Expressing the future
Talking about the future
In English we use many different forms to talk
about the future. These different forms are used
to express different meanings.
Therefore the form we use depends on the kind
of future action or situation we want to
express.
The four main forms (Review- B1
level)


Will + infinitive
To be + going to + infinitive

Present Continuous

Present Simple
Future Plans, Intentions and Arrangements
Match example with uses




“Ok, I'll go if you go”

I'm going to graduate first
and then look for a job
abroad.

We are meeting our lawyer
tomorrow too sort out the
problem.
The flight leaves at 10
O'clock and arrives at 12
o'clock.
Time tables/
schedules/itineraries
Spontaneous decision
(made as you speak)


A plan/arrangement to do
something
A premeditated intention to
do something
Future Plans, Intentions and Arrangements
(key)




“Ok, I'll go if you go”
I'm going to graduate first
and then look for a job
abroad.
We are meeting our lawyer
tomorrow too sort out the
problem.
The flight leaves at 10
O'clock and arrives at 12
o'clock.

Spontaneous decision
(made as you speak)



A premeditated intention to
do something
A plan/arrangement to do
something
Time tables/
schedules/itineraries
Therefore:
Present simple: The train leaves in 5 minutes.
(reading a schedule)
Present continuous: We are leaving tomorrow on
the 5 o'clock train. (plan)
Will: I'll send you a message when I am on the
train (spontaneous decision)
I think we'll be able to get the 5 o'clock train if we
don't stop running. (prediction)
Going to + infinitive: We are going to catch the 5
o'clock train tomorrow so we don't miss the
beginning of the lesson. (intension)
(1) Will / Won't + infinitive
It is used to express a spontaneous decision to do
something in the future, (decision made as you
speak).

Eg: I'll open the window. It's getting hot in here.

I'll go if you go.

I'll pay for this.

I won't buy it. It's too expensive

I'll get the next train. It's getting late.
Other uses of WILL
Match
When you...


agree to do something:
Ask someone to do
something

I'll help you fix your printer

Will you work over time?


Refuse to do something

Make promises


Bargain


Offer help

Ask for help
Will you open the door for
me.
I'll phone you later
I'll give you a discount if
you order over 100 items

I won't work over time

I'll work over time.
Other uses of WILL
Key
When you...




agree to do something:
Ask someone to do
something
Refuse to do something
Make promises

I'll work over time.

Will you work over time?

I won't work over time

I'll phone you later


Bargain

Offer help (shall)


Ask for help

I'll give you a discount if
you order over 100 items
I'll help you fix your printer
Will you open the door for
me.
WILL/ Shall

I'll help you finish the report.

Shall I help you finish the report?

Shall we go?

Shall I open the window?

We can use Shall to offer to do something or to
help with “I” and “we”.
Will for: Giving personal opinions

I think.....

I suppose......

I gues....

I hope.....

I imagine....

I'm certain...

I'm sure.....
+ WILL / WON'T + verb
(2) To be + going to + infinitive


It is used when we have thought about what we
want, hope or intend to do in the future. A
premeditated intention to do something.
Eg: I'm going to study all night to make sure I
maximise my chances for the exam tomorrow.
(3) Present Continuous



It is used to express a definite plan or
arrangement to do something in the future.
We often use a time phrase like tomorrow, next
week/month/year, at seven o'clock, next
season etc...
It is also possible to use going to + infinitive with
little difference. (present continuous usually
expresses more certainty)
Eg: I'm going to graduate in June.
I'm graduating in June.
(4) Present Simple

It is used to talk about future time-tables,
schedules or itineraries.
Eg:The train arrives at 5pm tomorrow and on
Saturdays it arrives at 5.30 pm.
Future Probability and Certainty

To talk about our future opinions and predictions we can use:
Will + infinitive or Going to
 One is more personal opinion
 One is more informed opinion

Eg: I'm certain I'll win the match
 Eg: From what I have read in the paper it seems
lime there is going to be a world wide recession.

Sometimes it is not always easy to distinguish personal and
informed in which case you may use both forms.
To talk about facts

(in the future)
Use both
Will + infinitive or Going to

Eg: our company will be 15 years old next year

Eg: our company is going to be 15 years old next year
B2 level
For the exam you will also need to be able to use
the:

Future continuous

Future Perfect
Future continuous:
will be + verb ing
I will be seeing my boss at that time.
You will be going to New York this time tomorrow
He will be living in paris this time next year.
She will be doing her presentation on that day.
They will be closing their company next month
When is it used?
1) action in progress in future:
The company will be closing soon due to bankruptcy.
This is expected to happen at a certain point
This time next year the company will be funding a new
research project.
This tense is used to express what will be happening at a
certain point in future

2) polite offer – enquiry/request:
Will you be joining us for a drink later?
Will you be visiting us again soon?
Will you be sending us the reports soon?
(this is a more formal way of saying: will you join us for a drink
later? Or will you visit us again soon? ...)
Future Perfect
Will have + past participle
The company will have contacted all its staff by
the end of the week to inform them about our
new product.
(something will be completed before a point in
the future)
Time markers: by next week.....
This time next year......
Future perfect also used....
(Match use on the left with the example on the right)


To express a condition or eg: Don't phone Martin, it's
situation which starts
6.30, he will have
before and still exists at a
already gone home.
specific point in the future.
Eg: This time next year, we
To express certainty about will have been in
a single action in the past.
business for ten years.
The action always
happens:
Key - Future perfect also used....

To express a condition or situation which starts
before and still exists at a specific point in the future.
Eg: This time next year, we will have been in business
for ten years.

To express certainty about a single action in the past.
The action always happens:
eg: Don't phone Martin, it's 6.30, he will have already
gone home.
Futures Review/practice
1) Where …..(go) for your holidays?
2) Will you ............. (visit) us agian soon? (to be very formal/polite)
3) Don't worry if you have forgotten your wallet, I …...(lend) you some
money.
4) What time …...(the plane/leaving)?
5) By next year I …...(work) for this company for 10 years.
6) What do you think …...(happen) if share prices continue to fall?
7) Our partnership …...(be) ten years old next week.
8) She has promised that she …....(never/show) anyone our computer
records again.
9) …........(you/finish) that job by this time tomorrow? Because...
10)When this contract is finished, I........(have) a long relaxing holiday
somewhere sunny.
1) Where are you going for your holidays? (intensions/plan)
2) Will you be visiting us agian soon? (to be very formal/polite)
3) Don't worry if you have forgotten your wallet, I'll lend you some
money. (spontaneous decision)
4) What time is your plane leaving?
5) By next year I will have worked for this company for 10 years.
6) What do you think will happen if share prices continue to fall?
7) Our partnership will be/is going to be ten years old next week.
8) She has promised that she will never show anyone our computer
records again.
9) Will you have finished that job by this time tomorrow? Because...
10)When this contract is finished, I'm going to have a long relaxing
holiday somewhere sunny. (your intension)