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 4
When we think of the future, if we're thinking grammatically, we think of will. However, the future can be different depending on what we're talking about. Will is not the only future, as Tim explores in this video.
Activity 1
Stop Saying!
Different futures
It's very likely that you know will. It's the word we use to talk about the future in English, right? Well, yes and no. It certainly is one way of referring to the future, but it's not the only way. In this video Tim is off on a trip to meet his girlfriend. A journey that he uses to highlight different ways of talking about the future.
Watch the video and complete the activity
Summary
When a future event is planned or arranged, use the present continuous or be going to:
- I'm meeting her tonight.
- I'm going to meet her tonight.
When a future event is timetabled or arranged as part of a regular and repeating schedule, use the present simple:
- My plane leaves at 6.00.
- The exam is on Thursday at 9.00 sharp. So don't be late!
When a future action can be predicted because of evidence in the present, use be going to:
- Look at the sky! It's going to rain.
- They're too close, they're going to crash.
When a future action is an intention, decided at the moment of speaking, use will:
- My computer's died. How are we going to finish the project?
Don't worry, I'll pop home and get my laptop. - It's time for tea: can one of you call your father in from the garden?
OK mum, I'll do it.
To do
Try the quiz and see if you can choose the correct future forms.
Future Quiz
5 Questions
For each question choose the best option to complete the sentence.
Help
Activity
For each question choose the best option to complete the sentence.
Hint
This is an arrangement or plan previously made.Question 1 of 5
Help
Activity
For each question choose the best option to complete the sentence.
Hint
This is a scheduled event.Question 2 of 5
Help
Activity
For each question choose the best option to complete the sentence.
Hint
This is a prediction based on current evidence.Question 3 of 5
Help
Activity
For each question choose the best option to complete the sentence.
Hint
This is an action decided at the moment of speaking.Question 4 of 5
Help
Activity
For each question choose the best option to complete the sentence.
Hint
This is a regular, fixed event.Question 5 of 5
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
End of session
That's the end of this section. Congratulations on finishing the page.
Many thanks to the staff and students of St. George's School of English for their help with this video.
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Session Grammar
Talking about the future
When a future event is planned or arranged, use the present continuous or be going to:
- I'm meeting her tonight.
- I'm going to meet her tonight.
When a future event is timetabled or arranged as part of a regular and repeating schedule, use the present simple:
- My plane leaves at 6.00.
- The exam is on Thursday at 9.00 sharp. So don't be late!
When a future action can be predicted because of evidence in the present, use be going to:
- Look at the sky! It's going to rain.
- They're too close, they're going to crash.
When a future action is an intention, decided at the moment of speaking, use will:
- My computer's died. How are we going to finish the project?
Don't worry, I'll pop home and get my laptop. - It's time for tea, can one of you call your father in from the garden?
OK mum, I'll do it.