This document discusses various ways to talk about the future in English using different verb tenses and structures: 1) The present simple is used for future events on a schedule like "The train leaves London at 9pm tonight." 2) The present continuous is used for future plans and arrangements like "They are working tomorrow." 3) "Be going to" is used for predictions based on evidence and intentions or plans like "It's going to rain" and "We're going to paint our bedroom." 4) "Will + infinitive" is used for spontaneous decisions and predictions like "I'll get a pencil" and "People will go to Mars." 5) The future continuous

1. THE FUTURE Present Simple Present Continuous Be Going To Will + infinitive Future continuous: will + be +V-ing Future perfect: will + have + past participle

2. PRESENT SIMPLE In sentences that concern events that are on a definite schedule or timetable . These sentences usually contain future words. Only a few verbs are used in this way, eg: to be, open, close, begin, start, end, finish, arrive, come, leave, return. EXAMPLES: The train LEAVES London at 9pm tonight. Joanna STARTS work next week. Tomorrow IS Thursday.

3. PRESENT CONTINUOUS BE (present) + V-ING In sentences that concern a definite plan or arrangement . These sentences usually contain future words, or the future is understood from the context. EXAMPLES: Marek IS TAKING his CAE exam next year. They can’t play tennis with you tomorrow. They ’RE WORKING .

4. BE GOING TO When the speaker is making a prediction based on evidence . There’s a cloud in the sky. It ’S GOING TO rain. When the speaker already has an intention or plan . We ’RE GOING TO paint our bedroom tomorrow. Simon has won the lottery. He says he ’S GOING TO buy a house in Oxford.

5. WILL + INFINITIVE When the speaker is making a prediction . Tomorrow WILL BE hot and sunny. People WILL GO to Mars in the next decade. When the speaker decides to do something at the time of speaking. He had no previous plan . Spontaneous . Hold on. I ’LL GET a pencil. We WILL SEE what we can do to help you Maybe we ’LL STAY IN and WATCH television.

6. FUTURE CONTINUOUS USE - Incomplete actions in the future FORM Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Verb + ing I/you/we etc. will be going/taking Tomorrow at nine, I will be washing my car. Tomorrow at this time, I will be getting bored at school!

7. FUTURE PERFECT USE - Actions that will be finished before some point in the future FORM Subject + Auxiliary verb + Auxiliary verb + Past participle I/a dog etc. will have gone, seen, etc They will have graduated from Cambridge by July 2009. I will have retired by the end of the year. I read 40 pages a day. If I keep up the pace, I will have read the book by Tuesday.