Transcript Future

Future
Grammar Guide
Introduction
 There
are several ways to use verbs
to talk about the future in English.
 This is a complicated area of grammar:
the differences between the meanings and
uses of the different structures are not
easy to analyse and describe clearly.
 In many, but not all situations, two or more
structures are possible.
Introduction
The choice of form often depends on
whether we are:
1. making a prediction → WILL + VERB
2. expressing an intention
→ TO BE GOING TO + VERB
3. talking about an arrangement
→ Present Continuous
(TO BE + V-ING)
1. Predictions

We use the future simple
WILL
+ verb
WON’T
to talk about predictions which are based on
guesswork, analysis or judgement.
We’ll still be here in twenty years.
Will interest rates rise in the next few weeks?
Tomorrow will be warm, with some cloud.
1. Predictions
 We
often use will to predict an event which
we think will happen because similar
events have happened in the past:
He’ll be in prison for a long time.
(= Similar crimes have attracted long sentences.)
The laptop battery will give you about two
hours’ continuous use.
(= This is what previous batteries have done.)
Decisions at the moment of speaking
 We
often use the future simple to talk
about a decision made at the time of
speaking:
Oh, our guests are here. I’ll go and sort
out some drinks for them.
You look tired. I’ll cook dinner tonight.
shall

Especially in formal BrE used in 1st person singular and
plural instead of will : I shall / we shall (sounds oldfashioned)

Shall I / Shall we...?
in spoken BrE used to make a suggestion, or ask a
question that you want the other person to decide
about:
Shall I open the window?

(= Do you want me to open the window?)


Shall we say 6 o'clock, then?
What shall I get for dinner?
2. Intentions
 We
use BE GOING TO + VERB
for intentions – for actions that have
already been decided on, plans previously
made for the future:
He is going to study environmental law
next year.
I'm going to buy a new car soon.
2. Intentions
 We
usually avoid BE GOING TO + VERB
with the verbs go and come:
I'm going home now. Are you coming?
I'm going to go home now. Are you going
to come?
Present evidence to predict
future

We also use BE GOING TO + VERB to predict
the future on the basis of present evidence – to
say that a future action or event is on the way, or
starting to happen (the prediction is often about
the near future):
Look at those black clouds. It's going to rain.
Look out! You’re going to spill the wine!
3. Arrangement

We use the present continuous
AM / IS / ARE + V-ING
to talk about personal arrangements and fixed
plans, especially when the time and place have
been decided and we have made some form of
commitment:
I'm playing tennis with John tomorrow.
We’re seeing Larry on Saturday.
3. Arrangement
We’re seeing a musical at the theatre next
week.
(= We’ve got the tickets.)
 Compare
this with the use of be going to:
We’re going to see a musical at the
theatre sometime next week.
(= not arranged yet; the focus is on our intention,
plan)
Summary
Compare:
 I'll visit my family.
(= prediction or decision at the moment of
speaking)
 I'm
going to visit my family this summer.
(= my future plan, intention)
 I'm
meeting my family at 6.00.
(= a fixed arrangement involving other people:
my family, they know about it)
Summary
Compare:
 I'll get a new job one day.
(= I think it will happen.)
 I'm
going to get a new job.
(= I have decided to start looking for it. I can’t
stand my boss any longer.)
 I'm
getting a new job.
(= I have arranged an interview for tomorrow.)
Summary
Compare:
 I'll get married one day.
(= I think it will happen.)
 I'm
going to marry this girl/boy.
(= I have just met a wonderful person and I think
he/she is my ideal spouse. I express my
intention.)
 I'm
getting married on Saturday.
(= Everything is arranged for our wedding.)
Summary
Compare:
 Don’t lend him your car. He’s a terrible
driver – he will crash it.
(= prediction based on speaker’s knowledge)
 Look
out – we are going to crash.
(= There is outside evidence.)
Summary
Compare:
 Alice is going to have a baby.
(= present evidence – she is pregnant)
 The
baby will certainly have blue eyes,
because both parents have.
(= speaker thinks it will be like that, basing the
opinion on the knowledge about genetics)
Summary
Compare:
 I’m seeing Janet on Tuesday.
(= arrangement, she knows about it, we have
discussed it)
I
wonder if she will recognise me.
(= prediction, I guess, think, believe, there is no
present reference)
Try to use
the correct structure
while expressing the
future!

 Are
you going to visit relatives this
weekend?
 Yes, I am. / No, I am not.
 John
is going to visit relatives this
weekend and so am I.
 Mike is going to have a business lunch
next week but I am not.
In the 2020s
 Choose
five prompts and write questions
based on them:
Do you think people will have more free
time in the 2020s?
In the 2020s
 Ask
questions, listen to the answers and
make notes:
Answers
Notes





Yes, definitely.
Yes, probably.
Maybe.
No, probably not.
No, definitely not.
→
→
→
→
→


?


In the 2020s
 Do
you think people will have more free
time in the 2020s?   /  / ? /  

Answers

Yes, definitely. →

Yes, probably.
→

Maybe.
→

No, probably not. →

No, definitely not. →
Notes


?


In the 2020s

Sum up the survey by writing sentences:
Five students think that people
will definitely
will probably
might
have more free time in the
probably won’t
2020s.
definitely won’t
In the 2020s …
I
think China will definitely be the most
powerful country.
 I think a woman will probably become the
president of Poland.
 I think people might have cure for cancer.
 I think people probably won’t live on Mars.
 I think students definitely won’t have robot
teachers. 
In the 2020s
 Can
you now make a few predictions
about your future:
In the 2020s I will definitely be a
millionaire. I probably won’t live in Poland.
I might have a castle in Scotland.
Write sentences. Use the correct future form.
1. I / think / it / be sunny tomorrow.
I think it will be sunny tomorrow.
2. That man / crash his car!
That man is going to crash his car!
3. I / do the shopping for you?
Shall I do the shopping for you?
4. Liz / meet Johnny tonight.
Liz is meeting Johnny tonight.
5. We’ve decided we / buy a new car.
We’ve decided we are going to buy a new car.
Write sentences. Use the correct future form.
6. Harry / break anything you give him.
Harry will break anything you give him.
7. Watch out! You / fall off that ladder!
Watch out! You are going to fall off that ladder!
8. Jess can’t come. She / play squash with Joe.
Jess can’t come. She is playing squash with Joe.
9. I’ve decided I / cook some fish today.
I’ve decided I am going to cook some fish today.
10. In the future people / spend their holidays on space
stations.
In the future people will spend their holidays on space
stations.
NEF Pre-int. 3C
 keep
a promise
 break a promise
 Find
and underline these words:
either / eternal / injection / journey
/ plumber / research /