VERB TENSES
EXPRESSING THE FUTURE
Grammatically speaking, there are only two tenses in English; present and past. The future can be expressed in several ways.
- the Present Simple
- the Present Continuous
- WILL (MAY/MIGHT/SHOULD) + V1
- BE + GOING TO + V1
- others verb forms that refer to the future
Be careful, there are times when one is prefered over the others:
The lesson starts at 9AM. Don’t be late!
I think it will be a good decision or
Watch out! You’re going to fall over the curb.
In these particular cases other ways of saying would sound unnatural or even incorrect (especially if you’re sitting an exam), however, in some other cases, in colloquial, everyday English there is no real difference between saying:
She is attending the meeting.
She is going to attend the meeting and
she will be attending the meeting.
And very often, you can hear native English speakers use future forms inconsistently and interchangeably; so, if they don’t bother, you shouldn’t either. Right? Right.
1
PRESENT SIMPLE – for the things/events that are certain because they are facts or because they are scheduled by a timetable.
The train leaves the station at 5:15PM.
Jenny turns 18 on Sunday.
What time does your flight arrive in Sydney?
You have your driving lesson next Monday, don’t you?
+ in TIME-clauses when they refer to the future
As soon as/when I get the information, will you let you know.
After he finishes the meeting, the conference room will be cleaned up.
I won’t go home until I finish this assignment.
I will call the police the moment I get home.
The day you graduate, I will buy you a new car.
Once she finds out the truth, she will fire him.
By the time you get home, the lunch will be ready.
The presentation starts at 11AM. Be on time.
2
PRESENT CONTINUOUS – for plans and arrangements (very often with a time expression)
I‘m flying to Canada on Sunday. /booked flight/
What are doing tonight? I’m going out with the guys. /arranged plans/
We‘re getting married this summer. /made arrangement/
No, I can’t make it this afternoon. I am seeing my accountant at 5PM and after I’m meeting up with my business partner. /according to my schedule/
Wait for me; I‘m coming in 10 minutes.
3
WILL + V1 – to express future intentions that have been made at the time of speaking.
C’mon, get into the car quickly, I will give a lift to the city. /offer/
All right. I‘ll have beef with roasted potato and fresh salad. /decision/
I‘ll buy these pair of jeans and leather belt too.
I will help you if you get into trouble. /promise/
WILL (MAY/MIGHT/SHOULD)+V1 – for opinions and predictions based on personal judgement
I don’t think it will be good enough for her.
I’m afraid your puppy won’t (will not) make it.
I suppose they will be late because of the traffic.
Take an umbrella, it might rain in the eveninig.
By 8PM we should be at the station.
…and I will take he roasted lamb with fresh salad, thank you.
4
BE GOING TO – for predictions based on present evidence
Look at those clouds. It‘s going to rain in minutes.
Watch out! She is going to fall over.
She is going to have a baby.
This is your CV? The boss is not going to like it.
BE GOING TO – for intentions
I am not going to put up with this behaviour any more.
What are you going to do if your wife leaves you? Are you going to start everything from scratch again?
I am going to sell this old wreck and buy a new one.
5
BE ABOUT TO – for immediate future
Come quickly, the boss is about to leave. /he may leave in a minute/
I am about to eat. Would you like to join me?
BE + TO + INFINITIVE – for official announcements and imperatives
The PM is to visit Buckingham Palace tomorrow.
The government is to introduce new tax policy.
You are to finish your homework by tonight, no matter what.
You are not to use my laptop without my permission.
BE + ON THE VERGE OF/BRINK OF/ POINT OF – to say something will happen very soon
She is on the point of bursting into tears.
Due to global recession the company is on the verge of bankrupting.
Scientist are on the brink of understanding the gravitational waves.
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