TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE

1. When we know about the future we normally use the present tense.

 We use the present simple for something scheduled or arranged:

We have a lesson next Monday.

The train arrives at 6.30 in the morning.
The holidays start next week.
It is my birthday tomorrow.

2.We can use the present continuous for plans or arrangements:

I’m playing football tomorrow.

They are coming to see us tomorrow.
We’re having a party at Christmas.

3. We use will to talk about the future:

 When we make predictions:

It will be a nice day tomorrow.

I think Brazil will win the World Cup.
I’m sure you will enjoy the film.

 To mean want to or be willing to:

I hope you will come to my party.

George says he will help us.

 To make offers and promises:

I'll see you tomorrow.

We'll send you an email.
 To talk about offers and promises:

Tim will be at the meeting.

Mary will help with the cooking.

4. We use (be) going to:

 To talk about plans and intentions:

I’m going to drive to work today.

They are going to move to Manchester.

 When we can see that something is likely to happen:

Be careful! You are going to fall.

Look at those black clouds. I think it’s going to rain.
5. We often use verbs like would like, plan, want, mean, hope, expect to talk about the future:

What are you going to do next year? I’d like to go to University.

We plan to go to France for our holidays.
George wants to buy a new car.

6. We use modals may, might, and could when we are not sure about the future:

I might stay at home tonight, or I might go to the cinema.

We could see Mary at the meeting. She sometimes goes.

7. We can use should if we think something is likely to happen:

We should be home in time for tea.

The game should be over by eight o’clock.

8. Clauses with time words:

In clauses with time words like when, after, and until we often use a present tense form to talk about the
future:

I’ll come home when I finish work. Voi veni acasa cand voi termina munca
You must wait here until your father comes.
They are coming after they have had dinner.

9. Clauses with if: In clauses with if we often use a present tense form to talk about the future:

We won’t be able to go out if it rains.

If Barcelona win tomorrow they will be champions.

WARNING: We do not normally use will in clauses with if or with time words:

I’ll come home when I will finish work.

We won’t be able to go out if it will rain rains.

But we can use will if it means a promise or offer:

I will be very happy if you will come to my party.

We should finish the job early if George will help us.

10. We can use the future continuous instead of the present continuous or going to for emphasis when we are
talking about plans, arrangements and intentions:

They’ll be coming to see us next week.

I will be driving to work tomorrow.

 
Expressing future | Grammar exercise
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate form of the verb given in the
brackets.
1. I ..................... John tomorrow.
a) see
b) am seeing
c) have seen
2. What ......................... this evening?
a) will you do
b) are you doing
c) have you been doing
3. Martha ......................... another baby in June.
a) is having
b) is going to have
c) will have
4. The train .......................... at half past six tomorrow morning.
a) is leaving
b) leaves
c) will leave
5. I ....................... probably be home late tonight.
a) will
b) am
c was
6. Nobody ........................ what happened to her.
a) is ever knowing
b) will ever know
7. ....................... I carry your bag?
Expressing future | Grammar exercise
www.englishgrammar.org
a) Will
b) Shall
8. I .......................... you if you say that word again.
a) am hitting
b) will hit
c) am going to hit
9. I ......................... you tonight.
a) am phoning
b) will phone
10. ‘You can have it for $100.’ ‘OK. I ......................... it.’
a) am buying
b) will buy
c) am going to buy
Ex.1 Use the verbs in brackets to complete these sentences in the most common form.
You must take an umbrella. It ................................................................ (rain)
I ................................... to the cinema tonight. I already have a ticket. (go)
Are you planning any summer holiday? - I don't know yet. Perhaps I .................................. at home. (stay)
You look pretty tired. You should have a break. – OK. I ................................ a rest. (have)
Betty is going to driving lessons, because she ......................................a car. (buy)
I've just missed my train! - No problem. I .................................... you there. (drive)
I can't eat anything today. I ............................... an appointment at the hospital tomorrow.( have)
The Sharks are much better! I'm sure they ............................... the Dolphins today! (beat)
What does your son want to do in future? - I hope he .............................. a dentist. (become)
Not at five o'clock. Look at the diary. We ......................... Mr. Clark at three o'clock. (meet)
Please, buy some eggs. I ............................................................ a cake. (make)
My dad has already booked the holiday. .......................................... to France on 2 July. (fly)

Ex.1 Use the verbs in brackets to complete these sentences in the most common form.
You must take an umbrella. It ................................................................ (rain)
I ................................... to the cinema tonight. I already have a ticket. (go)
Are you planning any summer holiday? - I don't know yet. Perhaps I .................................. at home. (stay)
You look pretty tired. You should have a break. – OK. I ................................ a rest. (have)
Betty is going to driving lessons, because she ......................................a car. (buy)
I've just missed my train! - No problem. I .................................... you there. (drive)
I can't eat anything today. I ............................... an appointment at the hospital tomorrow.( have)
The Sharks are much better! I'm sure they ............................... the Dolphins today! (beat)
What does your son want to do in future? - I hope he .............................. a dentist. (become)
Not at five o'clock. Look at the diary. We ......................... Mr. Clark at three o'clock. (meet)
Please, buy some eggs. I ............................................................ a cake. (make)
My dad has already booked the holiday. .......................................... to France on 2 July. (fly)

