Unit 24: The future
Seven ways of talking about the future
Select a unit
- 1 Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
- 2 Reported speech in 90 seconds!
- 3 If or whether?
- 4 5 ways to use 'would'
- 5 Let and allow
- 6 Passive voice
- 7 Unless
- 8 Mixed conditionals
- 9 The zero article - in 90 seconds
- 10 The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
- 11 The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
- 12 The continuous passive
- 13 Future perfect
- 14 Need + verb-ing
- 15 Have something done
- 16 Wish
- 17 Word stress
- 18 Different ways of saying 'if'
- 19 Passive reporting structures
- 20 The subjunctive
- 21 When and if
- 22 Inversion
- 23 Phrasal verbs
- 24 The future
- 25 Modals in the past
- 26 Narrative tenses
- 27 Phrasal verb myths
- 28 Conditionals review
- 29 Used to - review
- 30 Linking words of contrast
Session 1
What will the future bring? Well, we can't answer that, but we can offer you seven different ways of talking about the future. Join Dan on a tour of the park... and the future!
Activity 1
English Class
Seven, yes seven, ways to talk about the future
When you started studying English, which way of talking about the future did you learn first?
Most people start by learning will.
While this is a very common way, there are lots of other really useful forms. And as you're a busy person, we've asked Dan to teach you seven wonderful ways of talking about the future - as quickly as a he can. Watch the video - then we'll test you on how well you remember!
Watch the video and complete the activity
Dan
Hi Guys, Dan for BBC Learning English here. This time we’re going to be cover… the future! As you may know, there are many ways to about the future in English… This week we're going to look at seven of them. We're going to do the whole future in 90 seconds – the whole future in 90 seconds! Are you ready? Go!
1. Will
"OK, I'll be there."
I'll be there. That's will used for a decision made at the moment of speaking. We also use it for promises, voluntary offers, and predictions about the future.
2. Present continuous
That was… a friend. I'm meeting her tonight. Notice: 'meeting', that's the present continuous, which we use for arrangements, which are very firm plans.
3. Be going to
We're going to have a coffee together. Be going to - when you talk to people about plans that you've made – which are not quite as strong as the present continuous. We also use be going to for when we make predictions you have a physical reason for believing – (looks up) it's going to be a beautiful evening!
4. Future continuous
So, in an hour's time we'll be drinking coffee together! That's future continuous – we use it for a future activity that's not complete at that time.
5. Future perfect
But by 5pm we'll have finished our drink. Looks sad Ah, hey – yes, that was future perfect. Will have finished. By a certain point in the future!
6. Present simple
Ah… Is that the time? I better hurry, my bus leaves in 5 minutes. It leaves in 5 minutes! That was present simple – we use it for timetabled events – things that happen at a specific time. Better run.
Turns out of frame
7. Be + to + infinitive
Ooh, newsflash. London buses are to strike this afternoon. We can use be + to + infinitive – it's quite formal and is often used in newspapers and TV. And for me it means, no buses, I've really got to run now! See you later.
Summary
Here are the seven ways Dan gave us:
1. Will
OK, I'll be there.
Used for: decisions made at the moment of speaking, promises, voluntary offers, predictions
2. Present continuous
I'm meeting her tonight.
Used for: arrangements
3. Be going to
We're going to have a coffee together.
It's going to be a beautiful evening!
Used for: plans, predictions based on present, physical evidence
4. Future continuous
So, in an hour's time we'll be drinking coffee together!
Used for: activities which are in progress at a future time
5. Future perfect
By 5pm we'll have finished our drink.
Used for: actions completed before a specific future time.
6. Present simple
I better hurry, my bus leaves in 5 minutes.
Used for: timetabled future events
7. Be + to + infinitive
London buses are to strike this afternoon.
We also use this without be, just to + infinitive:
London buses to strike this afternoon.
Used for: formal way of talking about the future on news headlines
To do
Feeling ready? Try this quiz to test your understanding!
Airport of the future
5 Questions
You've seen the future, with Dan's help. But how much do you remember? It's your turn to use these future forms as you visit an airport. But before you catch the plane, you need to call your mum!
Try to use them as described in Dan's video, even though more than one answer might be grammatically correct.
Help
Activity
You've seen the future, with Dan's help. But how much do you remember? It's your turn to use these future forms as you visit an airport. But before you catch the plane, you need to call your mum!
Try to use them as described in Dan's video, even though more than one answer might be grammatically correct.
Hint
You're talking about an arrangement – a plan that has been made that involves more than one person.Question 1 of 5
Help
Activity
You've seen the future, with Dan's help. But how much do you remember? It's your turn to use these future forms as you visit an airport. But before you catch the plane, you need to call your mum!
Try to use them as described in Dan's video, even though more than one answer might be grammatically correct.
Hint
You make this decision as you speak to her.Question 2 of 5
Help
Activity
You've seen the future, with Dan's help. But how much do you remember? It's your turn to use these future forms as you visit an airport. But before you catch the plane, you need to call your mum!
Try to use them as described in Dan's video, even though more than one answer might be grammatically correct.
Hint
This is a timetabled event.Question 3 of 5
Help
Activity
You've seen the future, with Dan's help. But how much do you remember? It's your turn to use these future forms as you visit an airport. But before you catch the plane, you need to call your mum!
Try to use them as described in Dan's video, even though more than one answer might be grammatically correct.
Hint
Announcements like this usually use the form for timetabled events. Which is that?Question 4 of 5
Help
Activity
You've seen the future, with Dan's help. But how much do you remember? It's your turn to use these future forms as you visit an airport. But before you catch the plane, you need to call your mum!
Try to use them as described in Dan's video, even though more than one answer might be grammatically correct.
Hint
It's time to use the formal form for newspapers.Question 5 of 5
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
End of Session 1
That's it for this session. We hope you enjoyed it. Let's hope Dan made it on time to meet his... mother!
Next
Join us for News Review as we discuss a major story in the news, and the language you need to understand it.
Session Grammar
1. Will
OK, I'll be there.
2. Present continuous
I'm meeting meet her tonight.
3. Be going to
We're going to have a coffee together.
It's going to be a beautiful evening!
4. Future continuous
In an hour's time we'll be having coffee together!
5. Future perfect
But by 5pm we'll have finished our drink.
6. Present simple
I better hurry, my bus leaves in 5 minutes.
7. Be + to + infinitive
London buses are to strike this afternoon.
We also use this without be:
London buses to strike this afternoon.