future: revise the basics:

will, going to or present progressive?

future in the present We generally use present forms (present progressive or am/are/is going to)
when we can see the future in the present: we already see things coming or starting.
We prefer will (themost common form) when we are simply giving information about the future,
with no special reason for using present forms. Compare:
o I'm seeing Ianet on Tuesday. (the arrangement exists now.)
I wonder if she'll recognise me. (not talking about the present)
t We'regoing to get a new car. (The decision already exists.)
I hope it will be better than the old one. (not talking about the present)

plans Be goi ng to and the present progressive can both be used to talk about plans.
We use the present progressive mostly when the time and/or place are fixed. Compare:
I'm going to take a holiday some time soon. loe's spending next week in France.
Emma's goingto study biology. Phil's starting work on Monday'

ffi Rewrite the sentences, putting in expressions from the box and using the
present progressive. (Different answers are possible.)
for tomorrow's concert from March 1st next month next week
next year on Saturday on Tuesday this evening tomorrow morning

I'm soins to plav tennis with Andv.

t'^*"ota"rL,rrh
.. : ;..
tewwLs wLth *wAu
1. 4.4J,,..w...;.......................
4
ow satt ydau.
<J................... I
We're going to see Sarah.

2 l'm going to start fencing lessons.

3 We're going to meet the accountants.

4 I'm going to get the car serviced.

5 They're going to close the road for repairs.

6 Everybody's going to get a free ticket.

7 The air traffic controllers are going to strike.

8 All the train companies are going to put their prices up.

decisions We prefer be goingto and the present progressive for decisions and plans (see above)
that exist in the present - they have already been made. We prefer will to announce decisions
as we make them. Compare:
'We've got a lot of bilk to payl 'I know. I'm going to do them all on Monday.'
'The plumber's billhas just come in.' 'OK, I'll pay it.'

30 PRESENTAND FUTURE
F,€ Put in l'll or I'm going to.
> I ve decided. ..1'.W.Ap.L.ryp.!.q................ take a week off
1 minute.
'Is Alice coming round?' 'Wait a ... phone and ask her.'
2'l'veleftmymoneyathome.' Again?OK............ .........payl
3 'Do you want to go for a walk?' 'No, ........... get some work done.'
4'I'vegotaheadachel 1............ .......getyouanaspirin.'
5 ............. ....... sellthiscar-itsgivingmenothingbuttrouble.
6 Can you answer the phone if it rings? ... have a shower.
7 ............. ....... change my job soon.
8'Theret the doorbelll :.................................... gol

predictions: what we expect We prefer go ing to when we can already see the future in the present:
we can see things coming or starting, or they are already planned. We prefer will to say what we
think or believe about the future. Compare:
Careful! The meat's going to burn. (I can see it now.)
Don't ask Pete to cook the steok - he'll burn i r. (I'm sure, because I know him.)
We dont use the present progressive to predict events which are outside our control.
Its goingto rain soon. BUlNorIt@
f,E 6ir?ibt tre best form.

' cluit"@/ willhavea baby.

I Perhaps I'm going to / I'll see you at the weekend.
2 Look at the sky: its going to / it will snow.
3 Look o:ut - we're going to / we'llhit that carl
4 Ask John - he's probably going to / he'll probably know the answer.
5 Youd better put a coat on, or you're going to / you'Il get cold.
6 If you press this key, the computer is going to / will shut down.
7 You can see from Barbara's face that there\ going to / there'll be trouble.
8 It's no use telling Andy about your problem s; he\ going to / he'II tell everybody eise.

simple present We sometimes use the simple present to talk about the future; for instance when
we talk about timetables, routines and schedules.
The meeting starts at ten oilock. What time does the train arrive in Paris?
My plane leaves from Heathrow.
We can also use the simple present to give and ask for instructions.
'Where do I get an application form?' 'You go to the main ofice on the second Jloor.'
In other cases we don't use the simple present in simple sentences to talk about the future.
Emma's coming round later. (Nor Emrncones . .. ) lll write - I promise.
There's the phone. I'll answer lf. (Nor' ... I'dnswer:)

For the simple present with a future meaning after if, when etc, see pages 204 and232.

ffi Choose the best tense.

