Unit 8 – Future forms

There are a number of different ways

to talk about the future in English.
Let’s look at:
1. When we use will for the future.
2. When we use going to for future plans and intentions.
3. When we use the present continuous for the future.
4. When we use the present simple for the future.
5. How we make sentences with will and going to.

When do we use them?

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 Function: When do we use future forms?
I’m meeting Tim at 6.30 tonight to go
I can’t tonight. My cousin is coming over to
to the Tin Tin Band concert. I can’t wait!
fix my laptop. I’m so jealous! I’ve decided
It starts at 8pm, but we want to get
I’m going to watch more live music next
there early. Do you want to come? I’ll
year. I think I’ll have more free time.
buy your ticket!

will going to
for predictions based on for immediate decisions and for intentions or things we are planning (but haven’t organized
personal opinions offers yet)

I think I’ll have more I’ll buy your ticket! I’m going to watch more live
free time. music next year.

present continuous present simple

for organised arrangements for scheduled or timetabled events Look at the
I’m meeting Tim at 6.30 tonight. It starts at 8pm. conversation and
My cousin is coming over to fix my laptop. match the examples in
bold to the uses. The
first is done for you.
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 Function: When do we use future forms?
I’m meeting Tim at 6.30 tonight to go to the Tin Tin
Band concert. I can’t wait! It starts at 8pm, but we want I can’t tonight. My cousin is coming over to fix my laptop. I’m
so jealous! I’ve decided I’m going to watch more live music
to get there early. Do you want to come? I’ll buy your
ticket! next year. I think I’ll have more free time.

will going to
for predicting something for immediate decisions and for intentions or things we are planning (but haven’t organized
in the future offers yet)

I think I’ll have more I’ll buy your ticket! I’m going to watch more live music next year.
free time.
Immediate decisions are ones
made in that moment, e.g. I’ll
email you later. This isn’t In connected speech, we
planned. often pronounce going to
as /gɒnə/. Listen to how
present continuous present simple your teacher says it and
for organised arrangements for scheduled or timetabled events repeat.

I’m meeting Tim at 6.30 tonight. It starts at 8pm.

My cousin is coming over to fix How do we make
Arrangements often have sentences with will and
my laptop.
times and dates. going to?
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 Form: How do we make sentences?
will going to

positive positive and negative

I/You/He/She/ come I am (’m)/am not (’m not)

will (’ll) ____________.
It/We/They He/She/It is (’s)/is not (isn’t)
___________________ going to come.
negative We/You/They are (’re)/are not (aren’t)
I/You/He/She/ Will not (won’t) questions
__________________ come.
It/We/They Am
___________ I
questions
Is he/she/it going to come?
I/you/he/she/ we/you/they
Will come? Are ______________
it/we/they
short answers
short answers
will I am.
I/you/he/she/
Yes, ____________.
it/we/they Yes, he/she/it is.
are
I/you/he/she/ we/you/they _________________.
No, will not (won’t).
it/we/they am not (’m not)
I _________________.
Fill in the examples in the No, he/she/it is not (isn’t).
table. Use the verb come in
each example. we/you/they are not (aren’t).

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Form: How do we make sentences?
will going to
positive positive and negative
I/You/He/She/ I am (’m)/am not (’m not)
will (’ll) come.
It/We/They He/She/It is (’s)/is not (isn’t) going to come.
negative We/You/They are (’re)/are not (aren’t)
I/You/He/She/ questions
will not (won’t) come.
It/We/They
Am I
questions
Is he/she/it going to come?
I/you/he/she/
Will come? Are we/you/they
it/we/they
short answers
short answers
I am.
I/you/he/she/
Yes, will.
it/we/they Yes, he/she/it is.
I/you/he/she/ we/you/they are.
No, will not (won’t).
it/we/they
I am not (’m not).
This is the infinitive of the verb No, he/she/it is not (isn’t).
(without to). we/you/they are not (aren’t).

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Let’s practise!
 Practice activities
Complete the gaps with one of the verbs in the box in the correct tense.
Justify your answers.

finish call start not like be cancel meet not come

’m (am) going to start

1. I……………………………….tennis ’ll (will) be
lessons next year. I think I……………………………………good at it!

2. ’s (is) meeting
A: Where is Stella going? B: She………………………………..her friend at the shop in ten minutes, so needs to leave.

finishes
3. A: Can we talk later? B: The concert……………………….at ’ll (will) call
9.30pm, so I………………………..you after.

’m not (am not) coming

4. I…………………………………to won’t (will not) like
the theme park tomorrow because I…………………………..it. I’m scared of rides.

’ll (will) cancel

5. My manager thinks the director …………………………………the meeting, but she isn’t sure.

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