THE FUTURE
Some ways to express it:
a) Present tenses: Present progressive
Be going to + infinitive
Simple present
b) Shall / will
c) other ways:
future perfect
be about to + infinitive
future progressive
be + infinitive
future in the past
be bound to
A) PRESENT TENSES. Future events that have some present reality (are already planned, starting to
happen or we can see them coming).
Present Progressive
Usually interchangeable
Be going + infinitive (\u201cgonna\u201d)
-Fixed arrangement
-Intention without arrangement.
Who\u2019s cooking lunch?
Who\u2019s going to cook lunch?
I\u2019m getting a new job.
I\u2019m going to get a new job.
-Predict events we do not control.
It\u2019s going to snow before long.
Simple present: - for timetables. My plane is at 3 o\u2019clock
- In subordinate clauses. She\u2019ll pay me back when she gets a job (subjunctive).*
- Instructions. When you get to Paris you go straight to \u2026(subjunctive).*
B) SHALL / WILL. Interchangeable in BrE. SHALL is less common and it is not used in AmE.
SHALL: -obligation in contracts. The hirer shall be responsible for maintenance of the vehicle.
-To ask for instructions. Shall we continue with the exercise?
-To make suggestions. Shall we go to the pub?
WILL: willingness, wishes or strong intentions.
-To make a decision at the moment of speaking. I think I\u2019ll go to bed.
-Instructions and orders. Make me a cup of coffee, will you? / you\u2019ll start at 3 o\u2019clock sharp.
-Refusals. The car won\u2019t start.
-To predict - future events. You\u2019ll feel better after a nap.
- present events. Don\u2019t phone them now \u2013 they\u2019ll be having dinner.
- Past event. It\u2019s no use expecting Ann to turn up. She\u2019ll have forgotten.
Present tenses
will / shall
Some present reality
I\u2019m going to see her tomorrow (an agreement
I\u2019ll see her tomorrow(because
exists now)
we work together)
Outside evidence (prediction)
Just an opinion (no evidence)
Look out \u2013 we\u2019re going to crash!
Don\u2019t lend him the car-he\u2019ll crash it
C) FUTURE PERFECT. Usually with a time expression beginning with \u201cby\u201d.
-something will have been done in the future. By Xtmas we\u2019ll have been here for 3 years. (progressive
also possible with dynamic verbs. By\u2026 I\u2019ll have been teaching\u2026)
-to predict the present or a past action affecting the present time. It\u2019s no use phoning- he\u2019ll have left by
now.
FUTURE PROGRESSIVE
-something will be in progress at a particular time in the future.
This time tomorrow I\u2019ll be lying on the beach.
-fixed future events. The professor will be giving another lecture\u2026
-events that are expected to happen. I\u2019ll be seeing you one of these days, I expect.
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EXPRESSING FUTURE TIME
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| Upload Date: | 12/03/2009 |
| Copyright: | Attribution Non-commercial |
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