The document discusses various ways to talk about the future in English, including: 1) Using the present continuous to talk about definite future arrangements that have already been planned. 2) Using the present simple to talk about schedules and timetables in the future. 3) Using "going to" + infinitive to talk about future plans and intentions. 4) Using "will" to talk about decisions made in the moment or to make predictions and guesses about the future.

1. Future Time
Done by: ENGLISH TEACHER

2. Definite Arrangement
We use the Present Continuous to
talk about definite arrangements for
the future – something we have
already decided on for the future.
Sorry, I can’t help you. I’m leaving in
the morning.

3.  Beth: Do you want to go to the beach
tomorrow?
 Jenny: I’d love to, but not before 4
o’clock.
 Beth: Why? What are you doing in the
morning?
 Jenny: Oh, I’m doing a million things. At
8 o’clock I’m going to the dentist. Then
I’m meeting my mother and helping her
with the shopping. After that I’m taking
my dog to the vet and rushing back to
meet Sarah at the airport.

4. Schedules and timetables
We use the Present Simple to talk about
schedules or timetables in the future.
The bus leaves at midnight and arrives
in Edinburgh at five.
The concert tonight starts at 8.30.
What time does the plane land?

5. Plans and Intentions
We use going to + infinitive to talk
about future plans or intentions –
something we have a plan for.
I’m going to fix television tomorrow.
Why are you going to buy a new bike?

6. Present Continuous / going to
When it is clear that we mean the
future, the Present Continuous and
going to + infinitive are often
interchangeable. But generally we use
the Present Continuous to show that
something has been arranged for the
future, while we use going to to show
that we intend to do something in the
future.

7.  We are travelling around Europe
after we finish school. We’ve
already bought the tickets.
(ARRANGEMENT)
 We are going to travel around
Europe after we finish school. At
least that’s what we plan to do.
(INTENTION)

8. Without a time context the choice of the
Present Continuous or going to changes
the meaning.
 I hear that Josh is travelling round
the world. (PRESENT)
 I hear that Josh is going to travel
round the world. (FUTURE)

9. Predictions from Evidence
We also use going to + infinitive for
predictions, often about the near future.
Usually there is some evidence in the
present situation that tells us about the
future.
 Henry hasn’t studied at all. He’s going
to fail the exam tomorrow.
 Look at those clouds. It’s going to
rain.

10. Near Future Intentions or
Predictions
We can use to be about to + infinitive
for intentions and predictions about the
very near future. We often use the word
just to show even greater immediacy.
 I’m just about to leave. Can I phone
you back?
 I think we should get inside quickly.
It’s about to rain.

11. Note the difference:
 Jim is going to dive into the pool.
(SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE)
 Jim is about to dive into the pool.
(IMMEDIATELY)

12. Decisions Made at the Moment
When, at the moment of speaking, we
decide to do something in the future, or
express willingness to do so, we use the
Future Simple (will + infinitive).
Contractions are common with will:
I will =I’ll  he will =he’ll
we will = we’ll  they will = they’ll

13. Examples
 I’ve forgotten to buy bread. I’ll go out
again to get some for you.
 Would you like tea or coffee? – I’ll
have coffee, please.
Promise/Offer:
 I’ll phone you as soon as I get back.
 I’ll help you with your work tonight.

14. Interrogative and Negative Forms
Will I/he/she/it/we/you/they come?
will not = won’t
I/He/She/It/ We/You/They won’t come.

15. Speculations and Guesses
We use will (Future Simple) to make
speculations and guesses about things
we can’t control in the future.
 There will be big changes in this country
over the next few years.
 I have a feeling that your brother will
win first place.
 Do you think our team will win the cup?

16. Formal English: Definite Plan
We use will to talk about definite plans
in formal situations.
 The Managing Director of the
company will visit this country next
month. He will bring with him his
deputy, Mr. Rosse.
In everyday English we use the Present
Continuous for definite plans.

17. Will or going to?
 If at the time of speaking we
decide about something in the future,
we use will.
 Do we have any cola? – No, we
don’t, but I’ll get some later.
 I’ve decided. I’ll have the salad
plate.

18. Will or going to? cont.
 For many predictions we can use
either will or going to.
 According to the weather report, it
will be /is going to be cold next week.

19. Shall
Shall can be used instead of will with I
and we, especially in more formal
English. Shall is more frequent in British
English.
 I shall be there at 10 o’clock.
shall not = shan’t
 We shan’t be able to come.

20. In British English shall / shan’t
can also be used for:
 Shall I bring some tea? (offer)
 Shall we meet at eight? (suggestion)
 I’m lost. What shall I do? (asking for
advice)
 I shan’t do anything till I hear from
you. (promise)

21. The Future Continuous
We use will be + …ing for an activity
that will be in progress at a time in the
future.
 Next year, Ruth will be studying art
in Paris.
 I’ll be waiting for you at the entrance
at 2 o’clock.

