4b. What’s next?

FUTURE FORMS
EXPRESSING FUTURE
THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF EXPRESSING FUTURE

1) WILL
2) GOING TO
3) PRESENT CONTINUOUS
 will + infinitive

• I will have a cup of coffee and a cheesecake.

• I have just decided in the restaurant. – INSTANT DECISION

• I will find the right job one day.

• I think this will happen but I have no evidence. – PREDICTION WITHOUT EVIDENCE

• I will help you with these bags.

• I am offering my help. – OFFER

• I will call you as soon as I arrive.

• I promise to do that. – PROMISE
Instant decisions
Look at the
price! I’ll try it
on and I’ll buy it.
Predictions
I promise I you
next Monday.
I definitely you . I
promise.
I haven’t got any money with
me. – Alright, I this time.
John, what does this word
mean? - I don’t know. I it
in the dictionary.
 be going to + infinitive

• I am going to visit my grandma.

• This is what I have planned. – PLAN OR INTENTION – I have already decided.
• It is going to rain. Look at those black clouds!
• I am referring to evidence and making prediction. – PREDICTION BASED ON EVIDENCE
Mom, I’ll be
back at 5
o’clock. I’m
going to play
tennis with
Mary.
• I’ TV.
• I’ TV this evening.
• I’ Italy sooner or later.
him? Yes, she is.
a baby? Yes, in June.
German next term?
• Who the dishes? Not me!
• I think (now) that John to London in a week’s time.
‘going to go’ is repetitive, so we prefer to say ‘is going’
with us to the cinema?
‘going to come’ doesn’t sound too good so we prefer to say
‘are you coming’
 present continuous

• I am staying at the Astoria Hotel.

• We are getting married in July.
• I have already booked my stay/ reserved the church. – FUTURE ARRANGEMENT
*
*Another person or organisation is involved
What are you doing tomorrow evening?

I’m meeting Mary at

6:30, than we’re going
to the cinema to see
the new ‘Star Wars’
film.
 in London next week.
• John on the midnight train.
• We to New York tomorrow morning.
• When to visit us?
• What at the weekend ?
Mary at 6 o’clock. (Perhaps I am speaking at 2 p.m.)
• They tennis this afternoon.
• What time to the gym?
later this afternoon.
 GOING TO PLANS / INTENTIONS
PREDICTION BASED ON EVIDENCE

PROMISE
INSTANT DECISION
OFFER
PREDICTION – WITH NO EVIDENCE
WILL

PRESENT CONTINUOUS FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS