Grammar
Unit 6: THE FUTURE
Talking about the future
Be going to
The cinema’s going to be full…
Will
People will travel to space as tourists.
Present continuous
Professor Collins is speaking again at the space
conference tomorrow.
Simple Present
The train leaves at 9:00 am.
Grammar Note
Now
Cancun
I’m going to Cancun next week.
I think I’ll have fun.
I’m catching a 5:00 flight.
I come back at 8:00 on Sunday.
Grammar Note
Now
Madonna
Madonna/give/concert
Maybe/I/go
It/take place/Saturday
It/start/7:00 pm
WILL/GOING TO
The Simple Future has two different forms in
English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two
forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they
often express two very different meanings.
I will probably go to Italy
next Summer
I am going to fly to Italy
next Saturday
FUTURE TENSES: WILL / GOING TO
I will travel to Japan next
year → prediction (not
near future)
I am going to study German
at school intention (near
future)
Future Tense: Will Form
Affirmative: I will (I’ll) travel to Madrid in October
Interrogative :
Negative :
Will you travel by bus?
I will not travel - won’t
Will you travel by train or by bus?
I won’t travel by bus I will probably travel by train
Future Tense: Uses of Will
1- Instant/spontaneous decisions: Ok, I’ll see
you on Friday.
2- Personal opinions : (I think, I suppose, I
guess, I hope) I think I’ll stay in this evening.
3- Promises, offers, requests: Don’t worry, I’ll
go and buy some food for you.
4-Predictions based on what we think: We’ll
never understand the future in English.
WILL
I left the door open. I’ll close it right
now.
(In the restaurant)
W :What would you like to drink?
I’ll have a cup of coffee, please.
Did you call Sue?
No, I forgot it.
I’ll call her tonight
Instant decisions
Decisions at the
time of speaking
I am little hungry.
I think I’ll have a
sandwich.
I don’t think I’ll go out
tonight. I am too tired.
Personal opinions
Don’t worry. I will help you with
your homework.
I will love you forever.
Will you marry me?
Offers
Promises
Requests
You will be rich one day.
Predictions
based on
what we
think)
Future Tense:Going to Form
Affirmative:
I am going to travel
by plane
Interrogative : Are you going to travel
by plane?
Negative :
I am not going to travel
by plane because I am
going to fly in a hot air
balloon.
Future Tense: Uses of Going to
1- Future plans, intentions: I’m going to study a
lot this year.
2- Decisions before the moment of speaking:
I’m going to have party next weekend.
3- Predictions based on what we can see at the
moment (present evidence): I feel terrible.
I’m going to be sick.
•I'm going to buy a new
laptop computer next
week.
Plans,
Offers
Intentions
Promises
John has decided to
Have a party. He’s going to
invite lots of people.
Decisions before
the moment
Offers
of speaking
Promises
I AM GOING TO : I HAVE DECIDED TO DO STH.
Today, I am going to read my
favourite novel, then I am going to
phone my best friend and finally I
am going to drive my new
motorcycle.
•Look at that car! It is
going to crash into that
tree.
Predictions on
Offers
present
evidence
Promises
PREDICTIONS WITH PRESENT EVIDENCE
Look at those black clouds!
It’s going to rain.
She is pregnant.
She’s going to have a baby.
1) Why are you working so hard these days?
- Because I’m going to buy (buy) a car, so I’m saving.
2) What (you)are you going to buy Jill for her birthday? (buy)
- A CD.
-mmm But She hasn’t got a CD player.
- In that case, I will (buy )her a book.
3) Dad, can you mend this for me?
- I’m
sorry. Ask Mum. She
will
do it for you.
4) Why have you got so many eggs?
-Because I am going to
(make) an omelette.
5) I haven’t got enough money to get home.
will lend (lend) you some. How much do you need?
-I
6) A: Why are you holding a piece of paper?
am going to
B: I ……………………..
(write) a letter to my friends back
home in Texas
7) A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up!
will
B: I …………………(get)
you a cup of coffee.
8) We are so excited about our trip next month to France.
to
We are going
…………………….
(visit) Paris, Nice and Grenoble.
will
9) I think he ………………….
(be) the next British Prime
Minister.
OTHER WAYS OF EXPRESSING THE FUTURE
The simple present and present continuous are also used to
express future time. These are often used used in connection
with schedules.
The train leaves at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow.
She is meeting a new client at six o’clock in the evening and she is
travelling by bike through the forest.
Future with Present Simple
and Present Continuous
We use Present Simple for Future
when actions are planned
according to a schedule
The game starts at 11
a.m.
The bus leaves
at 10 a.m.
We use Present Continuous for
Future when actions are appointed
in advance for a certain period
(day, week, month)
I am meeting the manager at two o’clock.
She is leaving for England
on 28th.
GOING TO /PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Even though going to and present continuous can be
used interchangeably sometimes, there is a
difference in meaning between them.
I’m going to visit my mum tomorrow. (She may know it
or she may not)
I’m visiting my mum tomorrow. (She knows about my
visit)
EXERCISES ON GOING TO /PRESENT
CONTINUOUS
am going to
1.I …………………..(play)
bridge tonight with Tom.
is having
2. He……………....
(have) an operation next week.
am going to
3. It's very cold. I .....…………….(light)
a fire.
4. We ……….…………
(have) some friends to lunch
are having
tomorrow.
is coming
5. My nephew …...……………..(come)
to stay with me
next week.
am going to
6. I ..........................(read)
you some of my own poems.
7. Have you got a ticket for the big match on Saturday?.
is playing
No, I don't even know who …………………….(play).
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
Dianarella’s Future
Dianarella is a princess. She wants to know what
will happen to her in the future, so she goes to
visit a fortune teller.
D: Can you see my
future?
FT: I certainly can.
D: Tell me about it!
FT: You ____________
marry a rich prince.
D: Auch! Can you see
him?
Is he handsome?
FT: Well … Not when you first meet him…He looks
like a frog!
P: A frog?
F: Yes…Some day you _______ meet
a frog! And you ______ kiss it.
P: I ______(not)!
F: Yes, you ______and it _____ turn
into a handsome prince!
FT: What are you
doing?
P: I______ (not) listen
any more! I ______
(go) back to my
palace!
FT: You can’t
change the future
my dear…
(When Dianarella returns to her
palace…)
FT: Oh!! My dear, you
_________ have to kiss a lot
of frogs before finding the
right one.
Dianarella’s Future
Dianarella is a princess. She wants to know what
will happen to her in the future, so she goes to
visit a fortune teller.
D: Can you see my
future?
FT: I certainly can.
D: Tell me about it!
FT: You will marry a
rich prince.
D: Auch! Can you see
him?
Is he handsome?
FT: Well … Not when you first meet him…He looks
like a frog!
P: A frog?
F: Yes…Some day you will meet a
frog! And you will kiss it.
P: I will not!
F: Yes, you will and it will turn
into a handsome prince!
FT: What are you
doing?
P: I’m not going to
listen any more! I’m
going back to my
palace!
FT: You can’t
change the future
my dear…
(When Dianarella returns to her
palace…)
FT: Oh!! My dear, you will
have to kiss a lot of frogs
before finding the right
one.
D: Poor me!!!