22. The Future Continuous
We use will be + …ing for questions
about people’s future plans, especially
when we want something or want
someone to do something.
 Will you be going to the bank this
afternoon?
 Will you be using the car this
evening?

23. The Future Perfect
We use will have + past participle
(The Future Perfect) for something that
will be completed or will have happened
before another action at a certain time
in the future.
 By this time next week, I will have
finished all my exams.

24. More examples
 Next year I will have been here for 10
years. (Now I have been here for 9
years.)
 I can’t hand in my project next week.
I won’t have finished it by then.
 By the time you get here, we’ll have
done all the work.

25. Note the difference:
 This time next week I’ll be doing
my exams. (I’ll be in the middle)
 This time next week I’ll have done
my exams. (I won’t have any more
exams.)

26. The Future Perfect Continuous
We use will have been + …ing (The
Future Perfect Continuous) to
emphasize the length of time that an
action or an event will have been in
progress up to a future point of time.
 In five minutes I will have been
sitting here for two hours.

27. Choose the most suitable tense.
1) Do you want to go out tomorrow
night? I’ll phone / I’m phoning you
later to let you know when we can
meet.
2) Joan will have /is going to have a
baby. She has just told me the news.
3) Are you hot? Will / Shall I open the
window?

28. Answers
1) Do you want to go out tomorrow
night? I’ll phone you later to let you
know when we can meet.
2) Joan is going to have a baby. She
has just told me the news.
3) Are you hot? Shall I open the
window?

29. Choose the most suitable tense.
4) Please don’t phone at 9 o’clock. I am
watching / I will be watching
something interesting on television.
5) I wonder what we will be doing / will
do this time next year.
6) I hope I am finishing / will have
finished this book by this time next
year.

30. Answers
4) Please don’t phone at 9 o’clock. I will
be watching something interesting on
television.
5) I wonder what we will be doing this
time next year.
6) I hope I will have finished this book
by this time next year.

31. Choose the most suitable tense.
7) I will go / am going to Canada in the
summer. I’ve already got my tickets.
8) We’re late. The film is starting / will
have started by the time we get
there.
9) When will the doctor be free? You
told me that it wouldn’t take long,
but soon I will have been waiting /
will wait for an hour.

32. Answers
7) I am going to Canada in the summer.
I’ve already got my tickets.
8) We’re late. The film will have started
by the time we get there.
9) When will the doctor be free? You
told me that it wouldn’t take long,
but soon I will have been waiting for
an hour.

33. Choose the most suitable tense.
10) My cousin will come /is coming to
visit London. I haven’t decided where
to take her, but I think I’ll take /I’m
taking her for the tour of the north.
11) The bus will have left / is about to
leave. Hurry up!
12) He hasn’t studied at all. He is failing
/ is going to fail this exam.

34. Answers
10)My cousin is coming to visit London.
I haven’t decided where to take her,
but I think I’ll take her for the tour of
the north.
11) The bus is about to leave. Hurry up!
12) He hasn’t studied at all. He is going
to fail this exam.

35. The Temporals
(time words and expressions)
In a sentence about the future we do
not use will after when or other
temporals in the time clause. Instead,
we use the present tense, usually the
Present Simple.
 I will come out when you ring the
bell.
 What will she do after she hears the
news?

36. The temporals are:
when  after  before
as soon as  until / till  by the time
once  the moment (that)
immediately  while
While can be followed by the Present
Continuous:
 I’ll finish this letter while you’re
reading the paper.

37. Examples:
 As soon as he receives the results,
he’ll leave for London.
 You must stop writing the moment I
tell you.
 She won’t talk to you till you
apologise.
 By the time we arrive, you’ll have
been there for hours.

38. Complete the sentences using the
verbs in brackets in their correct
form.
1) We’ll leave for home as soon as it
(stop) __ raining.
2) What will you do after you (leave) __
school?
3) We are leaving the moment Jo
(arrive) __ .
4) Don’t do anything before the police
officer (tell) __ us what to do.

39. Answers
1) We’ll leave for home as soon as it
stops raining.
2) What will you do after you leave
school?
3) We are leaving the moment Jo
arrives.
4) Don’t do anything before the police
officer tells us what to do.

40. Complete the sentences using the
verbs in brackets in their correct
form.
5) Can you look after the baby while I
(go) __ to the shops?
6) By the time we (get) __ there, all the
food will be gone.
7) Please phone me immediately you
(get) __ home.
8) You must go straight home after the
party (end) __.

41. Answers
5) Can you look after the baby while I
go / am going to the shops?
6) By the time we get there, all the food
will be gone.
7) Please phone me immediately you
get home.
8) You must go straight home after the
party ends.

42. The Present Perfect
can also be used after the temporals.
This emphasizes that something will be
finished before another action happens.
 Don’t give Jane the present till Terry
has left.
 When you’ve seen the video, I’ll
borrow it.
 I’ll wait here until you have finished.