Future Time ----- Marc Labelle

Future Time: Will and Be going to Time is a concept which can be divided into three separate categories: past, present, and future. These temporal distinctions are referred to as tenses; verbs can be inflected accordingly in order to properly distinguish their respective reference to time. This facilitates spoken and written communication since it expresses a clear distinction between events or actions which have happened as opposed to events or actions which are currently in progress. In the English language there are only two verbtenses: past and present. Though future time refers to forthcoming actions or events, there is no way to inflect the verbs accordingly; the language does not have a way to mark the future tense of verbs like it can for the past or the present. However, this does not mean that English speakers never refer to the future. Rather, they rely on modals and semi-modals (will and be going to) to indicate future actions, scenarios, or events.

Futur e with WILL (va riou s example s) 1- Used for spontaneous decisions. Spontaneous decisions are decisions made AT the moment of speaking. Examples Jack's hungry. I'll make her a sandwich. That's difficult! I'll help you with the problem. 2- Used for predictions: Examples It will snow tomorrow. She won't win the game. 3- Used for scheduled public events Examples The concert will begin at 8 o'clock. When will the train leave? The class won't start next week. 4- Used for promises Examples Will you marry me? I'll help you with your homework after class. Positive Form Subject + will + verb I, You, He, She, We, They will come to the party. Negative Form

Subject + will + not (won't) + verb I, You, He, She, We, They won't have time tomorrow.

Futur e with GOI NG T O (va riou s example s) 1- Question (Question Word) + to be + subject + going to + base form of verb? Examples Where are you going to stay in France? 2- Used for planned decisions. Planned decisions are decisions made BEFORE the moment of speaking. Examples I'm going to study Languages at university next year. We're going to stay at the Hilton in New York next week. 3- Used for predicting an action that you see is about to happen: Examples Watch out! You're going to hit that car! Look at those clouds. It's going to rain. 4- Used for future intentions: Examples I'm going to be a policeman when I grow up. Katherine is going to study English when she goes to University. Positive Subject + to be + going to + verb

I am going to attend the meeting. He, She is going to attend the meeting. You, We, They are going to attend the meeting. Negative Subject + to be + not + going to + verb I'm not going to visit Rome next year. He, She isn't going to visit Rome next year. You, We, They aren't going to visit Rome next year

Using Will and Be Going To for Predictions: Weather Forecast

Activity #1: Fill in the blanks with the proper use of will or be going to Example: Look at those clouds on the horizon. It ________________ rain any minute. Look at those clouds on the horizon. It is going to rain any minute. A- And they claim that the knock-on effect is that weather patterns _________ change. B- It ____________ also be unusually cold during the month of January in Quebec and in the Maritimes. C- Only British Columbia ____________ see near-normal temperatures through the winter. D- It looks like things ___________________ a little milder over the next couple of days. E- In fact, tomorrow ___________ be a milder day for folks who live south of Ottawa, but here in the capital we ___________________ probably hold right about zero.

F- Through the day tomorrow there _______________ a little bit of light shower activity with highs of 4s and 5s.

Activity #2: Read the following article. In groups of two, try and find all the instances of will and going to which are used to predict the weather. A complex storm is approaching southern Ontario. Composed of an Alberta clipper located over Indiana this morning and a developing Texas-Louisiana low which is expected to move up the eastern seaboard of the United States. These two systems will combine to give anywhere from 10 to 25 centimetres of snow for most regions. Wet snow mixed with rain will begin to affect southwestern Ontario this afternoon and into eastern and central Ontario this evening. As temperatures are hovering near zero the elevation of the region will be a factor for the type of precipitation.

The Golden Horseshoe will see wet snow changing to rain then back to wet flurries Monday with snow amounts around 5 centimetres in the city centres and as much as 15 over higher ground away from the lake. Areas north of Toronto from the Oak Ridges moraine to the Haliburton and Dundalk Highlands will see heavy wet snow giving accumulations of 15 to 20 centimetres. All of the regions will see the precipitation lighten Monday morning to intermittent wet snow. Some minor accumulation is still possible. Eastern Ontario is a little more uncertain as the Texas-Louisiana low intensifies along the eastern seaboard. As usual the Ottawa and St Lawrence valleys are going to see a mixed bag of wet snow ice pellets and some freezing rain. Accumulations will be reduced somewhat over eastern Ontario due to the mixed precipitation. Strong winds are also quite possible with this type of winter storm and may blow tree limbs covered in wet snow onto power lines causing potential power outages. Colder air flooding over the Great Lakes on the back side of the winter storm will also likely generate more snowsqualls for the snowbelt regions by Monday night and into Tuesday. Motorists should be prepared for dangerous winter driving conditions and alter travel plans accordingly. Very low visibility in heavy snow and local blowing snow will be quite possible in this storm.

Activity #3

In small groups, look at the weather forecast. With what you have just learned concerning the construction of future time, discus what the forecasts holds in terms of weather. What do you think you will need to do to prepare (i.e. clothing, umbrella, outdoor activities, etc.) in order to be comfortable? Once this is complete, write a one page essay on the week’s predicted weather and what you will do to stay warm and dry. Take this opportunity to think about the upcoming winter months.