> The film@/ will end at midnight. 5 The train isnt direct - you change / will change
> | phone t@vou soon. at Manchester.
I I start / will start dieting after Christmas. 6 My f,nal exam is / will &e in May.
2 Rob comes / is coming round after 7.00. 7 What time does / willthe concert start?
3 Do you / Will you post my letters? 8 I play / am playinghockey tomorrow.
4 I have / will have a French class at 9.00
tomorrow.

PRESENTAND FUTURE 31
lr
i
;1
more about the present progressive, going to and will
spoken and written English Be going to and the present progressive are particularly common
iir spoken English, ut *uyr of taiking about the future. This is because conversation is often about
future events ihut lv" can see coming, so present forms are natural. In written English, these forms are
less often used. Will is extremely common in writing, because written language tends to deal with
less

immediate future events, when we do not see the future in the present. Willis also preferred when giving
information about impersonal, fixed arrangements - for example official itineraries' Compare:

We're meeting Sandra at 6.00.

The President will arrive at the airport at 14.00. He will meet ' "

pronunciatio n of going to. In informal speech, golng fo is often pronounced as /gana/'

This is often shown in writing as gonna.
I

4ffi Put the letters of the boxed expressions into the text.

A it will be B there will be C will be introduced D will be presented

E will be welcomed F will cast off G will cover H will play I you will be

*1*'i; and presentations throughout the It is fascinating seeing how the ship's

O ff,: il,fl ::;'T'* J*n journey. These a... a whole range of course is plotted, and to observe the
vessel (the vessels we work with topics from birds and mammals, to monitors of depth, wind sPeed and
generally accommodate between geography, history and astronomy, wave height! (Adapted from oceans
20 and 1 28 passengers), just enough and they s... by the onboard guides Worldwide website.)

to be able to meet new PeoPle and and experts who 6... such an
get to know them over the course of important role in making your trip a

the trip, and to be able to recognise special one.

and greet all ofthe other passengers To begin with you 7... aboard
onboard. Not so many that every with a glass of chamPagne and a
timeyousee a face'... be a new one! bite to eat. The crew 8... the boat,
On a wildlife cruise the vessels and once you are under waY You
have been specially adaPted and
e... to the captain and his crew.
refitted to accommodate guests, Departures are generallY late
since many of them were actuallY afternoon/early evening. Passengers
research vessels in a former life. On are free to visit the ship's bridge any
a wildlife cruise, 3... illustrated talks time of the day or night.

ffi Put the letters of the boxed expressions into the text.

A going to be happy B going to be there C going to see D lt's going to be

E there are going to be F we're catching G we're leaving

I #5li,;"l[?Til;i- $l;,;"i,lX1llx l';:fli'il:Hlffi:;f?,:::::?f,li'J3'i,Jii&,'*

in the evenings, and going ashore with us and answering our stupid questions when we land.
s... ! And there's a terrific woman
t
Tony Soper's a..., believe it or not, so the bird-watchers are
called Ingrid Visser who's red-hot on killer whales. I can't remember the others, but I know
there's a marine mammal expert, and an astronomer. And we're definitely 6... whales
-
lots and lots of whales, they've promised! Can't wait!
Well, must go and pack -7... a very early flight. Looking forward to seeing you in July.
Prepare yourselves for a long photo eveningl
Love from both to both
Jane

32 PRESENT AND FUTURE

shalland. will In modern English l/we will and l/we shall can generally be used with no difference
of meaning. I44ll is more common, and shall is dying out. (In any case, the commonest forms in
speech are the contractions I'll and we'll.)

shall n questions In older English, shall was used to talk about obligation (rather like should).
This meaning still survives in first-person questions, where shall is used to ask for instructions or
suggestions, or offer services.
What time shall we come round? Shall I take your coat?
Compare the use of will to ask for information:
What time will we get into London?

legal language Legal documents, such as contracts, often use shallto express obligation.
The hirer shall be responsible for maintenance of the vehicle. (from a car-hire contract)

@ eut in shotl or will.

