Different ways to express future actions in English

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Different ways to express future actions in English

We can use different ways to express future actions in English. The choice depends on the situation.

Form	Meaning/use	Example
Future Simple with will + base form	1. decisions made at the moment of speaking	OK, I’ll see you this evening at eight. I’ll have tea, please.
	2. predictions, often with I believe, hope, expect, think, etc.	I think it will be a difficult game.
	3. offers or willingness	I’ll give you a lift if you like. All right. I’ll water the plants.
	4. requests	Will you do me a favour?
	5. firm intentions, promises	I’ll love you forever.
	6. threats	I won’t speak to you ever again!
	7. facts about the future	Christmas day will fall on Tuesday this year.
be going to + base form	1. intentions, plans	I am going to phone him tomorrow.
be going to + base form	2. prediction in the immediate future because of the evidence in present	Look at these clouds! It’s going to rain. That building is going to collapse soon.
shall + base form	1. suggestions	Shall we go for a walk?
	2. offers (with I or we)	Shall I help you with those bags
	3. asking for advice	What shall I say if she calls?
Future Continuous will be + -ing	1. activities planned to a future time	We’ll be waiting outside the station.
Future Continuous will be + -ing	2. arrangements, routines	I’ll be going by bus as usual.
Present Continuous am/are/is + -ing	arrangements, often with tonight, at eight, this weekend, etc.	I’m having my hair cut today.
be + to-infinitive	official arrangements, especially when announced	The President is to visit Brussels next week.
Present Simple	firm plans or timetables, especially after when, as soon as, until, etc.	The boat leaves the island on Friday. I’ll phone you as soon as I arrive.
would + base form	reporting predictions in the past, often with I believed, hoped, etc.	I thought it would be a difficult game.

We often use Present Continuous to talk about the near future rather than the distant future:
I’m taking the children to the cinema this evening. I’m getting up at 6.30 tomorrow.
We can use be going to for more distant events: We are going to sail round the world next year.
Present Continuous is also possible: We are sailing round the world next year.
Note that Present Simple always suggests a fixed timetable. Present Continuous can suggest the possibility of change: The sun rises at six tomorrow. I’m seeing him at six. The train leaves at eight. But: My train is leaving in 20 minutes. (If there is no delay)
Future Continuous often refers to a routine or to things which will happen in the normal course of events. It emphasizes that no other arrangement is necessary: I can give you a lift to the station. It’s no trouble to me – I’ll be going that way anyway.
We also use it to ask about someone’s plan or arrangement: Will you be using the library this afternoon?
In the Future Continuous, the activity has already been decided: This time tomorrow I’ll be lying on the beach.
We use the Future Perfect to talk about something that will finish by some time in the future:
Rosie says she will have finished her work by Saturday. (maybe earlier, but not later than Saturday)
Task 2
I. Complete these sentences using be going to, will, Present Continuous or Present Simple. Use the verbs in brackets:
1. Which show do you want to go to? The film ___ at nine and eleven. (start). 2. Look, that car over there _____ (crash)! 3. ‘What ___ you ___ this evening?’ (do) – 4. ‘Nothing’. - ‘Well, we ___ to that new pizzeria?’ (go) 4. The match ____ (start) at 3pm as always. 5. Don’t worry about the car; I ____ (phone) for a taxi. 6. I ___ work at five – so shall we meet at a quarter past? (finish) 7. I ____ (be) rich one day! 8. According to my diary, we ____ (meet) at 2pm tomorrow. 8. I think we ____ (win) the European Cup next year. 10. The National Theatre ____ (celebrate) its thirtieth anniversary soon.
II. Put the verb in brackets into the most suitable form of the future or present:
Dear Mum,
By the time you receive this letter I ___ (1. finish) my final exams and, whether they went well or not, I __ (2. celebrate). I __ (3. start) looking for a job at the end of the summer because I __ (4. go) on holiday round Europe for a month, starting next week. Sue __ (5. probably/come) with me, although she’s not sure yet. If she does, I’m sure we __ (6. have) a great time. I __(7. see) her this evening, as usual, so I expect she __ (8. tell) me her decision then. My first exam __ (9. start) at 9 o’clock tomorrow so today I __ (10. revise) at the library.
Yours,
Jason
III. Read the text and think of the word which best fits the space. There is an example at the beginning (0):
Future shock
Who … will (0)win the election? Where … (1) the best jobs be found next year? Will plans to set up a colony on the moon … (2) ahead and will ordinary members of the public … (3) taking vacations on the moon? What are … (4) to be the most successful electronic products in 2011? How will the Internet … (5) changed not only business but people’s lives … (6) the middle of the 21st century? Will the government … (7) back hanging for mass murderers? Famous futurist Alvin Toffler will be … (8) these and other questions in his new weekly TV programme. Toffler … (9) be hosting a TV show which will … (10) be reporting on what happened yesterday. Instead it will be … (11) what is going to … (12) tomorrow. By the end of this year Alvin Toffler will … (13) been predicting the future professionally for nearly thirty years.

