Future Time

Dragana Filipovic

Definite Arrangement

We use the Present Continuous to talk about definite arrangements for the future – something we have already decided on for the future.

Sorry, I can’t help you. I’m leaving in the morning.

Beth: Do you want to go to the beach tomorrow?

Jenny: I’d love to, but not before 4 o’clock.

Beth: Why? What are you doing in the morning?

Jenny: Oh, I’m doing a million things. At 8 o’clock I’m going to the dentist. Then I’m meeting my mother and helping her with the shopping. After that I’m taking my dog to the vet and rushing back to meet Sarah at the airport.

Schedules and timetables

We use the Present Simple to talk aboutschedules or timetables in the future.

The bus leaves at midnight and arrivesin Edinburgh at five.The concert tonight starts at 8.30.What time does the plane land?

Plans and Intentions

We use going to + infinitive to talkabout future plans or intentions –something we have a plan for.

I’m going to fix television tomorrow.Why are you going to buy a new bike?

Present Continuous / going to

When it is clear that we mean thefuture, the Present Continuous andgoing to + infinitive are ofteninterchangeable. But generally we usethe Present Continuous to show thatsomething has been arranged for the future, while we use going to to showthat we intend to do something in thefuture.

We are travelling around Europe after we finish school. We’ve already bought the tickets. (ARRANGEMENT)

We are going to travel around Europe after we finish school. At least that’s what we plan to do. (INTENTION)

Without a time context the choice of thePresent Continuous or going to changesthe meaning. I hear that Josh is travelling round the

world. (PRESENT) I hear that Josh is going to travel

round the world. (FUTURE)

Predictions from Evidence

We also use going to + infinitive forpredictions, often about the near future.Usually there is some evidence in thepresent situation that tells us about thefuture. Henry hasn’t studied at all. He’s going

to fail the exam tomorrow. Look at those clouds. It’s going to

rain.

Near Future Intentions or Predictions

We can use to be about to + infinitivefor intentions and predictions about thevery near future. We often use the wordjust to show even greater immediacy. I’m just about to leave. Can I phone

you back? I think we should get inside quickly.

It’s about to rain.

Note the difference:

Jim is going to dive into the pool. (SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE)

Jim is about to dive into the pool. (IMMEDIATELY)

Decisions Made at the Moment

When, at the moment of speaking, wedecide to do something in the future, orexpress willingness to do so, we use theFuture Simple (will + infinitive).Contractions are common with will:

I will =I’ll he will =he’ll we will = we’ll they will = they’ll

Examples

I’ve forgotten to buy bread. I’ll go out again to get some for you.

Would you like tea or coffee? – I’ll have coffee, please.

Promise/Offer: I’ll phone you as soon as I get back. I’ll help you with your work tonight.

Interrogative and Negative Forms

Will I/he/she/it/we/you/they come?

will not = won’t

I/He/She/It/ We/You/They won’t come.

Speculations and Guesses

We use will (Future Simple) to makespeculations and guesses about thingswe can’t control in the future. There will be big changes in this country

over the next few years. I have a feeling that your brother will win

first place. Do you think our team will win the cup?

Formal English: Definite Plan

We use will to talk about definite plansin formal situations.

The Managing Director of the company will visit this country next month. He will bring with him his deputy, Mr. Rosse.

In everyday English we use the PresentContinuous for definite plans.

Will or going to?

If at the time of speaking we decide about something in the future, we use will.

Do we have any cola? – No, we don’t, but I’ll get some later.

I’ve decided. I’ll have the salad plate.

Will or going to? cont.

For many predictions we can use either will or going to.

According to the weather report, it will be /is going to be cold next week.

Shall

Shall can be used instead of will with Iand we, especially in more formalEnglish. Shall is more frequent in BritishEnglish. I shall be there at 10 o’clock.

shall not = shan’t We shan’t be able to come.

In British English shall / shan’t can also be used for:

Shall I bring some tea? (offer) Shall we meet at eight? (suggestion) I’m lost. What shall I do? (asking for

advice) I shan’t do anything till I hear from

you. (promise)

The Future Continuous

We use will be + …ing for an activitythat will be in progress at a time in thefuture.

Next year, Ruth will be studying art in Paris.

I’ll be waiting for you at the entrance at 2 o’clock.

The Future Continuous

We use will be + …ing for questionsabout people’s future plans, especiallywhen we want something or wantsomeone to do something. Will you be going to the bank this

afternoon? Will you be using the car this

evening?

