FUTURE PHRASES

They can be constructed with future forms:

WILL
- Information about the future /possible future actions: The meeting won’t start
until 9.
SHALL
- To make offers / suggestions or to express determination, but is becoming rare
to use: We may forgive, but we shall never forget / shall we go?
WILL + BE + GERUNG (future actions in process / plans)
- Next week at this time, we will be lying on the beach.

WILL + HAVE+ P PARTICIPLE (something that will be completed)

- By next Summer, I will have finished my preparation.
WILL + HAVE BEEN + GERUND (when looking ahead to an action lasting between to
future points)
- At the end of this month, I will have been studying a lot.
WILL vs GOING TO
- WILL – Prediction or a decision you make at the moment (I need someone to
help me … + I will do it!)
- GOING TO- decision already made (She’s fed up with public transport, she is
going to buy a new car).

Future phrases are not only constructed with future forms…

- Present simple is used in adverbial clauses (those which include when, where,
even if…) to express future actions: people will get serious about conservation
when their water bills start (NOT WILL START)
- We can also use present simple or continuous for future events in a schedule or
timetable (the new course starts in January) (I think students are heading out of
here first thing tomorrow) and to talk about future actions we have planned or
arranged (I see the inspector next Thursday/ we are planning a school trip next
week)
- We can use be+ infinitive to talk about official plans or predictions (my students
are to do the external Cambridge exam on June) / If students are to pass the
exam, they’d better start preparing it).
- In clauses beginning with after, as soon as, once and when, we use
o the PRESENT PERFECT for future action viewed as complete: they will
only get serious about recycling when negative effects have started to
soar.
o PRESENT CONTINUOUS for a future action viewed as incomplete or
ongoing: they will only get serious about recycling when negative effects
are starting to soar.
o We can use not…. Until in a similar way:
▪ They won’t only get serious about recycling until negative effects
start / are starting/have started to soar.
 - We can use future phrases with about to, due to, or expected to for future
events:
o The class is about to start
o Our flight isn’t due to leave for another two hours
o Our flight isn’t expected to leave any time soon.

Do not confuse due to leave (schedule) with due to the rain (because of)

- We can use future phrases with an adjective such as likely + infinitive:

o Our team is bound /certain /guaranteed / likely/ sure/ unlike to come out
on top.
o Our team is ready / prepared /set to fight for a place in the final hour