EXPRESSING FUTURE

1. FUTURE PRESENT: A. WILL

B. TO BE GOING TO
C. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
D. PRESENT SIMPLE

A. WILL

 To talk about the future Waiter: “What would you like to eat?”
“I’ll be back later tonight – don’t bother making me dinner.” Customer: “I think I’ll have the chicken.”
“I’m busy right now – I’ll call you tomorrow.” Other examples: “I’m cold. I think I’ll put the heater on.”
“Look, that’s my bus. I’ll catch up with you later.”
 To make predictions
“I’m sure he’ll be a successful lawyer one day.”
 To make promises, offers, requests and threats
“I don’t think it’ll rain tonight” (Not “I think it won’t rain tonight.”)
Promises: “I’ll help you with your homework tomorrow.”
Offers: “I’ll look after the children for you if you like.”
 To make on spot, spontaneous decisions Requests: “Will you tell Tony I called?”
Threats: “If you cheat again, I’ll tell the teacher.”

B. TO BE GOING TO- we used this tense for a personal intention

(something that you’re willing to accomplish), for a planned future action or D. PRESENT SIMPLE - when we talk about time tables, schedules of buses,
if a present fact indicates a future event. planes, etc.:
“I’m going to buy a new car.” “The plane leaves at 7 o’clock.”
“It’s going to rain soon. There are a lot of black clouds in the sky.”
* The forms ‘to be about to’, ‘to be on the point of’; ‘to be to’, ‘to be on
C. PRESENT CONTINUOUS- fixed arrangements or appointments in the the verge of’(both formal) can express intentions and events that are
future. going to happen in the immediate future: “I’m sorry, I don’t have time.
“My wife is flying to Rome tomorrow.” I’m about to leave.”
“We’re moving to Glasgow next month.” “The mayor is to give a speech tomorrow.”

TIME CLAUSES: AFTER

BEFORE
AS SOON AS PRESENT SIMPLE; PRESENT PERFECT=> These time words come before the earlier action.
UNTIL
WHEN

E.g.: As soon as I finish drawing, I’ll go to bed.

Once I have finished my homework, I’ll watch a film.

2. Future Continuous
Form
The future continuous is made up of two elements:  The future continuous can be used for predicting or guessing about
the simple future of the verb 'to be' + the present participle (base+ing) future events:
Examples-He'll be coming to the meeting, I expect.
Subject simple future of the verb 'to be' present
I guess you'll be feeling thirsty after working in the sun.
participle
 In the interrogative form, the future continuous can be used to ask
You will be watching
politely for information about the future:
Examples- Will you be bringing your friend to the pub tonight?
I will be staying
Functions  The future continuous can be used to refer to continuous events that
The future continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that will be we expect to happen in the future:
in progress at a time later than now. The future continuous is used for quite Examples-I'll be seeing Jim at the conference next week.
a few different purposes. When he is in Australia he will be staying with friends.

 The future continuous can be used to project ourselves into the  When combined with still, the future continuous refers to events that
future: are already happening now and that we expect to continue some
Examples- This time next week I will be sun-bathing in Bali. time into the future:
By Christmas I will be skiing like a pro. Examples- Tomorrow he'll still be suffering from his cold.

3. Future in the Past

Future in the past has two different forms in English: would and was going Jane said Sam was going to bring his sister with him, but he
to. Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they came alone. plan
often express two different meanings. I had a feeling that the vacation was going to be a
FORM- Would disaster. prediction
[would + VERB] He promised he would send a postcard from Egypt. promise
Examples: ACTIVE / PASSIVE
I knew you would help him. Examples: I knew John would finish the work by 5:00 PM. Active
I knew you would not help him. I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM. Passive

FORM- Was/Were Going To+ Verb 4. Future Perfect- this tense refers to a completed action in the future; we
Examples: are projecting ourselves forward into the future and looking back at an action
I knew you were going to go to the party. that will be completed some time later than now.
I knew you were not going to go to the party. Examples: I will have been here for six months on June 23rd.
By the time you read this I will have left.
USE: 5. Future Perfect Continuous- refers to actions that will continue up
Future in the past is used to express the idea that in the past you thought until a point in the future.
something would happen in the future. It does not matter if you are correct or Examples: At five o’clock, I will have been waiting for thirty minutes.
not. "Would" is used to volunteer or promise, and "was going to" is used to When I turn thirty, I will have been playing piano for twenty-one years.
plan. Moreover, both forms can be used to make predictions about the future.
Examples: I told you he was going to come to the party. plan
I knew Julie would make dinner. voluntary action