The Future Perfect

We use will have + past participle(The Future Perfect) for something thatwill be completed or will have happenedbefore another action at a certain timein the future. By this time next week, I will have

finished all my exams.

More examples

Next year I will have been here for 10 years. (Now I have been here for 9 years.)

I can’t hand in my project next week. I won’t have finished it by then.

By the time you get here, we’ll have done all the work.

Note the difference:

This time next week I’ll be doing my exams. (I’ll be in the middle)

This time next week I’ll have done my exams. (I won’t have any more exams.)

The Future Perfect Continuous

We use will have been + …ing (TheFuture Perfect Continuous) toemphasize the length of time that anaction or an event will have been inprogress up to a future point of time. In five minutes I will have been sitting

here for two hours.

Choose the most suitable tense.

1) Do you want to go out tomorrow night? I’ll phone / I’m phoning you later to let you know when we can meet.

2) Joan will have /is going to have a baby. She has just told me the news.

3) Are you hot? Will / Shall I open the window?

Answers

1) Do you want to go out tomorrow night? I’ll phone you later to let you know when we can meet.

2) Joan is going to have a baby. She has just told me the news.

3) Are you hot? Shall I open the window?

Choose the most suitable tense.

4) Please don’t phone at 9 o’clock. I am watching / I will be watching something interesting on television.

5) I wonder what we will be doing / will do this time next year.

6) I hope I am finishing / will have finished this book by this time next year.

Answers

4) Please don’t phone at 9 o’clock. I will be watching something interesting on television.

5) I wonder what we will be doing this time next year.

6) I hope I will have finished this book by this time next year.

Choose the most suitable tense.

7) I will go / am going to Canada in the summer. I’ve already got my tickets.

8) We’re late. The film is starting / will have started by the time we get there.

9) When will the doctor be free? You told me that it wouldn’t take long, but soon I will have been waiting / will wait for an hour.

Answers

7) I am going to Canada in the summer. I’ve already got my tickets.

8) We’re late. The film will have started by the time we get there.

9) When will the doctor be free? You told me that it wouldn’t take long, but soon I will have been waiting for an hour.

Choose the most suitable tense.

10) My cousin will come /is coming to visit London. I haven’t decided where to take her, but I think I’ll take /I’m taking her for the tour of the north.

11) The bus will have left / is about to leave. Hurry up!

12) He hasn’t studied at all. He is failing / is going to fail this exam.

Answers

10) My cousin is coming to visit London. I haven’t decided where to take her, but I think I’ll take her for the tour of the north.

11) The bus is about to leave. Hurry up!12) He hasn’t studied at all. He is going

to fail this exam.

The Temporals (time words and expressions)

In a sentence about the future we donot use will after when or othertemporals in the time clause. Instead,we use the present tense, usually thePresent Simple. I will come out when you ring the

bell. What will she do after she hears the

news?

The temporals are:

when after before as soon as until / till by the time

once the moment (that) immediately while

While can be followed by the PresentContinuous: I’ll finish this letter while you’re

reading the paper.

Examples:

As soon as he receives the results, he’ll leave for London.

You must stop writing the moment I tell you.

She won’t talk to you till you apologise.

By the time we arrive, you’ll have been there for hours.

Complete the sentences using the verbs in brackets in their correct form.

1) We’ll leave for home as soon as it (stop) __ raining.

2) What will you do after you (leave) __ school?

3) We are leaving the moment Jo (arrive) __ .

4) Don’t do anything before the police officer (tell) __ us what to do.

Answers

1) We’ll leave for home as soon as it stops raining.

2) What will you do after you leave school?

3) We are leaving the moment Jo arrives.

4) Don’t do anything before the police officer tells us what to do.

Complete the sentences using the verbs in brackets in their correct form.

5) Can you look after the baby while I (go) __ to the shops?

6) By the time we (get) __ there, all the food will be gone.

7) Please phone me immediately you (get) __ home.

8) You must go straight home after the party (end) __.

Answers

5) Can you look after the baby while I go / am going to the shops?

6) By the time we get there, all the food will be gone.

7) Please phone me immediately you get home.

8) You must go straight home after the party ends.

The Present Perfect

can also be used after the temporals.This emphasizes that something will befinished before another action happens. Don’t give Jane the present till Terry

has left. When you’ve seen the video, I’ll

borrow it. I’ll wait here until you have finished.