I Where we go on 'llrc
Ilircr
shall, during rhc
holiday this year? |srl1,l 6f th.
nrrrrrg, f,c rcsponsibic
2 Where I be this time firr: superr.r,it_rn ot.thc
premise-s, the &bric
ancl the tir.r.'
next year? r;lre. sali n frt,rn darn"rge "r","rrir,
3 Sending out the invitations crtange of ,ln\ rort;
hr)u.c'cr .li;;; ;;
;rntl tht, hch,irioui,,f
,rlJ
..... be f im's responsibility. J.)^"]:"lt usirrg thc prcmi'sq rvhart'vcr
rhcir
4 The tenant......... .. be wholly in, luding propcr irrpqrl.isi.p
:if"'11: rrrangcrnclr.. 61
responsible for ali decoration and repairs. :l:,10.*'rf or Tlie I lircnlrall
,,rirKU g()r')Ljt
p.rv for rrll d,lrn3qc (irrcludirig
5 ............. I put the kettle on? dnrnrgc) ro tlls
6 What time .......... . I need to be :::]U:",iIhftings
n\turc\, Pr.m1,.s or ro rlrc
or L.()nlcnts arrd tbr 1,,*. 1,1.
at the airport? I{irt.r sh:rJl n,r uce rhc
;::::,:,,:111.
rur :{n) |1c,111j5s.
7 What I cook for lurp{)\c o1hr.,. then that J..cril.ccl in
tlrc Hiring .\grccmcnt
supper? rnd ,hrll ,_,
premises to be usecl fbr ^i1",,','n"
8 How soon .......... . we hear rr in,rnv,
an unlawiul purpose
;;,rtJ;;r:,a'1'
about the application?
For other (non-future) uses of wll/, see pages 65 and 72.

NOTES

difierent forms possible The differences between the three main structures used to talk about
the future are not aiways very cie ar-cut. WilI and present forms (especially going to) are often both
possible in the same situation, when'present'ideas like intention or fixed arrangement are a part
of the meaning but not very important. The choice of structure will depend on which part of the
meaning we want to emphasise. In the following exampies all of the different forms would be correct,
with no important difference of meaning.
t What will you do next year?
What are you doing next year?
What are you going to do next year?
t All the family will be there.
All the family are going to be there.
t If your mother comes, you'll hatte to help with the cooking.
If your mother comes, you're going to have to help with the cooking.
o You won't believe this.
You're not going to believe this.

PRESENT AND FUTURE 33

be + infinitive: I om to ... etc
official plans etc We often say that something is to happen when we talk about official plans
and fixed arrangements.
The Prime Minister is to visit British soldiers in Antarctica.
Our frm is to merge with Universal Export.

pre-conditions The structure is common in fclauses, where the main clause expresses a
pre-condition - something that must happen first if something else is to happen.
Wed better hurry if we're to get there by lunchtime.
You'll need to start working if you're to pass your exom'

orders The structure can also be used (for example byparents) to give orders.

You're to do your homework before you go to bed.

Tell lenny she's not to be back late.

ffi Here are some (mostly) real spoken or written sentences. Use the be + infinitive structure
to complete them with verbs from the box. Use a dictionary if necessary.
assemble bloom continue deliver follow get through inspect plan report tidy up

1 Professor Loach ........ eight lectures on ciassical myhology next term.

2 On his arrival at the airport, the general . . a guard of honour.
.

3 If we . . providing care. for homeless children, we need your support today.

4 Young soldiers quickly learn that a good breakfast is vital if they ... another
demanding day.
5 Anynewdiethastobesimpleifyou......... itforanylengthof time.
6 You have to know where you're going if you ......... the best way of getting therel
7 Thechrysanthemums mustbe planted right away if they ........ for Christmas.
8 The children ... their room before they watch TV.
9 In case offire, all staff........... in the front courtyard.
10 All visitors ... to the reception desk.
For the past form of this structure (I ||as to ... etc), see page 37.
For passive uses (e.g. fo be taken three times a day), see page 103.

ffi tmagine you are a parent who is going out for the evening, leaving two teenagers
alone in the house. Write three instructions beginning'You're to'and three beginning
'You're not to'.

