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THE FUTURE TENSES
I. How Do We Form Them?
There are several types of expressing the Future in the English language. The first
that will come to everyone’s mind is the “will” form, that is “I will do that”. Other forms
are:
*Present Simple: - John retires next year.
*Present Continuous: - I am writing an essay tomorrow.
* “Going to”: - I am going to tell her about the classes.
*Future Progressive: - This time next week I will be teaching English.
* “Be” + Infinitive: The Prime Minister is to resign on February.
*Future in the past: I didn’t know what would happen.
*Future Perfect: I will have written the paper by dinner.
*Future Perfect Progressive: Next month I will have been listening to you for
three years.
Questions:
John retires next year. – Does John retire next year?
I am writing an essay tomorrow – Am I writing an essay tomorrow?
I am going to tell her about the classes. - Am I going to tell her about the classes?
This time next week I will be teaching English. – Will I be teaching English this
time next week?
The Prime Minister is to resign on February. – Is the Prime Minister to resign on
February?
I didn’t know what would happen. – Did I know what would happen.
I will have written the paper by dinner. – Will I have written the paper by
dinner?
Next month I will have been listening to you for three years. - Will I have been
listening to you for three years next month?
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Negatives
John retires next year. – John doesn’t retire next year.
I am writing an essay tomorrow - I am not writing an essay tomorrow.
I am going to tell her about the classes. – I am not going to tell her about the
classes.
This time next week I will be teaching English. - This time next week I won’t be
teaching English.
The Prime Minister is to resign on February. - The Prime Minister is not to
resign on February.
I will have written the paper by dinner. – I won’t have written the paper by
dinner.
Next month I will have been listening to you for three years - Next month I
won’t have been listening to you for three years.
I think she will be late – I don’t think she will be late.
II. How Do We Use Them?
*Will – we use this type of future to give or ask for information
We will need the article on the 15th
.
It will be autumn soon.
Will you be at the party?
He’ll be here in a moment.
- we also use it for predictions – what we think, guess or calculate
Tomorrow will be cold and will snow.
Who do you think will come?
You’ll never start that manual.
- we also use it for decisions, promises
We’ll buy the food, you can then buy the wine.
You’ll receive the article tomorrow.
I promise I’ll stop singing.
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I’ll delete you of my list if you say that again.
‘The phone’s ringing!’ ‘Ok, I’ll answer’. (a decision at the moment when
we make it)
- won’t - refusals
The computer won’t print.
- will you….? – instructions, orders, requests
- would you…..? – more polite requests
Will you send me the report while you’re abroad?
Will you shut up, please?
Would you double check this essay for me?
- I’ll have….. – to order in cafés, restaurants etc.
I’ ll have an orange fresh, please.
* “Going to” – we use this when we can see the future in the present, when we
have clues in the present:
Look at that ugly cloud – it’s going to rain.
Watch out! We’re going to crash!
- we also use it for plans and intentions, especially in
conversation
We’re going to buy a new computer soon.
When are you going to get your hair dyed?
I’m going to keep buzzing her until she answers.
*Present Continuous - we use this when we talk about future personal
arrangements and already fixed plans + time, date, place.
‘What are you doing this afternoon?’ ‘I’m writing a paper’.
My car’s having a service next month.
I’m going to London in July.
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What are we having for breakfast?
Did you know I’m getting a new job?
*Will, Going To or Present Continuous?
#Plans - Present Continuous – fixed plans, definite time/place
- Going To – not that fixed
I’m meeting him at the Opera House at 7.00.
She’s starting school on October 1st.
I’m going to talk to her soon.
I think Johnny is going to work for PROTV.
#Predictions - Going To – we see things coming or starting
- Will – we think, believe things about the future
Look out! You’re going to fall! (I can see it now)
Don’t phone him – he won’t answer (I think so,
because I know him)
#Decisions – Will – we are making decisions now
- Going To – decisions already exist: they are already
made
‘We have an email from Diana.’ ‘Ok, you’ll answer
it’.