Ex.1 Use the verbs in brackets to complete these sentences in the most common form.
You must take an umbrella. It ................................................................ (rain)
I ................................... to the cinema tonight. I already have a ticket. (go)
Are you planning any summer holiday? - I don't know yet. Perhaps I .................................. at home. (stay)
You look pretty tired. You should have a break. – OK. I ................................ a rest. (have)
Betty is going to driving lessons, because she ......................................a car. (buy)
I've just missed my train! - No problem. I .................................... you there. (drive)
I can't eat anything today. I ............................... an appointment at the hospital tomorrow.( have)
The Sharks are much better! I'm sure they ............................... the Dolphins today! (beat)
What does your son want to do in future? - I hope he .............................. a dentist. (become)
Not at five o'clock. Look at the diary. We ......................... Mr. Clark at three o'clock. (meet)
Please, buy some eggs. I ............................................................ a cake. (make)
My dad has already booked the holiday. .......................................... to France on 2 July. (fly)
Answers Ex1
It is going to rain
I am going to the cinema tonight.
Perhaps I will stay at home.
I will have a rest.
Betty is going to driving lessons, because she is going to buy a car.
I will drive you there.
I am having an appointment at the hospital tomorrow.
I'm sure they are going to beat the Dolphins today!
I hope he will become a dentist.
We are meeting Mr. Clark at three o'clock.
I will make a cake.
We are flying to France on 2 July.

EX2
Will recover
Both correct
Will take
Are you doing
Both correct
Am meeting
Are going to open
Are leaving
Will break
Am going to reconstruct
Ex 2.Underline the most suitable form. In some sentences both forms are possible.
I hope Ben is recovering | will recover from his illness sooner or later.
He doesn't have enough money to pay for the bills. But I won't lend | am not going to lend him more.
I can see your luggage is quite heavy. I will take | am going to take it.
OK, you are not free on Thursday. What about Friday night? Will you do | Are you doing anything?
The weather forecast says it will warm up | is going to warm up soon.
Listen! Tim has asked me out finally. I am going to meet /am meeting him this evening at the cafe.
Do you need the architect, because you are opening |are going to open a new shop?
We've already booked the tickets. We are leaving | are going to leave by the 10.15 train.
Please, put the vase back on the table or you will break | are breaking it.
I've bought this old house, because I am reconstructing | am going to reconstruct it.

Ex 2.Underline the most suitable form. In some sentences both forms are possible.
I hope Ben is recovering | will recover from his illness sooner or later.
He doesn't have enough money to pay for the bills. But I won't lend | am not going to lend him more.
I can see your luggage is quite heavy. I will take | am going to take it.
OK, you are not free on Thursday. What about Friday night? Will you do | Are you doing anything?
The weather forecast says it will warm up | is going to warm up soon.
Listen! Tim has asked me out finally. I am going to meet /am meeting him this evening at the cafe.
Do you need the architect, because you are opening |are going to open a new shop?
We've already booked the tickets. We are leaving | are going to leave by the 10.15 train.
Please, put the vase back on the table or you will break | are breaking it.
I've bought this old house, because I am reconstructing | am going to reconstruct it.

Ex 2.Underline the most suitable form. In some sentences both forms are possible.
I hope Ben is recovering | will recover from his illness sooner or later.
He doesn't have enough money to pay for the bills. But I won't lend | am not going to lend him more.
I can see your luggage is quite heavy. I will take | am going to take it.
OK, you are not free on Thursday. What about Friday night? Will you do | Are you doing anything?
The weather forecast says it will warm up | is going to warm up soon.
Listen! Tim has asked me out finally. I am going to meet /am meeting him this evening at the cafe.
Do you need the architect, because you are opening |are going to open a new shop?
We've already booked the tickets. We are leaving | are going to leave by the 10.15 train.
Please, put the vase back on the table or you will break | are breaking it.
I've bought this old house, because I am reconstructing | am going to reconstruct it.

Ex 2.Underline the most suitable form. In some sentences both forms are possible.
I hope Ben is recovering | will recover from his illness sooner or later.
He doesn't have enough money to pay for the bills. But I won't lend | am not going to lend him more.
I can see your luggage is quite heavy. I will take | am going to take it.
OK, you are not free on Thursday. What about Friday night? Will you do | Are you doing anything?
The weather forecast says it will warm up | is going to warm up soon.
Listen! Tim has asked me out finally. I am going to meet /am meeting him this evening at the cafe.
Do you need the architect, because you are opening |are going to open a new shop?
We've already booked the tickets. We are leaving | are going to leave by the 10.15 train.
Please, put the vase back on the table or you will break | are breaking it.
I've bought this old house, because I am reconstructing | am going to reconstruct it.