This document discusses various ways to talk about the future in English, including the present simple, present continuous, "going to", and "about to". It explains that the present simple is used for timetables and habits, while "about to" expresses imminent future actions. "Going to" can indicate intentions or predictions based on present evidence. The present continuous is used for plans and arrangements, especially travel, when there is a time expression involved. Overall, it contrasts the uses of "going to" and the present continuous for talking about plans and arrangements in the future.

1. Present forms
future meanings

2. Present Simple

3. The concert finishes at
midnight.
Term starts on 10 April.
The sun rises at 6.13 tomorrow.

4. The concert finishes at
midnight.
Term starts on 10 April.
The sun rises at 6.13 tomorrow.

5. these are
timetables

6. timetables
are like habits
(remember we use
the Present Simple for habits)

7. about to

8. Don’t go.
We’re about to have lunch.
It’s about to rain.
Let’s close the windows.

9. Don’t go.
We’re about to have lunch.
It’s about to rain.
Let’s close the windows.

10. am
is
are
about to INFINITIVE

11. am
is
are
about to INFINITIVE
what’s
strange
here?

12. am
is
are
about to INFINITIVE
prepositions
are normally
followed
by –ING

13. Don’t go.
We’re about to have lunch.
It’s about to rain.
Let’s close the windows.

14. ‘about to’ expresses an action
that will happen very soon

15. ‘about to’ is called the
Immediate Future

16. going to (1)

17. I’m going to play tennis with
John on Thursday.
We’re going to study ‘will’ next.

18. I’m going to play tennis with
John on Thursday.
We’re going to study ‘will’ next.

19. am
is
are
going to INFINITIVE

20. am
is
are
going to INFINITIVE
how many
verbs?

21. am
is
are
going to INFINITIVE
1 3
2

22. I’m going to play tennis with
John on Thursday.
We’re going to study ‘will’ next.

23. ‘going to’ expresses
intention

24. ‘going to’ is called
the intentional future

25. BUT its meaning is present:

26. BUT its meaning is present:
“I’m going to play tennis.”
=
I have the intention NOW
of playing tennis TOMORROW

27. going to (2)

28. Look at those clouds!
It’s going to rain.

29. ‘going to’ is used
to predict the future
based on present evidence

30. Present Continuous

31. I’m flying to Milan on Tuesday.
We’re meeting John in the
centre later.

32. ‘Present Continuous’ for the
Future usually has a time
expression.

33. ‘Present Continuous’
expresses plans

34. something is a plan if:
- you have a ticket
- you have an appointment
- you’ve written it in your diary

35. the ‘Present Continuous’
is very common when we talk
about arrangements for travel
and meeting people

37. We use ‘going to’ and ‘Present
Continuous’ to talk about plans
and arrangements.

38. We use ‘going to’ and ‘Present
Continuous’ to talk about plans
and arrangements.
NOT ‘will’

39. ‘going to’
vs.
‘Present Continuous’

40. I’m going to fly to Milan
next week.
I’m flying to Milan
next week.

41. I’m going to fly to Milan
next week.
I’m flying to Milan
next week.
my intention

42. I’m going to fly to Milan
next week.
I’m flying to Milan
next week.
maybe I have
a ticket,
maybe not

43. I’m going to fly to Milan
next week.
I’m flying to Milan
next week.
my plan

44. I’m going to fly to Milan
next week.
I’m flying to Milan
next week.
I have a ticket

45. another example

46. They’re going to get married
in the autumn.
They’re getting married
in the autumn.

47. the main verb is ‘to go’

48. I’m going to go to Milan
next week.

49. I’m going (to go) to Milan
next week.

50. I’m going to go to Milan
next week.
=
I’m going to Milan
next week.

51. main verb is ‘to come’

52. They’re going to come to Rome
the week after.

53. They’re going to come to Rome
the week after.

54. They’re going to come to Rome
the week after.
=
They’re coming to Rome
the week after.

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