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GRAMMAR

Future time
Basic contrasts: will, going to, present continuous
• Will is normally known as the predictive future, and describes known facts, or what
we suppose is true.
I ’ll be late home this evening.
The company will make a profit next year.
This can also take the form of an assumption.
That’ll be Jim at the door. (This means that I suppose it is Jim.)

• Will is also used to express an immediate decision.

I’ll take this one.

• Going to describes intentions or plans. At the moment of speaking the plans have
already been made.
I ’m going to wait here until Carol gets back.
Going to is also used to describe an event whose cause is present or evident.
Look at that tree! It’s going to fall.
Compare the following with the will examples above:
I ’m going to be late this evening. I ’ve got lots of paperwork to finish off.
The figures are good. I can see the company is going to make a profit this year.
Decisions expressed with going to refer to a more distant point in the future.

• The present continuous describes fixed arrangements, especially social and travel
arrangements. A time reference is usually included. Note the strong similarity to
the going to future.
I am having a party next week / 1 am going to have a party next week.
(The message is the same.)

Future continuous
• This describes an event which will be happening at a future point.
Come round in the morning. I ’ll be painting in the kitchen.

• It can also describe events which are going to happen anyway, rather than events
which we choose to make happen.
I won’t bother to fix a time to see you, because I ’ll be calling into the office anyway
several times next week.

• In some contexts the future continuous also sounds more polite than will.
Will you be going to the shops later? If you go, could you get me some milk?

• It can also be used to refer to fixed arrangements and plans.

The band will be performing live in Paris this summer.

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LANGUAGE PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED

Future perfect
• This has both simple and continuous forms, and refers to time which we imagine
looking back at from a future point.
In two years’ time I ’ll have finished the book.
By the end of the month, I’ll have been working for this firm for a year.

• It can also be used to express an assumption on the part of the speaker.

You won’t have heard the news, of course. (I assume you have not heard the news.

Other ways of referring to the future

• Is / are to be
This is used to describe formal arrangements.
All students are to assemble in the hall at 9.00.
See also Grammar 9 and 10 for uses expressing obligation.

• Be about to, be on the point of, be due to, just / j u st about to

Be about to and be on the point o/both refer to the next moment.
I think the play is about to start now.
Be due to refers to scheduled times.
Ann’s flight is due to arrive at 6.20. (or is due at 6.20)
Just can be used to describe something on the point of happening.
Hurry up! The train is ju st leaving / ju st about to leave.

• Present simple and present perfect

The present simple is used to refer to future time in future time clauses.
When we get there, we’ll have dinner.
The present perfect can also be used instead of the present simple when the
completion of the event is emphasized.
When we’ve had a rest, we’ll go out.

• The present simple is also used to describe fixed events which are not simply the
wishes of the speaker.
Tom retires in three years.
Similarly, calendar references use the present simple.
Christmas is on a Tuesday next year.

Other future references

• Hope
This can be followed by either present or future verb forms.
I hope it doesn’t rain. I hope it won’t rain.

• Other verbs followed by will

Most verbs of thinking can be followed by will if there is future reference. These
include: think, believe, expect, doubt.
I expect the train will be late. I doubt whether United will win.

• Shall
Shall for first person singular and plural is now used only in questions in everyday
informal speech. See Grammar 9 and 10 for other uses of shall and will.
 GRAMMAR 2 FUTURE TIME

1 Complete each sentence with the best form of the verb in brackets.
1 In twenty-four hours’ time I (relax).Milk.bf. .... on my yacht.
2 ‘There’s someone at the door.’ ‘That (b e ).................................. the postman.’
3 By the time you get back Harry (leave)....................................
4 It’s only a short trip. I (b e ).................................. back in an hour.
5 What (you / d o ).................................this Saturday evening? Would you like to go out?
6 By the end of the week we (decide)...................................what to do.
7 It (not / b e ).................................. long before Doctor Smith is here.
8 We’ll go to the park when you (finish).................................. your tea.
9 It’s very hot in here. I think I (faint)....................................
10 What (you / give).................................Ann for her birthday? Have you decided yet?

