use Present Simple for Future when actions are planned according to a schedule

The game starts at 11 a.m.

The bus leaves

at 10 a.m.

We use Present Continuous for Future when actions are appointed

in advance for a certain period (day, week, month)

I am meeting the manager at two o’clock.

She is leaving for England on 28th.

GOING TO /PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Even though going to and present continuous can be used interchangeably sometimes, there is a difference in meaning between them.

I’m going to visit my mum tomorrow. (She may know it or she may not)I’m visiting my mum tomorrow. (She knows about my visit)

EXERCISES ON GOING TO /PRESENT CONTINUOUS

1.I …………………..(play) bridge tonight with Tom. 2. He…………….... (have) an operation next week.

3. It's very cold. I .....…………….(light) a fire. 4. We ……….………… (have) some friends to lunch tomorrow. 5. My nephew …...……………..(come) to stay with me next week. 6. I ..........................(read) you some of my own poems. 7. Have you got a ticket for the big match on Saturday?. No, I don't even know who …………………….(play).

am going to is having

am going to

are having

is coming

am going to

is playing

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

Dianarella’s Future

Dianarella is a princess. She wants to know what will happen to her in the

future, so she goes to visit a fortune teller.D: Can you see my

future?

FT: I certainly can.

D: Tell me about it!

FT: You ____________

marry a rich prince.

D: Auch! Can you see him?

Is he handsome?

FT: Well … Not when you first meet him…He looks like a frog!

P: A frog?

F: Yes…Some day you _______ meet a frog! And you ______ kiss it.

P: I ______(not)!

F: Yes, you ______and it _____ turn into a handsome prince!

FT: What are you doing?

P: I______ (not) listen any more! I ______ (go) back to my palace!

FT: You can’t change the future my dear…

(When Dianarella returns to her palace…)

FT: Oh!! My dear, you _________ have to kiss a lot of frogs before finding the

right one.

Dianarella’s Future

Dianarella is a princess. She wants to know what will happen to her in the

future, so she goes to visit a fortune teller.D: Can you see my

future?

FT: I certainly can.

D: Tell me about it!

FT: You will marry a rich prince.

D: Auch! Can you see him?

Is he handsome?

FT: Well … Not when you first meet him…He looks like a frog!

P: A frog?

F: Yes…Some day you will meet a frog! And you will kiss it.

P: I will not!

F: Yes, you will and it will turn into a handsome prince!

FT: What are you doing?

P: I’m not going to listen any more! I’m going back to my palace!

FT: You can’t change the future my dear…

(When Dianarella returns to her palace…)

FT: Oh!! My dear, you will have to kiss a lot of frogs

before finding the right one.

D: Poor me!!!