Expressing future actions

John: Dora, why are you dressed like that?

Dora: I’m playing a fortune teller in the school play next week. Come on, I’ll tell you your fortune.

In ten years’ time you’ll be managing your own company. You’ll be making the best computer games in the world! You’ll be rich and famous! In twenty years you’ll have conquered the world.

John: Great! Can you see the nearer future, too?

Dora: Oh, yes! You’re a kind young man, John. And very generous, too. You are going to give money someone very soon.

John: Really? When?

Dora: Now. Betty and I are going to the cinema tonight and I’m broke. Will you lend me ten pounds?

John: Of course, I will. In ten years’ time!

Dora: Oh, how funny! Ha! Ha! Ha!

So, look at the highlighted forms in the dialogue. What are they?

am playing – Present Continuous Tense

will tell/ will be / Will you lend…? are the Future Simple forms

will be managing / will be making – Future Continuous Tense

will have conquered – Future Perfect Tense

are going to – construction to be going to

What do you think all these forms are used for in the dialogue?

Right, for expressing future actions.

In this lesson we’re going to look at the most common ways of expressing the future in English:

1. Future Simple

2. Present Simple

3. Present Continuous

4. And the construction to be going to (inf)

We’ll revise their formation and you’ll get to know in what situation to use them.

So, let’s get started.

First, let’ s revise the formation of Present Simple/Present Continuous/Future Simple and the construction to be going to.

Complete the tables.

Future Simple

The Future Simple is formed with the help of will + infinitive.

Be going to

Remember! The verb to be has three forms am/is/are.

Present Continuous

Present Simple

We form the Present Simple with the first form of the verb. we usually add -s(-es) to the third person singular. In questions and negative sentences, we use do/don’t with I/we/you/they and does/doesn’t with he/she/it.

Future Simple is used for:

on-the-spot decisions.

For example:

We haven’t got any juice. I’ll go to the corner shop and get some.

It’s cold in here. I’ll turn on the heating.

  for predictions based on what we think, believe or imagine. Especially with: I expect, I believe, I’m sure, I’m afraid, probably, etc.

For example:

I think they’ll agree to our plan.

I hope, he will like his birthday present.

 for actions which we cannot control but which will definitely happen.

The baby will be born in the new year.

  to make a request.

Will you do me a favour?

Will you lend me ten pounds?

to promise to do something.

Don’t worry. I’ll fix your bike tomorrow.

Be going to is used for:

predictions based on what we can see or what we know, especially when there is evidence.

For example:

Look! The driver has lost control of the car. He’s going to crash!

That boy is going to climb a tree.

for intentions, plans or ambitions for the future.

They are going to get married next month. (they have already decided to do it.)

She is going to keep to a diet.

We use the Present Continuous:

  to talk about fixed arrangements and plans in the near future.

For example:

I’m having dinner with Betty this evening. (It’s a date.)

She’s leaving tomorrow.

Present Simple

We use the present simple to talk about timetables/ programmes or scheduled events.

For example:

The concert begins at 8.30.

The next bus goes to the town center.

The boat leaves at 8 o’clock in the morning.

Now it’s time to practice the rule.

Read the sentences and choose the ideas expressed in them.

A. a promise

B. I think this will happen

C. intention to do something

D. an on-the-spot decision

E. an offer

F. a prediction based on what I see

1. Granny’s said she is not feeling very well.

Oh, dear. I’ll visit her straight after work then. (D. an on-the-spot decision)

2.  In the future people won’t need reading glasses. We’ll all have laser eye surgery. (B. I think this will happen)

3. You’re playing badly, today. I think you are going to lose this game. (F. a prediction based on what I see)

4. I know you don’t believe me, but I’ll work really hard this time. (A. a promise)

5. I’m going to finish this report today even if I have to stay up all night!

(C. intention to do something)

6. I can’t lift this suitcase. It’s too heavy.

It’s all right, Mary. I’ll help you to carry it. (E. an offer)

That’s all for today.

Hopefully the lesson was useful and informative to you, guys!

Practice your grammar skills because practice makes perfect!