VICTORIA ALBA SCHOOL

There is NOT just one future tense in English.

How to express the future then?

1. With WILL. (Future Simple)

There are several ways to express the future. Let’s see two of those ways.

2. With BE GOING TO.

FUTURE SIMPLE AFFIRMATIVE:

Subject + WILL + base form of verb

Your brother WILL become famous soon.

Will = ‘ll Your brother’ll become famous soon.

FUTURE SIMPLE NEGATIVE:

Subject + WILL + NOT + base form of verb

My friend WILL NOT marry that man.

WILL + NOT = WON’T My friend won’t marry that man.

FUTURE SIMPLE INTERROGATIVE:

WILL+Subj.+ base form of verb ?

WILL IT rain tomorrow ?

Short answers Yes, it will.

No, it won’t.

Future Simple We use WILL + the base form of the main verb for:

1. Predictions (No evidence)

You will get married and have 10 children!

2. Quick decisions.

I’ll have another cup of coffee, please!

3. Promises/Offers 4. Request/ Invitation.

Ok! I’ll call you tomorrow.

I WILL (’ll) call

You WILL (’ll) call

He / She WILL (’ll) call

We WILL (’ll) call

You WILL (’ll) call

They WILL (’ll) call

“GOING TO”

I am (I’m) You are (You’re)

He is (He’s) She is (She’s)

It is (It’s) We are (We’re) You are (You’re)

They are (They’re)

going to

(base form of verb =

Infinitive without

“to”)

AFFIRMATIVE:

“GOING TO”

I am not (I’m not) You are not (You aren’t)

He is not(He isn’t) She is not (She isn’t)

It is not (It isn’t) We are not (We aren’t) You are not (You aren’t)

They are not (They aren’t)

going to

(base form of verb =

Infinitive without

“to”)

NEGATIVE:

“GOING TO”

I you

he /she /it we/you/they

going to

Base ?

INTERROGATIVE:

Am Is

Are

Short answers Yes, + Subject pronoun + am / is / are. No, + Subject pronoun + isn’t / aren’t.

*(Note: No, I’m not).

BE GOING TO We use BE GOING TO + the base form of the main verb for:

1. Plans / Intentions.

I am going to practise hard to become a rock star!

2. Predictions based on clear signs. Look at those clouds!

It is going to rain!

I am going to + V

You are going to + V

He / She is going to + V

We are going to + V

You are going to + V

They are going to + V

REMEMBER! PREDICTIONS (NO EVIDENCE)

QUICK DECISIONS

PROMISES/OFFERS

REQUESTS/INVITATIONS

PLANS / INTENTIONS

PREDICTIONS

BASED ON CLEAR SIGNS

WILL + V BE GOING TO + V

WILL WITH « BE »

When the main verb is BE, we can use the simple future tense even if we have a firm plan or decision before speaking. Examples:

•  I'll be in London tomorrow. •  I'm going shopping. I won't be very long. •  Will you be at work tomorrow?

Questions

•  How are you going to spend your next vacation? Are you going anywhere?

•  When will the new machine arrive? •  What are you going to do next? •  Is anyone going to travel with you? •  What do you think the party will be like?

IF YOU HAVE FIRM PLANS USE «GOING TO » BUT IF YOU DON’T USE « WILL ».

PRACTISE! Choose the right way to express the future in the following situations.

SITUATION 1 SITUATION 2 SITUATION 3

You’re thirsty, aren’t you? I (get)

you a glass of water.

Oh no! He really (paint) the room that

colour?

ANSWER

I WILL (’ll) get you a glass of water.

(QUICK DECISION AND OFFER)

ANSWER

IS he really GOING TO paint the room that colour?

(INTENTION)

ANSWER

We WILL not (won’t) be back late. (PROMISE)

The film finishes at 10 p.m.

We (not be) back late. The film finishes at 10

p.m.

ANSWER

In Scotland it WILL rain tomorrow. In the south of England it WILL be sunny.

(PREDICTION: no clear evidence)

SITUATION 4 SITUATION 5

ANSWER

I WILL (’ll) call the doctor. (QUICK DECISION)

You’re not well. I (call) the doctor.

In Scotland it (rain) tomorrow. In the

south of England it (be) sunny.

SITUATION 6

Ketchup or mayonnaise?

I (have) mayonnaise, please.

ANSWER

I WILL (’ll) have mayonnaise, please.

(QUICK DECISION)

Will / Be Going to •  1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper?

B: I (write)___________ a letter to my friends back home in Texas.

•  2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up!

B: I (get)_________ you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up. • 

3. A: I can't hear the television! B: I (turn) __________ it up so you can hear it.

•  4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) ___________Paris and Nice.

are going to visit

‘ll turn

am going to write

‘ll get

•  5. A: It is so hot in here! B: I (turn)________ the air conditioning on.

•  6. I think he (be)_________ the next President of the United States.

•  7. I am ___________to work in ten minutes.

•  8. I guess I ____________stay home tonight.

•  9. I________be in Texas next week.

will be

going to

will be

going to

will be

going to

will be

will

will

going to

will be

‘ll turn

will be

HAVE A GOOD DAY

REMEMBER TO BE PRACTICAL, WATCH SOME TV IN O.V

AND KEEP ON READING !!