Universidade Católica de Moçambique

Instituto de Educação à Distância

The use of Future English Forms

Rosema Sira Mália, código: 708181520

Curso:Língua
Portuguesa
Disciplina: Inglês (1º
Ano)

Pemba, Outubro, 2020

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Feedback Sheet
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 Cover 0.5
 Index 0.5
 Introduction 0.5
 Discussion 0.5
Structure Organizational  Conclusion 0.5
aspects  Bibliography 0.5
 Conclusion Practical 1.0
theoretical contributions
 Description of Aims 1.0
 Content Introduction 2.0
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 Methodology appropriate 2.0
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 Articulation and mastery of 2.0
academic discourse (careful
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Content Analysis and coherence / textual
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 Data exploration 2.0
Conclusion  Theory and Practical 2.0
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Aspects formatting, font type and
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Índice
Feedback Sheet..................................................................................................................1

1. Introduction...................................................................................................................3

1.1. Objectives...................................................................................................................3

1.1.1. General objective.....................................................................................................3

1.1.2. Specifics objectives:................................................................................................3

2. Future tense forms.........................................................................................................4

2.1. Will and Going to; Shall.............................................................................................6

2.2. Talking about Future..................................................................................................8

2.3. Use..............................................................................................................................9

2.4. Will.............................................................................................................................9

2.5. Going to....................................................................................................................10

2.6. Present Continuous...................................................................................................11

3. Conclusion...................................................................................................................12

4. Bibliography references...............................................................................................13

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 1. Introduction
The purpose of this artic1e is to discuss the use of Future English Forms that are
interpreted as referring to the future, as in I already decided that I am going to do 2 rd
year of my course next year.

It follows that this is a purely synchronies study. For an excellent diachronic treatment
I refer the reader to Visser (1970), who traces back a number of structures with will and
going to their Old English origin.
I have not found any monograph or articles dealing specifically with the synchronic use
of Future English Forms with future time reference. English grammars mostly restrict
themselves to the statement that will and going to can be used as a kind of future tense
auxiliary with the connotation of arrangement, especially official arrangement.
I can close off this introduction by pointing out that Nesselhauf (2006: 517) has found
that will and going to steadily decreases from 1700 to 1990.

1.1. Objectives

1.1.1. General objective

 Describe the use of Future English Forms

Specifics objectives:
 Identify different uses of Future English Forms
 Compare the different use of Future English Forms
 Analyze different uses of Future English Forms

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 2. Future tense forms
The future tense ('will/shall + infinitive') can be used as an absolute tense, to locate a
situation time posterior to and in doing so establish a 'post-present' (= future with
respect to) domain. It can also be used to express posteriority in a post-present domain.
For example, in If you ask him about next week s meeting he will say that he will attend
it, the absolute tense form ill say establishes a post-present domain, whereas posterior to
the saying.
For some time it has been a common place in mainstream linguistics to reject the
existence of a future tense in English (see e.g. Huddleston & Pullurn et al. 2002: 208-
10). For most people, the future 'is not a tense at all, but a mode (Cygan 1972: 9).
In Declerck (199la: 8-13; Declerk et al. 2006a: 102-6) I offer substantial evidence
against this claim and argue that the future tense is a genuine tense in English. This is
not to say that there is nothing modal about it. Whenever there is reference to the post-
present, there is an aspect of modal meaning because the situation referred to is 'not-yet-
factual' at to. 'Not yet factual at a given time is an epistemic modal notion. See Declerck
et al. (2006a: 102 3; Declerck 2006b: 57-70; 2009).
Apart from the future tense (will/shall + infinitive'), which (from a temporal point of
view) does no more than 1ocate a situation time in the post-present and which therefore
has single time reference (i.e. future time reference only), there are also verbal
expressions which effect 'dual time reference' , viz. a combination of post present time
reference and present time reference. Such expressions are referred to as futures tense
forms in Declerck et al. (2006a). These forms link the future actualization of a situation
to a particular kind of present state. For example
I have bought a computer because I am going to write a novel. (= 1have the present
intention of writing a navel in the future.)
Look at those clouds! There is going to be a storm in a minute. (= 'There are signs in the
present that there will be a storm soon.)
I'm leaving in a minute. (= 'There is a present plan or arrangement for me to leave in a
minute. ')
Look at her! She is about to faint. (= Tau can see now that she will faint in the very
near future.')
The Queen is to leave for Canada tomorrow. (= 'There is an official arrangement for the
Queen to leave for Canada tomorrow.')

