Means of expressing future actions

1. Present Simple - programmes, timetables e.g. The bus arrives tomorrow at 5. 2. Present Continuous - fixed arrangements for the future e.g. Im flying to Prague tomorrow morning. 3. Future Simple - predictions about the future e.g. I believe he will become a doctor. - on-the-spot decisions e.g. Ill have a coffee, please! - promises, threats, warnings, requests, hopes, offers e.g. I will help you with your homework, if you want. actions which will definitely happen in the future and which we cannot control e.g. The temperature will reach 40 degrees Celcius tomorrow. 4. Future Continuous - actions in progress at a certain moment in the future e.g. This time next week Ill be flying to Milan. actions that will definitely happen in the future as a result of a routine or arrangement e.g. Don call her; Ill be seeing her later and give her your message. - to ask politely about sbs plans for the near future e.g. Will you be using your bike today? I need to borrow it for a few hours. 5. Future Perfect ( used with before, by the time, by then, by, until/till) - action finished before a a stated future action e.g. She will have finished her homework by 8 p.m. 6. Future Perfect Continuous - to emphasize the duration of an action up to a certain time in the future e.g. By the end of next month, she will have been teaching English for 13 years. 7. Be going to - plans, intentions, ambitions for the future e.g. Im going to become a famous violinist one day. 1

- actions we have already decided to do in the near future e.g. They are going to get married in three months. - predictions based on present evidence e.g. Look at the clouds! It is going to rain! 8. To be to + infinitive (formal English) - e.g. The President is to visit China next Monday. 9. To be about to / to be on the point of / on the verge of (to refer to the near future) - e.g. Look, the bus is about to leave. The company is on the point of closing down. 10. To be due to (timetables) - Their flight is due to arrive at 16:15. 11. To be sure to / be certain to / be bound to (to express certainty about the future) - The plan is sure to / is bound to succeed.