The document discusses different ways to talk about the future in English. It explains the uses of will, be going to, the present continuous, and the present simple to express certainty, plans, predictions, and scheduled events in the future. It also covers using might, may, could, and likely to for less certain predictions. Finally, it discusses using future time clauses with when, after, until, etc. and how the tense changes in the main and time clauses.

1. THE FUTURE
Future time vs Future tenses

2. Future time vs Future tenses
We can be certain about the past and the present, but we
cannot be certain about the future because we are talking
about things that haven’t happened yet!
That’s why when using the future tenses it is important to
know how sure we are that things will happen.

3. Future time vs Future tenses
FUTURE TENSES:
WILL
BE GOING TO
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
PRESENT SIMPLE

4. Future time vs Future tenses
WILL
FOR PREDICTIONS
usually with the verbs THINK, BELIEVE, EXPECT, etc and with adverbs like
PERHAPS, CERTAINLY, PROBABLY, etc.
★ I think she’ll certainly pass the exams. She has worked very
hard.
★ Because of medical advances we will probably live longer.

5. Future time vs Future tenses
WILL
FOR OFFERS AND DECISIONS TAKEN ON
THE SPOT
★ I’ll take it. It suits me perfectly.
★ I’ll help you with your homework.

6. Future time vs Future tenses
WILL
FOR ACTIONS, SITUATIONS AND EVENTS
WHICH WILL CERTAINLY TAKE PLACE
★ She’ll be 18 next month.

7. Future time vs Future tenses
BE GOING TO
FOR PLANS AND INTENTIONS
★ I’m going to study harder next term.
★ They are going to travel around the world for their honeymoon.

8. Future time vs Future tenses
BE GOING TO
FOR PREDICTIONS WHEN THERE IS
EVIDENCE THAT SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN
★ Look at the sky! It’s going to rain.
★ She’s going to have a baby.

9. Future time vs Future tenses
PRESENT CONTINOUS
FOR FIXED ARRANGEMENTS IN THE NEAR
FUTURE
In particular social arrangements and appointments.
A time expression is common.
★ They are going to the museum tomorrow.

10. Future time vs Future tenses
PRESENT SIMPLE
FOR PLANNED EVENTS
Usually scheduled events on a programme or
timetable.
★ The play starts at 8 o´ clock.

11. Future time vs Future tenses
PROBLEMS?
WILL OR BE GOING TO?
BE GOING TO OR PRESENT
CONTINUOUS?

12. Future time vs Future tenses
WILL OR BE GOING TO?
They are both used for predictions but if there is
strong evidence in the present situation, then BE
GOING TO is used.
We often use “I think” and “I hope” with WILL.
★ I think James will become a spy.
★ There are lots of different models nowadays so tablets are going
to become cheaper.

13. Future time vs Future tenses
BE GOING TO OR PRESENT
CONTINUOUS?
Going to can suggest that the action or event is still
an open plan and the present continuous means that
the arrangement is more fixed.
We usually specify a future time (present
continuous)
★ This year I am going to travel a lot and visit my friends.
★ We are taking the plane in 30 minutes.

14. Future time vs Future tenses
“Be going to” is rarely used with the verbs GO and
COME.
The forms “I’m going” and “I’m coming” are preferred
to “I’m going to go/come”
★ We are going to Italy on holiday.
★ (We are going to go to Italy on holiday)

15. Future time vs Future tenses
OTHER WAYS OF EXPRESSING FUTURE TIME
MIGHT ( FUTURE PLANS)
MAY / MIGHT / COULD (PREDICTIONS)
BE LIKELY TO (PREDICTIONS)

16. Future time vs Future tenses
MIGHT (FUTURE PLANS)
When we are unsure what the plan is
★I might go to Lisbon and visit you.

17. Future time vs Future tenses
MAY / MIGHT / COULD
(PREDICTIONS)
Uncertain predictions
★There’s heavy traffic. You may / might be late if you don’t leave now. (“May” is
stronger than “Might”)
★Rain forests could be destroyed if we don’t do something to avoid global
warming.

18. Future time vs Future tenses
BE LIKELY TO (PREDICTIONS)
To make predictions when something is
probable
★You are likely to get the job if you answer all the questions correctly.

19. Future time vs Future tenses
FUTURE TIME CLAUSES
★After the winter is over, I’ll start to work on the garden.
★Gary’s parents will be very happy when he qualifies as a doctor.
★As soon as it starts raining, I’ll bring the washing in.
★When I’ve written the report, I’ll let you know.
Future time clauses can be introduced by: AFTER, WHEN, AS SOON AS, BEFORE,
UNTIL, TILL, BY THE TIME and THE MOMENT.
The tense of the verb in the main clause is often the future with WILL.
But notice that although the time clauses have a future meaning, we do not use the
future with WILL. Instead, we use either the PRESENT SIMPLE or THE PRESENT
PERFECT SIMPLE.

20. Future time vs Future tenses
YOUR TURN
FUTURE PLANS: British Council
TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE: British Council
WILL / BE GOING TO: English Page
TIME CLAUSES 1: English Page
TIME CLAUSES 2: English Page