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In the last three examples, the forms am leaving, is about to faint and is to leave will not
be treated as lexical realizations of the future tense. However, they are 'futures' tense
forms because they clearly locate the situation of leaving or fainting in the future (and in
doing so establish a post-present temporal domain).
The observation that futures forms link the future actualization of a situation to a present
state and therefore have dual time reference' does not mean that they refer to two
different situations (one present, the other future). Only lexical verbs can denote
situations. All the futures forms contain only one lexical verb, which refers to the
situation that is located in the post-present. In this respect a sentence like I'm going to
help her differs from (the semantically similar) I intend to help her, which involves two
lexical verbs and therefore refers to two different situations.
With the possible exception of is/are going to, which is also often used to express 'Pure
future' (i.e. to talk ab1ut the post-present without relating it to present circumstances, as
in I wonder if it is going to rain tomorrow), futures tense forms are less prototypical
expressions of post-present time reference than the future tense ('will/shall + infinitive')
they do imply a link with the present. These accounts for the fact that is/are to is not
normally substituted for will in more complex tense forms like future perfects or
progressive future tense forms:
E.g. Tomorrow the Queen (will have been is to have been) in Canada for four days.
I can't receive you at three. I {will be having/ "am to be having} guests then.
In such complex verb forms will always expresses pure future.
In sum, while the future tense is used to express 'pure future' (i.e. to make a mere
prediction and in doing so refer to the post-present only), futures tense forms typically
effect dual time reference and therefore have more specific meanings involving an
element of present time reference For example, The Queen is to leave for Canada
tomorrow refers to an official arrangement which exists at to and is expected to be acted
on tomorrow. This sentence is not primarily used to predict the Queen's departure but
rather to state the present existence of an arrangement which is expected to lead to a
post-present actualization (viz. the Queen's leaving for Canada).

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 2.1. Will and Going to; Shall
Will + infinitive and going to + infinitive are commonly used to talk about the future.
Sometimes the difference between them is very small (Martin, 2002 p.32)
• John'll / John's going to meet us in the restaurant at 8 o'clock.
• Will you / Are you going to come back this evening?
However, going to is preferred in spoken English (where it is often pronounced) and
will is preferred in formal written English.
In B-D below we focus on where there is a meaning difference.
We use going to rather than will when we predict that something will happen in the
future because we have some evidence for it now. It may be that we predict an event
that is just about to happen on the basis of something that we feel, see (etc.) now:
• What's that matter with her? She thinks she's going to faint. or it may be that we can
predict an event because we have been told that it will happen:
• Did you know that Bob and Kath are going to get married?
However, if we make a prediction based on our opinion or our past experience we use
2.2. Will
• Why not come over at the weekend? The children will enjoy seeing you again.
• I imagine the stadium will be full for the match on Saturday.
When we talk about intentions or decisions about the future that was made some time
before we report them, we prefer going to or the present continuous.
• Who's arranging the party? Jo's going to do it. (- this has been planned)
• Toni told me that she's going to move back to Spain. (= reporting an intention)
However, notice that in a formal style, we use will rather than going to talk about future
events that have been previously arranged in some detail:
• The meeting will begin at 10.00 am. Coffee will be available from 9.30 onwards.
When we state a decision made at the moment of speaking, we prefer will:
• 'Is that the phone?"Don't worry. I'll get it.' • It's late. I think I'll go to bed now.
We can use will or going to with little difference in meaning in the main clause of an if-
sentence when we say that something (often something negative) is conditional on
something else - it will happen if something else happens first:
• If we go on like this, we'll / we're going to lose all our money.
• You'll / you’re going to knock that glass over (if you're not more careful).