34 PRESENTAND FUTURE
future progressive
We use the future progressive (will be ...ing) to say that something will be in progress at a
certain time in the future.
This time next Tuesday I'll be lying on the beach.
\bu won't be able to park here tomorrow; they'll be mending the road.

@ Wnat will you be doing at ten otlock tomorrow morning (or some other time, if you prefer)?

@ Write three things that you will certainly not be doing at ten otlock tomorrow morning
(or some other time, if you prefer).

polite enquiries A common use of the future progressive is to ask politely 'What have you already
decided?' Compare:
Will you write to Oliver? (request or order)
Are you going to write to Oliver? (perhaps pressing for a decision)
Will you be writing to Oliver? (just asking about plans)

S tvtafe future progressive questions to ask somebody politely:

> when they are planning to go shoppin g. ..Y.trf.*.Wl!.l.Vg.*.4p.g.qirS.:\gP.t:iI'S.i...............
I when they intend to pay the rent.

2 who they plan to invite

3 how soon they intend to come back.

4 when they plan to go home.

5 where they are planning to stay.

6 what time they are planning to have breakfast.

7 what they plan to study at university.

8 whether they expect to use the car.

"l'll be watching. I want to see "l will be watching until the end
how professional liars work." of the first question. When none
of them have answered simply,
"Yes, I shall be watching and it openly and honestly, along with
will be an interesting test of the millions of other viewers I will
party leaders."
switch off and then go to
the pub."

@o.rfi/r.gs frott rt websile tliscnssitrn befttre a British generd elecl'iut)

PRESENT AND FUTURE 35

future perfect
The future p efiect (l will have driven/worked etc) can be used to say that something will have been
completed by a certain time in the future.
We'll have finished planting the new trees by Wednesday.
This government will have ruined the country before the next election.

Here are some sentences taken from newspaper articles and reports. Complete them with
verbs from the box, using the future progressive. Use a dictionary if necessary.
drive drop host pass put on quadruple rise

1 When this year's competition in Nottingham is completed, Great Britain, like |apan,
... it on 3 occasions.
2 ln a few weeks' time, the fallen leaves ... from ankle to knee deep.
3 Frank, Mr Andrews' chauffeur, ... his boss more than 12,000 miles by
the end of the campaign.
If a traveller goes eastwards round the Earth, when he gets halfway he
through 12 time zones and gained 12 hours.
The decision means that annual government support for the railways
from well over €l billion to around €300 million in l0 years.
6 Within 100 years the human population
7 lf you do not weigh yourself for a year and you eat just an extra 500 calories each day during
thattime,you........... afull 21.8kg;ratheranastyshock!

The future perfect progressive (I will haye been driving/working etc) is not very common. We can use
it to say how long something will have continued by a certain time.
By next summer I'll have been working here for eight years.
I

$ Wria" three sentences about yourself with the future perfect progressive. For example,
say how long you will have been learning English / working / living in your house.
1 Bythe end ofthis year, ..........
2 By..'....-.
3 By..'......
Note: other uses These tenses, and other structures with will, canbe used not only to talk about
the future, but also to express certainty about the past and present (see page 65).
As you will have heard by now we are planning to open a new branch in Liverpool.
will have been stuilying the course all morning in preparation for
The worldb top skiers the first big
event this afternoon.

36 PRESENTAND FUTURE
future in the past
structures When we are talking about the past, we often want to say that something was still
in the future at that time. To express this idea, we can use the past forms of ail the structures that
are used to talk about the future:

present progressive ) past progressive am/is/are going to ) was/were goingto

will ) would am/is/are to ) wqs/were to
I was in a state of panic, because I was sitting my Jinal exoms in two days.
We were going to start a business if we could rttise enough capital.
I had a.fbeling that things would soon turn dfficult.
So this was the town where I was to spend the winter. I didn't like the look of it.

'hidden in the future' Would and was/were fo are often used to express the idea that things were
'hidden in the futurei
She treated me like dirt. But she would live to regret it.
I thought u.,e were saying goodbye for ever. But we were to meet again under very strange circumstances

€=:l Write some things that were in the future when you were ten years old, and that you
could not have expected.
> ..l.ye.*r4.p.ep.qv.e..q.y.qq.?\?.r.!.yr:.\p.*.q*l.p.L.e\Y.a?,qr:..'r.ry.TIg*sg,

l: -': About 3O,O0O years ago, someone painted this picture on a cave wall. Write some of

. .?.*4.9?.-.Y9Y.e. .Y g*14 .9.9.,,, .... .......... ..... .

