How to express the

future in English?

There are THREE ways to express the

future:
1 WILL + Verb

(+) I will travel to London next year.

(-) I will not travel to London next year.
(-) I won’t travel to London next year
(?) Will you travel to London next year?
I WILL (’ll) call
You WILL (’ll) call
He / She WILL (’ll) call
We WILL (’ll) call
You WILL (’ll) call
They WILL (’ll) call
2 BE GOING TO
(am / is / are + GOING TO + verb)

(+) I am going to see a film at 9:30.

(-) I am not going to see a film at 9:30.
(?) Are you going to see a film at 9:30.

I am going to + V
You are going to + V
He / She / It is going to + V
We are going to + V
You are going to + V
They are going to + V
 3 PRESENT CONTINUOUS
(am / is / are + Vb-ing)

(+) Mary is travelling from Paris to London in

half an hour.
(-) Mary isn’t travelling from Paris to London in
half an hour.
(?) Is Mary travelling from Paris to London in
half an hour?
I am travelling
You are travelling
He / She / It is travelling
We are travelling
You are travelling
They are travelling
 WILL

1. Predictions
2. Promises
3. Offers
4. Instant decisions
 1
WILL: PREDICTIONS

Based on
WHAT WE THINK OR IMAGINE.

I think you will be

a great computer
operator one day
 1
WILL: PREDICTIONS

When I’m
older, I will be
bald
 1
WILL: PREDICTIONS

When I’m rich,

I’ll light my
cigarettes with
banknotes.
 1
WILL: PREDICTIONS

Our son will

be president.
 1
WILL: PREDICTIONS

You will have

seven
children…
 1
WILL: PREDICTIONS

WILL EXAMPLE
May or may not happen in the
future. She works hard. I
We are NOT SURE. think she will be
the president of the
company one day.
With the verbs:
THINK / BELIEVE / HOPE.

With the adverbs:

PROBABLY / PERHAPS.
 1
WILL: PREDICTIONS

WILL EXAMPLE
May or may not happen in the
future. We will probably
We are NOT SURE. travel around the
world one day.

With the verbs:

THINK / BELIEVE / HOPE.

With the adverbs:

PROBABLY / PERHAPS.
 2
WILL: PROMISES

I will always be your friend.

 2
WILL: PROMISES

We promise we
will study hard.
 3
WILL: OFFERS

I don’t know
how to use
Don’t worry!
this camera!!
We will help
you!
 4
WILL: INSTANT DECISIONS

Decisions taken at the moment of speaking.

I will have the Meat or

fish, please fish?
 4
WILL: INSTANT DECISIONS

I left the door open.

I will close it right
now.
 4
WILL: INSTANT DECISIONS

Did you No, I forgot it.

I will call her
call Sue?
tonight.
 GOING TO

1. Predictions
2. Decisions you have planned before:
future plans and intentions
 1
GOING TO: PREDICTIONS

Based on PRESENT EVIDENCE.

Look at those
clouds! It is going to
rain!
 2
GOING TO: DECISIONS

Actions we ARE SURE about

or HAVE ALREADY DECIDED TO DO in the near future.

They are going

to get married
in 3 months.
 2
GOING TO: DECISIONS

I’m going to fly

to Belgium next
month.
 2
GOING TO: DECISIONS

I am going to practise hard

to become a rock star!
 PRESENT
CONTINUOUS

1. Fixed arrangements
2. The sentence usually contains an
adverb which refers to the future
 1
FIXED ARRANGEMENTS: PRESENT
CONTINUOUS

Express FIXED ARRANGEMENTS for the near future.

I am visiting the
dentist
tomorrow.

18.
30:
De
nti
st
 2
TIME EXPRESSIONS:

• TOMORROW
• THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW
• NEXT WEEK / MONTH / YEAR
• SOON
• TONIGHT
• IN A WEEK / IN A MONTH / IN A YEAR, etc.
 REMEMBER!
PLANS /
PREDICTIONS
INTENTIONS
QUICK DECISIONS ARRANGEMENTS
PREDICTIONS
BASED ON
PROMISES
EVIDENCE

PRESENT
WILL + V BE GOING TO + V
CONTINUOUS
 SITUATION 1 SITUATION 2 SITUATION 3

I bought meat and hotdogs In Scotland it (rain)

because we (have) a tomorrow. In the south
barbecue this weekend! You’re not well.
of England it (be)
I (call) the doctor. sunny.

ANSWER
ANSWER
ANSWER
We ARE HAVING a barbecue In Scotland it WILL rain
I WILL (’ll) call the doctor. tomorrow. In the south of
this weekend.
(QUICK DECISION) England it WILL be sunny.
(PLAN / ARRANGEMENT)
(PREDICTION)