FUTURE

PRESENT SIMPLE Tabelle temporali/orario prestabilito

PRESENT CONTINUOUSE Prestabilta/programmata/espressione di tempo
futura vicina
WILL FORM Previsioni/non prestabilite/if closes/when
closes/decisioni immediate/promesse/verbi di
pensiero/offerte
GOING TO FORM Inevitabile/intenzionale

Structure of future simple

positive negative Question

I will (I'll) be there tomorrow. I won't (will not) be there. Will I be there tomorrow?

you will not, he will not, she

you will, he will, she will, it will not, it will not, we will will you?, will he?, will she?,
will, we will, they will not, they will not will it?, will we?, will they?

Structure of 'going to' future

positive negative Question

I'm (I am) going to take my I'm (I am) not going to take a Are you going to take a
holidays in August. holiday this year. holiday?

He's (he is) going to watch TV He isn't (is not) going to watch Is he going to watch TV this
this evening. TV this evening. evening?

If he doesn’t start working harder he … fail the course.

-IS GOING TO perché è una previsione basata su una situazione corrente.
I think … rain.
-WILL perché si tratta di una previsione.
There are some clouds I think it --- rain.
-IS GOING TO perché è una previsione basata su una situazione corrente.
Are you … anything at the weekend?
-PRESENT CONTINUOUSE perché si tratta di un’azione programmata.
When … the first performance of the school play?
-PRESENT SIMPLE evento programmato legato ad un orario e ad un giorno prestabiliti.
I know I … cuti t after lunch.
-AM GOING TO perché dicendo “i know” sottolina il fatto che ne fosse già al corrente e l’avesse prestabilito.
Look, this woman .., have a baby.
-IS GOING perché è un’azione inevitabile.
FUTURE

Future simple – common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

The phone's ringing.

~ OK, I'm going to If the action is decided at the moment of
answer it. Ok – I'll answer it. speaking, we mostly use will.

I'm sure he is going to I'm sure he will help When we say what we think or expect, we
help you. you. use will.

I probably won't be The

I won't probably be there. adverbsdefinitely andprobably comebefore won
there. I'll probably be there. 't, butafter will.

I promise I'm going to After promise we usually use will, notthe

help. I promise I'll help. 'going to' future.

When we refer to the future in adverbial

I'll call you when I'll I'll call you when I clauses, we normally use the present simple
get to my office. get to my office. (after when,as soon as and until).

If you will give me If you give me your

your address, I'll send address, I'll send you a When we refer to the future in conditional
you a postcard. postcard. clauses, we usually use the present simple.

I can't see you next

I can't see you next week – I am For decisions made in the past and for things
week – I will return to returning / am going we have arranged, we use thepresent
Paris. to return to Paris. continuousor the 'going to' future.

'Going to' for the future – common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

We use going to for a future

You know that I'll buy a new You know that I'm going to action that has been decided
car, don't you? buy a new car, don't you? before the time of speaking.

We use going to if we see (and

Look! You're going to are sure) that the action will
Look! You'll drop your books. drop your books. happen.