.s

PRESENT AND FUTURE 37

more practice
:q$,if,i Correct the mistakes or write'Correct'.
> Penguins are+r+Jlying. ..4.q.ry'.1.fl.A.
> Nobody's listening to me. ..99fY.e.*...........
1 'What do you write?' A report for the Managing Directorl
2 I'm thinking this is the wrong address. ............ "
3 Why is that man jumping up and down? ....... '
4 Iron is meiting at 1536".
5 How do your tai-chi lessons go? ..........
6 We're seeing a lot of Peter and Susan just now
7 Het always criticising!
8 It's saying in today's paper that the pilots are going on strike'
9 'Is it going to snow?' 'I'm doubting itl '.... " " " "
10 Julie's not feeling very well today' ...... '.
1l This cheese is tasting funny. ......"
12 I'm not working next FridaY'
13 We should leave now if we're to catch the train'
14 Will you be seeing Edward when you're in Glasgow?
15 This time tomorrow I'm lying on the beach'
16 Do you know what time the film starts?
17 Next July we have been together for five years. " " " " '
18 I'll never be knowing what he thinks of me.
19 Sorry I'm late - the train I was going to catch was cancelled'
20 They showed me the room where I would have stayed. I said it was oK.
{Sk Choose the correct form of the cartoon caption.

'I'm sorry, he doesn't see I he's not seeing

anyone todaY.'

#' Write four predictions for next week. (You can use will or going to.)
Check them at the end of the week to see how many were right.

;{..{} Write two things that you are certainly going to do one day, and two things that
you are certainly never going to do.

38 PRESENT AND FUTURE

€,== , ,

1 We use wlll especially when we can see the future in the present.
2 Going /o is often pronounced gonna.
3 The future perfect progressive is very common in conversation.
4 Shall is not used in modern English.
5 We dont normally use the present progressive for fixed future arrangements.
Rules......... arewrong,

f::= Put in simple present or present progressive forms of the

verbs in the box.
arrive decide fall find give go out hide live light lose sing start
stay tell try work write

Purcini's opera La Boh&me: what happens in Act 1

It is a bitterly cold winter in l9th-century Paris. Marcello, a painter, and Rodolfo, a writer,
............ to keep warm. Their musician friend Schaunard ............ with
food, firewood, wine, cigars, and money: he3....... .... lessons to an eccentricEnglishman
and has just been paid. They to eat, but then 5............................ to
go out and spend the money at a caf6. Rodolfo 6 behind for a momenr to
finish an article that he 7 \X4rile he , there is a
knock at the door. It is Mimi, who t........ in another room in the building.
Her candle has blown out, and she has no matches. Rodolfo '0 it for her.
Then Mimi her key. Both candles 12
Rodolfo
her key but 'a.......... . it. They ........... '. each
other their life stories in two songs; while they they 17.........
in love.

& Put in the verbs from the boxes.

helped read started taken will have been will have tidied

Sehotrl Holidays
By ten o'clock this morning my children a box of unwanted toys to charity and
off school for 67 their holiday diaries.
hours. During that time they Later in the week they will visit the Science
their rooms, Museum, go on a nature trail and have
several books, a dental check-up. They will go to bed at
our elderly neighbour 8.30pm on the dot and watch only half an
with his garden, hour of BBC4 a day.

broken up cleaned up given up have spent hidden spent unloaded will have baked

Yeah, right. This is the more likely scenario: fights, and 13............................ the
| 7.............. several batches remote control. Like millions of other
of cupcakes, parents, lwill alsola
dishwasher 20 times, an unbelievable sum of money on plastic
almost three hours looking for tiny lost bits rubbish in a museum shop. And there are
of Lego, and10.......... .trying to several more weeks of this to look forward
interest my eldest in reading a book. I will to. School holidays!
have11 several paint- (Sarah Vine, The Times, adapted)
related disasters,

PRESENTAND FUTURE 39