Future Time vs Future Tense

Future time vs Future tensesFuture time vs Future tenses

THE FUTURETHE FUTURE

We can be certain about the past and the present, but we cannot be certain about the future because we are talking about things that haven’t happened yet!

That’s why when using the future tenses it is important to know how sure we are that things will happen.

Future time vs Future tenses

FUTURE TENSES:

WILL

BE GOING TO

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

PRESENT SIMPLE


WILLFOR PREDICTIONS

usually with the verbs THINK, BELIEVE, EXPECT, etc and with adverbs like PERHAPS, CERTAINLY, PROBABLY, etc.


★ I think she’ll certainly pass the exams. She has worked very hard.

★ Because of medical advances we will probably live longer.

WILLFOR OFFERS AND DECISIONS TAKEN ON

THE SPOT


★ I’ll take it. It suits me perfectly.★ I’ll help you with your homework.

WILLFOR ACTIONS, SITUATIONS AND EVENTS

WHICH WILL CERTAINLY TAKE PLACE


★ She’ll be 18 next month.

BE GOING TOFOR PLANS AND INTENTIONS


★ I’m going to study harder next term.★ They are going to travel around the world for their honeymoon.

BE GOING TOFOR PREDICTIONS WHEN THERE IS

EVIDENCE THAT SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN


★ Look at the sky! It’s going to rain.★ She’s going to have a baby.

PRESENT CONTINOUSFOR FIXED ARRANGEMENTS IN THE NEAR

FUTURE

In particular social arrangements and appointments.

A time expression is common.


★ They are going to the museum tomorrow.

PRESENT SIMPLEFOR PLANNED EVENTS

Usually scheduled events on a programme or timetable.


★ The play starts at 8 o´clock.

PROBLEMS?WILL OR BE GOING TO?

BE GOING TO OR PRESENT CONTINUOUS?


WILL OR BE GOING TO?They are both used for predictions but if there is strong evidence in the present situation, then BE GOING TO is used.

We often use “I think” and “I hope” with WILL.


★ I think James will become a spy.★ There are lots of different models nowadays so tablets are going to

become cheaper.

BE GOING TO OR PRESENT CONTINUOUS?Going to can suggest that the action or event is still an open plan and the present continuous means that the arrangement is more fixed.

We usually specify a future time (present continuous)


★ This year I am going to travel a lot and visit my friends.★ We are taking the plane in 30 minutes.

“Be going to” is rarely used with the verbs GO and COME.

The forms “I’m going” and “I’m coming” are preferred to “I’m going to go/come”


★ We are going to Italy on holiday. ★ (We are going to go to Italy on holiday)

OTHER WAYS OF EXPRESSING FUTURE TIME

MIGHT ( FUTURE PLANS)

MAY / MIGHT / COULD (PREDICTIONS)

BE LIKELY TO (PREDICTIONS)


MIGHT (FUTURE PLANS)When we are unsure what the plan is

★I might go to Lisbon and visit you.


MAY / MIGHT / COULD (PREDICTIONS)Uncertain predictions

★There’s heavy traffic. You may / might be late if you don’t leave now. (“May” is stronger than “Might”)

★Rain forests could be destroyed if we don’t do something to avoid global warming.


BE LIKELY TO (PREDICTIONS)To make predictions when something is probable

★You are likely to get the job if you answer all the questions correctly.


FUTURE TIME CLAUSES★After the winter is over, I’ll start to work on the garden.★Gary’s parents will be very happy when he qualifies as a doctor.★As soon as it starts raining, I’ll bring the washing in.★When I’ve written the report, I’ll let you know.

Future time clauses can be introduced by: AFTER, WHEN, AS SOON AS, BEFORE, UNTIL, TILL, BY THE TIME and THE MOMENT.

The tense of the verb in the main clause is often the future with WILL.

But notice that although the time clauses have a future meaning, we do not use the future with WILL. Instead, we use either the PRESENT SIMPLE or THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE.


YOUR TURN

FUTURE PLANS: British Council

TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE: British Council

WILL / BE GOING TO: English Page

TIME CLAUSES 1: English Page

TIME CLAUSES 2: English Page


http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-reference/future-plans

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/talking-about-future

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs18.htm

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs21.htm

Future Time vs Future Tense

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