Future forms

When talking about the future, the choice of form is often flexible
and depends on what the speaker wants to express:

 plans, decisions, intentions

 predictions

 future facts
 Future forms
/ plans, decisions, intentions/

 plans, decisions, intentions

• be going to + inf – general plans, arrangements and intentions about the future.
I am going to look for a job in New York.

• present continuous – definite arrangements and plans.

What are you doing today? I am having lunch with my mother.
 Present continuous
Future forms and be going to
/ plans, for future
decisions, intentions/
A: What are you doing tomorrow evening? B: I am going to the theatre.

A: Are you playing football tomorrow? B: Yes, but Tom isn’t playing.

I’m meeting my girlfriend later.

•It is also possible to use be going to in these situations. Usually we can use
both the present continuous and be going to talk about future plans/ what we
intend to do

A: What are you going to do tomorrow evening?

A: Are you going to play football tomorrow? B: Yes, but Tom isn’t going to play.

I’ m going to meet my girlfriend later.

 Present continuous
Future forms and be going to
/ plans, for future
decisions, intentions/
* For plans which involve other people and have fixed time and place, in these
cases the present continuous is more common. The present continuous is more
common when you are talking about arrangements – someone arranged to meet
someone or arranged to travel somewhere, etc.

We are having a barbecue on Saturday. (we have invited people, bought food and drinks,
etc.)

Alex is getting married next month.

Tom is playing tennis with them tomorrow.
What time are you meeting Ann?
I am travelling to Scotland on Monday.
 Present continuous
Future forms and be going to
/ plans, for future
decisions, intentions/
*For plans which do not involve other people, be going to is more common.

She is going to stay in and read a book.

*When be going to is followed by the verb go, it is possible to omit /изпускам/ go

to

The are going to (go to) the cinema.

 Future forms
/plans, decisions, intentions/

 plans, decisions, intentions

• will/won’t – decisions made at the moment of speaking. This is often used with I
think
I’m tired. I think I’ll go to bed now

• will/won’t + inf – predictions based on opinion. Use with the verbs think, hope,
expect, know, guess, be sure or adverbs such as maybe, perhaps
I expect Sara will agree. I am sure everything will be fine.
 Future forms
/predictions/

 predictions
be going to + inf – to make a prediction based on present evidence.
Look at those clouds. It’s going to rain.
Lisa’s gong to have a baby.

The man can’t see where he is going. There is a hole in front of

him. He is going to fall in the hole.

We use be going to in this way when we say what we think

will happen but usually there is something in the present situation
(the hole) that makes the speaker sure about what will happen.
 Future forms
/predictions/

 predictions

will + definitely/certainly/possibly/probably to say how certain you are. Note the

word order!
Julie and Al will probably get divorced soon.
You definitely won’t get a ticket now.
 Future forms
/future facts/

 future facts
• present simple – schedules and timetables
The course starts in September. We leave at 6a.m.

• will + inf – for future facts

Your dry-cleaning will be ready tomorrow.
I’ll be 28 next year.
Future forms