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However, we use will (or another auxiliary), not going to, when we describe a future
event that follows another. Often 'if' has a meaning similar to 'when' in this kind of
sentence:
• If you look carefully, you'll (or can) find writing scratched on the glass.
• If you move to your left, you'll (or may) be able to see the church.
Shall
We can use shall (or shan't) instead of will (or won't) in statements about the future
with I and we, although it is more common to use will/won't:
• When I retire, / shall/will have more time for my painting.
• The stronger we are, the more we shall/will be able to help others.
• In current English we don't use shall/shan't with other subjects (it, she, they, etc.)
when we talk about the future.
Present continuous and (I am going to) for the future and going to
We use the present continuous and going to + infinitive to talk about future activities
and events that are intended or have already been arranged (Martin, 2002 p.33)
• She's making a speech at the conference next week.
• Are you seeing Tony this week? (= do you have an arrangement to see him?)
• I'm tired. I'm not going to work anymore tonight.
• We're going to do some climbing in the Pyrenees.
We don't use will to talk about arrangements and intentions.
• Apparently, the council are closing / are going to close the old library. (= reporting an
arrangement) (not ...the council will close...)
When we talk about an intention to do something in the future, although no definite
arrangement has been made, we prefer going to rather than the present continuous. To
emphasize that we are talking about a definite arrangement, we prefer the present
continuous. Study these sentences:
• Before I go to China next year, I'm going to learn some Cantonese, (rather than ...I'm
learning some Cantonese.)
• I'm still not feeling very well, so I think
I'm going to see the doctor sometime this week, (rather than ...I think I'm seeing the
doctor...)
• What are you going to do next, now that you've finished your course? (Rather than
what are you doing next...)

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• They're leaving from Frankfurt airport at 6.30 pm. (rather than they’re going to
leave...)
• We're having a party on Sunday, 12th November. Can you come? (rather than
We're going to have...)
• The orchestra is performing Mahler's 5th
Symphony at next week's concert, (rather than ...is going to perform...)
We don't use the present continuous for the future:
• When we make or report predictions about activities or events over which we have no
control (we can't arrange these):
• I think it's going to rain / '11 rain soon, (not I think it's raining soon.)
• Scientists say that the satellite is going to fall / will fall to Earth sometime this
afternoon. (not ...the satellite is falling...)
• When we talk about permanent future situations:
• People are going to live / will live longer in the future, (not ...are living...)
• The brothers are going to own / will own most of the buildings in the street before
long. (not ...are owning...)
• Her new house is going to have / will have three floors, (not ...is having...)
• With the verb be:
• John's going to be a shepherd in the school play next week, (of John's being...)
• I'm going to be in Tokyo in May. (Not I'm being in Tokyo...)
We tend to avoid going to + go and use the present continuous form of go instead:
• I'm going to town on Saturday, (rather than I'm going to go to town...)
• Alice is going to university next year, (rather than ...is going to go to university...)

2.3. Talking about Future

Before to start learn about future we should know that there is no future tense in
English. However, English has several forms that can refer to the future. Three of these
are will, going to, and the Present Continuous. (OXFORD, 2006)

Now look at these examples:

a) I’ll see you later. (Will)

b) We’re going to see a film tonight. Do you want to come? (Going to)

c) I’m seeing the doctor tomorrow evening. (Present Continuous)

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Note that, the difference between them is not about near or distant future, or about
certainty. You choose a future form depending on how you see the future event. Is it a
plan, a decision, an intention, an offer, a prediction, or an arrangement? So this is the
important question to ask when choosing a future form.

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I will sleep I will not sleep Will I sleep?

You will sleep You will not sleep Will you sleep?

He will sleep He will not sleep Will he sleep?

She will sleep She will not sleep Will she sleep?

It will sleep It will not sleep Will it sleep?

We will sleep We will not sleep Will we sleep?

