The Future TenseThe Future Tense

I’m playing golf with my boss after work I’m playing golf with my boss after work next Tuesday. next Tuesday.

I’m going to play golf at least once a week I’m going to play golf at least once a week this year - I want to get fit. this year - I want to get fit.

I think I’ll play golf after work tomorrow. I think I’ll play golf after work tomorrow.

At this time next week I’ll be playing golf on At this time next week I’ll be playing golf on the first day of my vacation. the first day of my vacation.

I have a busy schedule next week: on I have a busy schedule next week: on Tuesday I arrive in New York, on Tuesday I arrive in New York, on Wednesday I play golf with the Marketing Wednesday I play golf with the Marketing Manager .. Manager ..

What tenses can be used to What tenses can be used to express the future?express the future?

Will + verbWill + verb

is/are/am+ going to+ verb is/are/am+ going to+ verb

Will be+ verb+ ingWill be+ verb+ ing

Simple presentSimple present

Present continuousPresent continuous

Future Time Clauses Future Time Clauses

After you get home, I am leaving for work.After you get home, I am leaving for work.

I’ll probably leave for work when you get I’ll probably leave for work when you get home.home.

I am going to call you as soon as I arrive I am going to call you as soon as I arrive homehome

Before I leave for work, I’ll do the dishesBefore I leave for work, I’ll do the dishes

Future forms can occur in the main clause Future forms can occur in the main clause with future time clauses. with future time clauses.

Future time clauses begin with a time Future time clauses begin with a time word such as word such as when, before, after, as when, before, after, as soon as, until, once, next time, etc.soon as, until, once, next time, etc.

In most cases, the main clause uses the In most cases, the main clause uses the simple present. The main clause uses a simple present. The main clause uses a future form. future form.

Contrasting Contrasting willwill and the and the future future continuouscontinuous

Don’t worry. I’ll pick up the kids after work.Don’t worry. I’ll pick up the kids after work.

I’ll be picking up the kids after work. Then I’ll be picking up the kids after work. Then I’ll be going straight home.I’ll be going straight home.

Don’t call Bob at six. He’ll probably be Don’t call Bob at six. He’ll probably be eating dinner theneating dinner then

Don’t call Bob at six. He’ll probably eat Don’t call Bob at six. He’ll probably eat dinner then.dinner then.

Future Continuous Future Continuous

The future continuous expresses an activity in progress at a specific time in the future.

At this time tomorrow, I’ll be leaving for Hawaii.

I’ll be staying in Hawaii for three weeks.

Promises and Requests vs. Plans and Expectations

Future with Will

(a Promise)

I’ll finish this tomorrow.

Future Continuous

(a Plan or Expectation)

I’ll be finishing this tomorrow.

Future with Will

(a Request)

A: Will you stop at the post office to send this package tomorrow?

B: Sure.

Future Continuous

(a Question About a Plan)

A: Will you be stopping at the post office tomorrow?

B: Yes, I will.

A: Could you send this package?

Be going toBe going to, the , the present present continuouscontinuous as future, and as future, and the the

simple presentsimple present as future as future

Be going toBe going to & the & the present present continuouscontinuous as future as future

Both Both be going tobe going to and the and the present present continuous as futurecontinuous as future are used to talk about are used to talk about a planned eventa planned event or or future intention.future intention.

I I am not going to takeam not going to take classes this summer. classes this summer. I am going to work full-time.I am going to work full-time.

I I am not takingam not taking classes this summer. I am classes this summer. I am working full-time.working full-time.

Be going toBe going to & the & the present present continuouscontinuous as future as future

With be going to, the With be going to, the speaker may not have speaker may not have an exact planan exact plan

I am going to leave my I am going to leave my job (someday). I am job (someday). I am just so unhappy.just so unhappy.

With the present With the present continuous as future, continuous as future, the plan is often more the plan is often more definitedefinite

I am leaving my job I am leaving my job (next week). I’ve been (next week). I’ve been unhappy for too long.unhappy for too long.

Be going toBe going to & the & the present present continuouscontinuous as future as future

We use We use be going tobe going to make perditions. We make perditions. We don’t use the present continuous or the don’t use the present continuous or the simple present to predict events. simple present to predict events.

They are going to win tonight. Everyone They are going to win tonight. Everyone thinks so.thinks so.

They are winning tonight. They are winning tonight. XXIt’s going to rain later. It’s going to rain later. It is raining later. It is raining later. XX

The Simple Present as FutureThe Simple Present as Future

The simple present as future is used for The simple present as future is used for scheduled events that usually cannot be scheduled events that usually cannot be changed. It is common in more formal changed. It is common in more formal contexts.contexts.

Printed program: The conference Printed program: The conference startsstarts on on Tuesday evening and Tuesday evening and endsends on Saturday on Saturday afternoon.afternoon.

Trip itinerary: The flight Trip itinerary: The flight leavesleaves Chicago at Chicago at 10:02 and 10:02 and arrivesarrives in Palm Beach at 12:36. in Palm Beach at 12:36.

The The Present continuous as futurePresent continuous as future and and be going be going toto can ALSO be used to talk about scheduled can ALSO be used to talk about scheduled events. However, the simple present as future events. However, the simple present as future is more likely to imply that the schedule is is more likely to imply that the schedule is beyond the controlbeyond the control of the speaker. of the speaker.

Student:Student: I am leaving at midnight. That’s my I am leaving at midnight. That’s my plan.plan.

I am going to leave at midnight. That’s I am going to leave at midnight. That’s my plan.my plan.

Soldier:Soldier: I leave at midnight. Those are my I leave at midnight. Those are my orders.orders.