Expressing the Future

Rule 1:

The most common way to express the future is with be going to + base form.

Im going to get some groceries. Do you need anything?

You can also express future time using present continuous form, but you must use a future time expression in the sentence (or in the previous sentence). If you dont use a time expression, the time will be present tense.
Rule 2:

Shes doing the laundry this afternoon. (present continuous form but future time) Shes doing the laundry. (present form and present time: right now)
Rule 3: HAPPENING VERY SOON be going to + base form.

When something is going to happen very soon, use

Someone stop him! Hes going to get hit by a car! (A boy is chasing a ball into the street.) Look at those black clouds! Its going to rain any minute. Lets go inside.
Rule 4: WEATHER

To predict (

, pronosticar, ) the weather, we usually use

be going to + base form. (Yes, we sometimes use will + base form, but in this class, use be going to + base form.)

Its going to rain tomorrow.

You cannot use present continuous to predict the weather. Wrong: Its raining tomorrow. Rule 5: QUICK DECISIONS Use will when you have just made a quick decision ( , , ) or youve just thought of an idea, for example, after I think, I have an idea, or I know.

a. What are you going to order? (in a restaurant) b. Wait a second. I havent looked at the menu yet. (pause) I think Ill order the hamburger combo. Oh, no! The copy machine is jammed*, and the boss wants this right away. (pause) I know, Ill go downstairs and ask if I can use their machine. * , hay atasco, , has stopped working because a piece of paper is stuck in it How am I going to contact all these people before tomorrow? (pause) I have an idea! Ill call Mark and Bob and see if they can help me.

Rule 6: SCHEDULES

When talking about schedules for planes, buses, and trains, departure and arrival times, etc., we often use simple present because we are referring to habitual ( , , habitual, acostumbrado, ) events.

a.

Rule 7: PLANS

To talk about plans and intentions (,,, , ) and things weve already scheduled or planned, we normally use be going to + base form, not will.

b.

Darn it! ( ! ay la leche! !) I missed my flight! (Asking the clerk at the check-in counter) Excuse me, sir, when does the next bus for Los Angeles leave? = When will the next flight for Los Angeles leave? Let's see. The next flight leaves at 1:35. = The next flight will leave at 1:35.

Next week theyre going to visit Yosemite. (They made their plans to visit there two weeks ago.) a. Whats all that paint for? (=Why do you have all that paint?) b. Didnt I tell you? Im going to repaint the bedroom this weekend.

Rule 8: IF

When one clause begins with if, the other clause often uses will. (not always!) If you tell anyone, Ill never speak to you again. 1 2
56Int020102 Roland Trego 02/01/02 rev. 3/8/2014 9:41 AM