THE FUTURE

Some ways to express it:

a) Present tenses: Present progressive
Be going to + infinitive
Simple present
b) Shall / will
c) other ways: future perfect be about to + infinitive
future progressive be + infinitive
future in the past be bound to

A) PRESENT TENSES. Future events that have some present reality (are already planned, starting to
happen or we can see them coming).

Present Progressive Usually interchangeable Be going + infinitive (“gonna”)

-Fixed arrangement -Intention without arrangement.

Who’s cooking lunch? Who’s going to cook lunch?
I’m getting a new job. I’m going to get a new job.
-Predict events we do not control.
It’s going to snow before long.

Simple present: - for timetables. My plane is at 3 o’clock

- In subordinate clauses. She’ll pay me back when she gets a job (subjunctive).*
- Instructions. When you get to Paris you go straight to …(subjunctive).*

B) SHALL / WILL. Interchangeable in BrE. SHALL is less common and it is not used in AmE.
SHALL: -obligation in contracts. The hirer shall be responsible for maintenance of the vehicle.
-To ask for instructions. Shall we continue with the exercise?
-To make suggestions. Shall we go to the pub?

WILL: willingness, wishes or strong intentions.

-To make a decision at the moment of speaking. I think I’ll go to bed.
-Instructions and orders. Make me a cup of coffee, will you? / you’ll start at 3 o’clock sharp.
-Refusals. The car won’t start.
-To predict - future events. You’ll feel better after a nap.
- present events. Don’t phone them now – they’ll be having dinner.
- Past event. It’s no use expecting Ann to turn up. She’ll have forgotten.

Present tenses will / shall

Some present reality

I’m going to see her tomorrow (an agreement I’ll see her tomorrow (because
exists now) we work together)
Outside evidence (prediction) Just an opinion (no evidence)
Look out – we’re going to crash! Don’t lend him the car-he’ll crash it

C) FUTURE PERFECT. Usually with a time expression beginning with “by”.

-something will have been done in the future. By Xtmas we’ll have been here for 3 years. (progressive
also possible with dynamic verbs. By… I’ll have been teaching…)
-to predict the present or a past action affecting the present time. It’s no use phoning- he’ll have left by
now.

FUTURE PROGRESSIVE
-something will be in progress at a particular time in the future.
This time tomorrow I’ll be lying on the beach.
-fixed future events. The professor will be giving another lecture…
-events that are expected to happen. I’ll be seeing you one of these days, I expect.
-predict the present. Don’t phone now, they’ll be having lunch.
-polite enquiries about people’s plans. Will you be staying in this evening?

FUTURE IN THE PAST. Something which was in the future at that time.
Was /were going to. Last time we met you were going to start a new book.
Was / were to. The meeting was to be held at a luxurious hotel.
Would. She would go on to become an important writer.

TO BE ABOUT TO: A future event is very close. E.g.

We had better hurry up, the plane is about to take off.
TO BE + INFINITIVE: sense of obligation.
The whole cast is to meet after the performance to discuss the issue.
Arrangements:
The meeting is to be held in my office.

BE BOUND TO: certainty

Look at those black clouds. It is bound to rain later.