The Future | ||||||||||||
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We talk about future events, actions
and states in several ways - we
make predictions,
give information, take decisions, report
about plans and arrangements,
express intentions, etc. |
Unlike many other languages,
English requires different verb structures for these ways of speaking
about the future. |
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In some situations two or even more structures are
possible with similar meaning, but, generally speaking, there are some very clear basic distinctions: |
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For future
events and actions that have some present reality - such as present evidence, fixed plans, personal arrangements, intentions or decisions that have already been taken, or fixed schedules - we use the structures of the present tense: present progressive or simple and the form "be going to". |
On the other hand,
when we express expectations, make predictions or give information about the future without present reality, announce a decision as we make it, or give promises, we use the structures with the verb "will". |
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ARRANGED ACTIVITIES | PRESENT
PROGRESSIVE |
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When we talk about personal arrangements in the future, we use the present progressive. In fact, we report on the actions which have already been arranged for the future. | ![]() |
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FIXED PLANS AND INTENTIONS | BE
GOING TO + INFINITIVE FORM |
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We use "be going to + infinitive" when we talk
about plans for the future, or intentions based on decisions that have
already been taken. A JOKE |
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MAKING A DECISION | WILL + INFINITIVE FORM |
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We use "will + infinitive" when we tell people about a decision as we make it. By contrast, when we report a desicion we have already made, we use "be going to"! |
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PREDICTIONS - "INTERPRETING SIGNS" | BE GOING TO + INFINITIVE FORM |
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We use "be going to + infinitive" when we make predictions based on obvious outside present evidence, i.e. when we interpret signs. |
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PREDICTIONS WITHOUT PRESENT EVIDENCE | WILL + INFINITIVE FORM |
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When there is no obvious present evidence,
and our predictions and expectations are based on what we know or believe,
we use "will + infinitive". Very often these sentences include
I think, I hope, I guess or probably and maybe, or even I'm
sure. A JOKE |
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TOP |
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GIVING / ASKING FOR INFORMATION 1 | WILL + INFINITIVE FORM |
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We use "will + infinitive" to
give or ask for information about the future when there
is no reason to use the present progressive or going to, because we are
interested in facts in the first place. |
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TOP |
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GIVING / ASKING FOR INFORMATION 2 | FUTURE PROGRESSIVE FORM |
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When referring to future events which are fixed or decided, or which are expected to happen in the normal course of events, we use the future progressive (will + be + _ing). This is a very neutral way of talking about the future - without suggesting the idea of the speaker's personal intention. | ![]() |
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ACTIONS IN PROGRESS IN THE FUTURE | FUTURE PROGRESSIVE FORM |
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We use the future progressive to say that
something will be in progress at a particular time in
the future.
Consequently, it is used to talk about or to predict future
developments, trends or tendencies. People will be living longer in the future. |
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ARRANGED EVENTS (IN TIMETABLES,...) | PRESENT SIMPLE |
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We use the present simple when we talk about events in the future which are part of a timetable, schedule, programme or itinerary. The speaker generally cannot change these arrangements. | ![]() |
PRESENT TENSE REFERRING TO THE FUTURE IN SUBORDINATE CLAUSES | |||
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Since the main
verb of the sentence - WILL + VERB - makes it clear that
the speaker is talking about the future, it is not necessary to be indicated
again in the subordinate clause. That's why the present tense is used
in the subordinate clause after when,
until, after, before, as soon as, if, whether, where, wherever, what. |
I'll
phone you
He'll tell me You'll find McDonald's I'll come She'll tell me It will be interesting to see I'll go |
when as soon as wherever if what whether where |
I arrive. it's ready. you go. I finish on time. she finds out. she recognises me. you go. |
INTERPERSONAL MEANINGS | WILL / SHALL / FUTURE PROGRESSIVE |
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A promise can be given with "will". | Don't worry. I'll look after them carefully. |
An order can be expressed with "will". (an
anecdote)
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Will you do the shopping today, please? |
A polite enquiry about people's plans can be expressed with the future progressive. | Will you be doing the shopping today? Will you be staying in? |
We use "shall" to ask for instructions or decisions, to offer services and to make suggestions. | Shall I open the window? Shall we go out for a meal? |
We use "won't" or "will not" to refuse. | Listen! I won't do it. |