More future forms

be about to +Infinitive	be going to happen very soon	The train is about to leave – let’s hurry.
be due to +Infinitive	be going to do smth already arranged	She is due to start her new job next week.
be to +Infinitive	be going to do smth that is an official arrangement or order	The Pope is to visit Cuba this month. You are to be here by nine o’clock.
be not to +Infinitive	be ordered not to do smth	You are not to begin till I give the order.
be on the verge of +Ving /smth	be going to happen very soon	Scientists are on the verge of making an important discovery.
however + adverb/ adjective + Pr. Simple	it is not because of smth is being done	However hard he ties, he will not make her fall in love with him.
no matter (what, who, etc.) + Pr. Simple	it is not important what happens, who does it, etc.	No matter what she says, they won’t believe her.
be on the point of +Ving	be going to do smth immediately	I was on the point of explaining. They were on the point of leaving when Uncle Joe arrived.
whatever, whoever, whenever, wherever + Pr. Simple	it is not important what, who, when, where, etc.	Wherever we go on holiday, we take our dog with us. Whatever she says, they won’t believe her.

IV. Fill each space with an appropriate phrase or clause referring to the future:
1. Fasten your seatbelts – we … take off. 2. The boat … leave at 10am. 3. You … take the car without my permission. 4. Doctors claim they … a breakthrough. 5. He … giving up but you can help him. 6. … how much the painting costs, I must have it. 7. … much it costs, I’ll buy it. 8. I … be at a conference in Berlin on Monday. 9. … I drive, I don’t drink. 10. They … set off early tomorrow.

V. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb from the list:
arrive expire perform do live hide begin burst
run choose see leave
1. He was on the point of …. his speech when the alarm went off. 2. She was so upset she was on the verge of … into tears. 3. The Prime Minister is … in Brussels at 14.30. 4. I am about … my last trick, ladies and gentlemen. 5. Your subscription is due … next month. 6. You are not … your room till I tell you to. 7. No matter what he … , he will never be a successful actor. 8. Whenever you … Jane, will you tell her to give me a ring? 9. No matter who they … for the job of manager, the factory will still close. 10. Wherever the convict … , the police will find him. 11. She won’t break the world record however fast she … . 12. No matter where we … , we will still have to travel to get to work.
VI. Complete the sentences with the suitable form of the word in brackets:
Dutchmen are … (1. pride) of their country and their state structure … (2. basical) on the developed of … (3. society) security, which assures that nobody live in … (4. poor). The Dutch are protected by … (5. employ) benefits; sick pay; a guaranteed income for those physically unable to work; pensions for widows, … (6. orphanage), and the elderly; minimum-wage regulations and family allowances. Unemployed people get an allowance which is quite enough for adequate living. The low income categories of the … (7. populous) have free medical services. Students pay … (8. practice) nothing for education and transportation. The source of such well-being … (9. origin) from extremely high taxes. The … (10. richness) people should pay to the state up to 70 % of their income.

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