THE FUTURE

CLAIRE WALLIS

THE FUTURE

WHAT CAN WE USE TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE?

THE FUTURE

1. WILL/WON’T2. BE GOING TO3. PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE4. PRESENT SIMPLE FOR FUTURE

THE FUTURE

WHY DO WE USE WILL?1.2.3.4.5.

THE FUTURE

1. INSTANT DECISIONS (decisions made at the moment of speaking i.e. in a restaurant)

2. PROMISES3. THREATS4. OFFERS (remember in the question form we

use SHALL)5. GENERAL PREDICTIONS (often used with “I

think”

REMEMBER

WE CANNOT USE WILL FOR PLANS.

THE FUTURE

WHY DO WE USE GOING TO?1.2.

THE FUTURE

1. INTENTIONS – PLANS2. PREDICTIONS WITH EVIDENCE.

The difference between WILL and BE GOING TO for predictions is that WILL is general, whereas GOING TO shows something in the present which makes the future actions more certain.

THE FUTURE

WHY DO WE USE THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR THE FUTURE?1.

THE FUTURE

1. FUTURE PLANS AND ARRANGEMENTS.

The difference between THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS and GOING TO is that THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS is fixed whereas GOING TO is only an INTENTION.

EXAMPLE

I AM GOING TO VISIT MY PARENTS AT CHRISTMAS. (I want to do this).

I AM VISITING MY PARENTS AT CHRISTMAS. (this would indicate that I have the ticket).

SOMETIMES THERE IS LITTLE OR NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO FORMS. ALTHOUGH WE TEND NOT TO USE BE GOING TO WITH THE VERB TO GO.

REMEMBER

If we want to ask someone about their plans, we should use either BE GOING TO or THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS NOT WILL.

What are you doing this weekend?What are you going to do this weekend?

REMEMBER

In the response you can answer however you want depending on what you wish to convey.

“I don’t know. I think I will go to visit my friends” (decided now)“I am going to visit my friends” intention“I am visiting my friends” plan

MODAL VERBS

IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO USE OTHER MODALS TO INDICATE THAT YOU ARE LESS SURE ABOUT YOUR CHOICE.

“I think I will go”“I think I may go”“I think I might go”

THE FUTURE

WHY DO WE USE THE PRESENT SIMPLE FOR FUTURE?1.

THE FUTURE

1. FOR TIMETABLES