Study grammar references first then a table below.

The ways to express actions in the future:

1) Future Simple;

2) Be going;

3) Present Simple (used for programmes and timetables);

4) Present Continuous (used as arranged actions for the near future);

5) Future Continuous;

6) Future Perfect;

7) Future Perfect-Continuous.

We have already studied the situations to express future actions in the present simple and present continuous. Compare the examples.

The concert starts at 7 o’clock tomorrow evening.

The bus leaves in ten minutes.

The language course finishes in May.

He is flying to Rome in an hour.

I am meeting Boris tonight.

I’m buying that car, I have arranged it.

We are having a party with our groupmates on Friday.

2.2. Future Simple (will) and be going to express future actions.

Study the sentences:

a) Future simple

+ I (He, She, It, We, You, They) will phone you. / I’ ll phone you.

? Will you phone me? – Yes, I will. No, I will not / No, I won’t.

- I won’t phone you.

Scheme: will +bare infinitive (where ‘will’ is used for all persons.)

b) be going to

+ I am going to drive to Lviv.

? Are you going to do it? – Yes, I am.

- I am not going to drive anywhere.

Note: In colloquial speech ‘be going to’ is used more often than Future simple because we usually speak about our plans / ambitions for the future.

Revision 1: Study the situations when the future simple tense and be going to are used. Read attentively the blocks of examples and explanations to them.

a) - I think you will be rich (a prediction about the future, which is not exact. It is based on what we think, believe, imagine.)

- I’m sure life will be better in fifty years.

- Perhaps I will do it. / I’m afraid I won’t do it.

b) - Look at the tree. It is going to fall down (a prediction which is evident. It is based on what we can see or what we know.)

- Look at the clouds. It is going to rain.

- He is going to rescue the boy.

- She is going to jump out of the plane.

- He is going to throw the ball.

c) - He will be thirty in February (it will happen in the future in any case, without our control.)

- The temperature will reach 40 degrees C tomorrow.

- She’ll be twenty next month.

d) – I promise I will do it (in promises.)

- I’ll bring this book to you.

- Don’t worry. I’ll get a good job.

e) - I’ ll take this piece of meat (on the spot decision - made at the time of speaking.)

- ‘There is no butter for cookies.’ – ‘I will go to the shop and buy it.’

f) - Stop or I’ ll shoot (in threats or warnings.)

- Give it back to me or I’ll cry.

- Can’t you understand it? I’ll show how to do it (in offers.)

- I hope you will help me (in hopes.)

g) - I’ m going to become a famous singer one day (for plans, intentions and ambitions we have about the near future.)

- She is going to fly to Paris (she has already decided to do it but she has not arranged the time and she hasn’t bought tickets.)

Compare: Peter is going to drive to London tomorrow morning (he has decided to do it.)

Peter is driving to London tomorrow morning (he has arranged everything before.)

OR: They are going to get married in August (a planned action for the near future.)

They are getting married in August (an arranged action for the near future.)

- I’m going to have a party next week (plan / intention.) I’ll invite all my friends. I will think of great programme (some details are added.) – Oh, It’ll be great! (Some comments are given.)

Read and translate some conditional sentences:

I will call you before I leave for Prague.

She will go to school when she is five years old.

I’ll go to the theatre if I get a ticket.

Note:After the words“I don’t know; I doubt; I wonder”future forms are always used: e.g. I wonder if he will be appointed to the post or not. ‘Shall’is used as a modal verb in questions before ‘I/we’to make an offer, suggestion or to ask for instruction. e.g. Shall I/we wait for you? Shall I read? Shall we go? ‘Will’is used as a modal verb in questions before other persons to make a request. e.g. Will you wait for me, please? ‘Will you pay the bills?’ – ‘Yes, I will.’

Revision 2:

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