THE FUTURE

TENSE(S)
A SHORT INTRODUCTION
In English there are 4 different ways we can talk about the future:
(How many are there in Spanish?)

• The Present Simple

• The Present Continuous

• Using „to be going to“

• Will
The Present Simple:

We use Present Simple when we talk about „time-tabled“

events, events that are based on a fixed schedule or time
table, such as departure and arrival of planes, trains, buses,
ferries, and even e.g. classes. We assume that these are
regular events and for those English uses Present Simple
(remember?)

Examples: My train leaves at 10 tonight.

English class starts at 7 p.m. on Mondays
The Present Continuous:

We use the Present Continuous (to be + action + ing) when we refer to

a planned future event. To make it clear that we talk about a future
event we usually have to add a time expression, such as tomorrow,
next week, coming month etc.

Examples: They are having a meeting tomorrow morning.

Currently, we are expanding our business.
She is visiting Germany next year.
“to be going to“

In its use „to be going to“ is very close to the Present

Continuous. We use it for planned future actions when we do
not have a time expression (in this case we would prefer to
use Present Continuous).

Example: They are going to travel to Europe, they have just received their
reservations.

The second part “they have just received their reservations“

makes it clear that we speak about a planned event.
“to be going to“ is also used to talk about future events we
have evidence for:

Examples:
“Look at that woman, she´s going to have a baby.“

When we look at that woman we probably notice her belly and her difficulties to walk,
so that could be seen as evidence that she is pregnant.

„Take an umbrella, it´s going to rain!“

In this case, we probably were informed by the weather forecast about the rain, so this
then can be seen as our evidence.
Will for future

Will for future is used in 2 occasions:

1. When we want to make a prediction (usually after stative

verbs such as be, think, believe, assume, hope, expect, etc.)
I hope the virus pandemic will be over soon.

2. When we make a spontaneous decision (a decision that´s

taken in the moment of an event)
Don´t worry, I will clean up for you.