2 Underline the best verb forms to complete the text.

In J u ly G o rd o n (1 ) will be / w illhavebeen a t h is c o m p a n y f o r 3 0 y e a r s a n d ( 2 ) he’s

finally retiring / he’ll finally retire on h is 6 5 t h b irth d a y . W e’ve d e c id e d t o have a long

h o lid a y a n d (3 ) we’re going to take / we’ll take t h e o p p o r t u n it y t o v is it s o m e o ld f r ie n d s

in H ung ary, a n d th e n t r a v e l a ro u n d in t h a t regio n. ( 4 ) We leave / We’ll be leaving

t o w a r d s t h e end o f A u g u s t , a n d o u r a im is t o v is it a s m a n y c o u n t r ie s a s we can.
(5 ) We’r e flying / We’ll fly t o B u d a p e s t on t h e 2 5 t h a n d th e n ( 6 ) we sto p o v e r/w e ’ll be
stopping over w ith o u r f r ie n d s - t h e y ’ve g o t a h o u s e on La ke B a la to n . ( 7 ) We’ll have
spent / We’ll probably spend a c o u p le o f w e e k s in H u n g a ry a n d t r a v e l a ro u n d . A f t e r
t h a t (&) were thinking / we’ll think o f going t o R o m a n ia , b u t we haven’t p lanned

a n y th in g d e fin ite . ( 9 ) We’ll know / We’ll have known a b it m o re t h is w eekend when

( 1 0 ) we’ll research / we’ll be researching t h e w ho le t h in g on t h e in te r n e t. W e’d lik e t o go

on fro m t h e r e t o B u lg a ria o r U kraine, b u t I d o u b t w h e th e r ( 1 1 ) we’ll have / w ere having

tim e . M o n e y c o u ld be a p ro b le m t o o - I hope t h e w ho le t r i p ( 1 2 ) won’t be / won’t have

been t o o exp e n siv e . Fro m now on ( 1 3 ) we are really having to / we’ll really have to s a v e a s
m uch a s we can. W e’re r e a lly loo king fo rw a rd t o i t - I ca n h a rd ly w a it! J u s t th in k , in
j u s t o v e r t w o m o n t h s ’ t im e ( 1 4 ) we’ll be travelling / we’ll have travelled a ro u n d E u ro p e

like a co u p le o f o ld h ip p ie s! W hen we co m e back, ( 1 5 ) you aren’t recognizing u s/y o u

won’t recognize us!

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LANGUAGE PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED

3 Choose the best ending (A, B or C) for each sentence.

1 Paulas flight is bound to be late, although

A it arrives at 6.00. B it’s due at 6.00. C it’s arriving at six.
2 According to the latest forecast, the tunnel.........
A will be finished next year. B will have been finished next year.
C is finishing next year.
3 It’s no use phoning Bob at the office, h e .........
A will be leaving. B is leaving. C will have left.
4 Everyone says that this year C ity .........
A are going to win the Cup. B are winning the Cup. C win the Cup.
5 I don’t feel like visiting my relatives this year s o .........
A I won’t go. B I’m not going. C I don’t go.
6 You can borrow this calculator, I .........
A am not going to need it. B won’t have been needing it.
C am not needing it.
7 I’m sorry dinner isn’t ready yet, but i t .........
A is going to be ready in a minute. B will have been ready in a minute.
C will be ready in a minute.
8 Can you send me the results as soon as y o u .........
A hear anything? B are hearing anything? C will have heard anything?
9 You can try asking Martin for help b u t.........
A it won’t do you any good. B it’s not doing you any good.
C it won’t be doing you any good.
10 Don’t worry about the mistake you made, nobody........
A is noticing. B will notice. C will be noticing.

