Expressing Future Time

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 future progressive future in the past

be about to + infinitive be + infinitive 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

-Fixed arrangement Who’s cooking lunch? I’m getting a new job.

Be going + infinitive (“gonna”)

-Intention without arrangement. Who’s going to cook lunch? 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 Some present reality I’m going to see her tomorrow (an agreement exists now) Outside evidence (prediction) Look out – we’re going to crash!

will / shall I’ll see her tomorrow (because we work together) Just an opinion (no evidence) 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.