‘There are a lot of grades to be posted on the
website.’ ‘Right. I’m going to post them all tomorrow’.
*Simple Present - we use this when we talk about timetables, routines,
schedules
Next term starts on 7th
January.
My train leaves at 7.15.
What time does the plain arrive in New Jersey?
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Do you have classes next Monday?
- we also use this when we ask for instructions
Where do I pay?
Where you reach the centre you turn left, you see the first
house on that street and you ask for Mr Ashley.
What do we do now?
*Future Progressive - we use this to say that something will be going on at a
certain time in the future
This time tomorrow I’ll be skating.
We’ll be drinking for you on Saturday.
- we also use it to ask politely ‘What you have already
decided’
Will you read my poem today? (request or order)
Are you going to read my poem today? (perhaps pressing for a decision)
Will you be reading my poem today? (just asking about plans)
* “Be” + Infinitive - we use this to say that something is to happen – official
plans and fixed personal arrangements
The French Prime Minister is to visit Denmark in December.
We are to get a pay rise.
She was so happy because she was soon to come back to Bucharest.
- you are (not) – give orders
You’re to do your homework before you play games.
You can go out, but you’re not to be back late.
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*Future in the Past - we use this to say that something was still in the future at
that time in the past we are talking about
#Past Continuous – was….ing
She was very happy because she was talking to her mother the
next day.
#was going to
I was going to give you that letter, but I forgot.
#would
You knew she would be trouble.
#was to
They explained me the role I was to play.
*Future Perfect - we use this to say that something will have been completed by
a certain time in the future
The painter says he’ll have finished the picture by Friday.
The car will soon have done 75,000 miles.
- we also use Future Perfect Continuous to emphasize duration
(how long)
Tomorrow I’ll have been writing to this paper for two years.
VOCABULARY – GENERAL – PERSONAL MATTERS
angry = furios
annoyed = enervat
ashamed = ruşinat de ceva, jenat
bad-tempered = prost-dispus
bored = plictisit
cheer = a încuraja, a îmbărbăta, a aclama
cheerful = voios, vesel, prietenos
clever = deştept
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complain = a se plânge
conscience = conştiinţă
cry = a plânge
damaged = stricat
death = moarte
dishonest = necinstit
disappointed = dezamăgit
embarrassed = încurcat, stingherit
exhausted = epuizat
to get on someone’s nerves = a călca pe cineva pe nervi
give up = a renunţa
fancy = imaginatie, a prefera
fascinating = fascinant
to be fed up with = sătul de
to be fond of = a fi pasionat de
generous = generos
gentle = blând, elegant, cavaleresc
glad = bucuros
hand = mână
hard-working = harnic
heart = inimă
impatient = nerăbdător
impolite = nepoliticos
incosiderate = nechibzuit, neînţelept, nepăsător, egoist
inexperienced = lipsit de experienţă, nepriceput
jealous = gelos
kind = blând
lazy = leneş
to let someone down = a dezamăgi pe cineva
to long for = a tânji după ceva
mean = jalnic, umil, josnic, slab
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miserable = nefericit
mood = dispoziţie
nervous = emoţionat
nod = a da din cap că “da”
polite = politicos
to put someone off = a amâna, a evita, a întârzia, a îndepărta
relaxed = relaxat
sensible = raţional, inteligent
sensitive = sensibil, emotiv, supărăcios
shake his head = a da din cap că “nu”
shout = a striga
smile = a zâmbi
stupid = prost
sympathetic = înţelegător
tears = lacrimi
temper = fire, temperament, caracter
tense = încordat
terrified = îngrozit
thanks (to) = mulţumită (lui…), mulţumiri
tired = obosit
trouble = necaz
unco-operative = necooperant
unfriendly = neprietenos, dezagreabil
unhelpful = nefolositor, inutil
uninterested = lipsit de interes
unpleasant = neplăcut
unreliable = nestatornic, care nu prezintă încredere, neserios
upset = supărat
voice = voce
whistle = a fluiera