You will sleep you will not sleep Will you sleep?

They will sleep They will not sleep Will they sleep?

2.4. Use
Plans, decisions, and intensions (will and going to)

2.5. Will
We use will as a modal auxiliary verb to express a decision, intention, or offer made at
the moment of speaking. Look at the following examples:

a) I’ll have the steak, please.

b) I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye!

c) Give me a call sometime. We’ll go out for coffee.

d) ‘Andre, there’s someone at the door!’ ‘OK, I’ll get it.’

2.6. Going to

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We use going to express a future plan, decision, or intention made before the moment of
speaking. Look at these examples:

a) When I grow up, I’m going to be a doctor.

b) Maria and Pedro are going to get married after they graduate.

c) We’re going to paint this room blue.

2.7. Facts and Predictions (will and going to)

2.7.1. Will

The most common use of will is as an auxiliary verb to show future time.

It expresses a future fact or prediction. We call it the pure future or the Future Simple.
Now study these examples:

a) We will be away for two weeks.

b) Those flowers won’t grow under the tree. It’s too dark.

c) Our love will last forever.

d) You will be sick if you eat all those sweets!

Note that, will for a prediction can be based more on an opinion than a fact. See the
following example:

a) I don’t think Laura will do very well in her exam. She doesn’t do any work.

b) I am convinced that inflation will fall to three per cent next year.

2.7.2. Going to

Going to can express a prediction, especially when it is based on a present fact. Note
that there is evidence now that something is certain to happen. Look at following
examples:

a) She’s going to have a baby. (We can see she’s pregnant.)

b) Our team is going to win the match. (It’s four-nil, and there are only five minutes
left to play.)

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c) It isn’t going to rain today. (Look at that beautiful sky.)

2.8. Arrangements (Present Continuous)

We can use the Present Continuous to express a future arrangement between people. So
it usually refers to the near future. Study these examples carefully:

a) We’re going out with Antonio tonight.

b) I’m having my hair cut tomorrow.

c) What are we having for lunch?

Present Continuous.

I’m going to Pemba tomorrow.

I’m visiting my grandmother next weekend.

In these examples we say the time in the future (tomorrow, next weekend). We don’t
always do this but it is helpful so the listener knows we are talking about the future and
not the present.

Present Continuous can be used to talk about future plans. It is very similar to be going
to + verb form. However, it is usually used with certain verbs that talk about a plan we
have with another person (go, come, visit, meet, etc). We don’t usually use the verbs
GO or COME with be going to + verb form.

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 3. Conclusion
The following are the main findings of the above synchronic analysis of Future tense
forms:
The idea of future actualization of the residue-situation is stronger according as the
sense of necessity forming the M-origin is stronger. The strongest sense of necessity is
destiny (which is considered as inevitable). Official arrangements, decisions and orders
constitute the next strongest cases. The idea that some course of action is appropriate,
reasonable or advisable is a much weaker M-origin, so that sentences using will and
going to express such an idea do not so strongly imply a sense of future actualization of
the residue-situation.
We can use will or going to with little difference in meaning in the main clause of an if-
sentence when we say that something (often something negative) is conditional on
something else - it will happen if something else happens first
Present Continuous can be used to talk about future plans then we can use the Present
Continuous to express a future arrangement between people

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 4. Bibliography references
Acquisition of the English future tense by Iranian EFL learners: Processing instruction
vs. meaningful output-based instruction at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317886422The
Declerk, Renaat, in collaboration with Susan Reed & g,rt Cappelle 2006" Th,grammar
of the English tense system. Berlin anT New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
OXFORD, Vocabulary in Use, 2006
SLAWSON, Whitton, and WIEMELT, Vocabulary in Use 2010, p.315-326).
Slawson Jayetta, Natasha Whitton, and Jeff Wiemelt, Adjectives 2010, 315-
326.Adapted from The Little, Brown Handbook, 11th Edition, Contributors Dayne
Sherman, Prepared by the Southeastern Writing Center. Last updated July, 2011.

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