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 GRAMMAR 2 FUTURE TIME

4 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use
between two and five words, including the word given.
1 I don’t suppose you have heard the news.
WON’T
You .....V/.P.KV.'t. have..h(.ar;d.... the news.
2 The prime minister expects an easy victory for his party in the election.
BELIEVES
The prime m inister....................................... the election easily.
3 I’ve been in this company for almost three years.
WILL
By the end of the m onth....................................... in this company for three years.
4 This book will take me two years to write.
HAVE
In two years....................................... this book.
5 Scientists are on the point of making a vital breakthrough.
ABOUT
Scientists a re ....................................... a vital breakthrough.
6 Maria is pregnant again.
HAVE
Maria i s ....................................... baby.
7 I’ll be home late.
UNTIL
I .......................................late.
8 No one knows what the result of the match is going to be.
WHO
No one know s....................................... the match.
9 Don’t worry; David won’t be late.
HERE
Don’t worry; D avid....................................... time.
10 Mary and Alan’s wedding is next weekend.
GETTING
Mary and A lan ....................................... next weekend.

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LANGUAGE PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED

5 Look at the three options (A, B and C) for each question. Decide which two
are correct.

1 We’ve run out of fuel...... ..............

A What will we do now? B What do we do now?
C What are we going to do now?
2 You can’t leave early,...................
A we’re having a meeting. B we’re going to have a meeting.
C we will have a meeting.
3 Oh dear, I’ve broken the vase.....................
A What will your mother say? B What is your mother going to say?
C What is your mother saying?
4 According to the weather forecast,...................
A it’ll rain tomorrow. B it’s raining tomorrow.
C it’s going to rain tomorrow.
5 I’d like to call round and see you.....................
A What will you have done by the morning? B What will you be doing in the
morning? C What are you doing in the morning?
6 I’ve got nothing to do tomorrow s o ...................
A I’ll get up late. B I am to get up late. C I’m going to get up late.
7 It’s my eighteenth birthday next month s o ...................
A I’m on the point of having a party. B I’m having a party.
C I’ll be having a party.
8 Why don’t you come with u s ? ...................
A It’ll be a great trip. B It’s going to be a great trip. C It’s a great trip.
9 When you get to the airport,...................
A someone is going to be waiting for you. B someone is due to wait for you.
C someone will be waiting for you.
10 Shut up, will y o u !...................
A I’m getting really angry. B I’m going to get really angry in a minute.
C I’m getting really angry in a minute.

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 GRAMMAR 2 FUTURE TIME

6 Underline the best word or phrase to complete each sentence.

1 I’ll be back after a few minutes / in a few minutes.
2 I’m sure that everything will be all right at the end / in the end.
3 Please call me the moment / exactly you hear any news.
4 I should be back by the time / at the time the film begins.
5 I’m sure Fiona will be here before long / after a while.
6 I can’t leave on Tuesday. I won’t be ready until then / by then.
7 By twenty four hours / This time tomorrow I’ll be in Bangkok.
8 Diana will be retiring soon / already.
9 There will be no official announcements forthwith/from now on.
10 Bye for now. I’ll see you in two weeks’ time / two weeks later.

7 Complete each sentence with one word from the box.

be (x2) come give go (x2) have let see (x2)

1 I’ll ..£.$£............ what I can do.

2 I’l l .................... a look and get back to you.
3 I’l l .................... it some thought.
4 I’l l .................... you know by tomorrow.
5 I’ll ju s t.................... and get it.
6 I’l l .................... halves with you.
7 I’l l .................... to it.
8 I’l l .................... back in a minute.
9 I’l l .................... about five minutes.
10 I’l l ..................and show you.

Match one expression from 1-10 to each of the following meanings,

a I’ll try and do this for you.
b I’ll share it with you.
c I’ll fix it / arrange it.

4 ^ SEE ALSO
Consolidation 1: Units 1-4
Grammar 7: Conditionals
Grammar 9 and 10: Modals

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