|
The Future Tense
The future tense has two basic
constructions: will
and (be) going to.
And
each construction has two forms: the simple form and the
progressive form.
1 THE SIMPLE FORM
will:
|
I will work.
You will work.
We will work.
They will work.
He will work.
She will work.
It will work.
|
I will not
work.
You will not work.
We will not work.
They will not work.
He will not work.
She will not work.
It will not work. |
Will I work?
Will you work?
Will we work?
Will they work?
Will he work?
Will she work?
Will it work? |
Yes, I will.
Yes, you will.
Yes, we will.
Yes, they will.
Yes, he will.
Yes, she will.
Yes, it will. |
No, I won't.
No, you won't.
No, we won't.
No, they won't.
No, he won't.
No, she won't.
No, it won't. |
[be] going to:
I'm going to work.
You're going to work.
We're going to work.
They're going to work.
He's going to work.
She's going to work.
It's going to work. |
I am not going
to work.
You are not going to work.
We are not going to work.
They are not going to work.
He is not going to work.
She is not going to work.
It is not going to work. |
Am I going to
work?
Are you going to work?
Are we going to work?
Are they going to work?
Is he going to work?
Is she going to work?
Is it going to work? |
Yes, I am.
Yes, you are.
Yes, we are.
Yes, they are.
Yes, he is.
Yes, she is.
Yes, it is. |
No, I'm not.
No, you aren't.
No, we aren't.
No, they aren't.
No, he isn't.
No, she isn't.
No, it isn't. |
When we talk about
events in the
future, we are either talking about
(1) what we plan to do,
or (2) what we think will happen,
or (3) events that cannot be stopped,
or (4) events that are scheduled to happen
or (5) events that simply happen with time.
Let’s look at each of these
possibilities.
1.1 WHAT WE PLAN TO DO —
OUR INTENTIONS
An intention is
something we plan to do.
We made a decision in the past to do something, and now it is our intention to do
it.
If nothing happens to cause us to change our mind, we will do what we have
decided to do.
It is under our control, more or less.
I
intend to wash my car on Saturday.
We intend
to buy a new
computer.
I intend
to learn golf.
Rather than always using the word
"intend", we usually say:
I
AM GOING
to
wash my car on Saturday.
We ARE
GOING to
buy a new computer.
I AM GOING
to learn golf.
If you listen
closely to native speakers, you will discover that we almost always use this construction
for expressing our intentions.
If you ask a native speaker what he or she plans to do on the weekend, he or she will
almost always begin with: "I am going to
…" and not "I will
…"
There is no particular reason for this. It is simply the way we speak.
Notice in the diagram that the
decision has already been made in the past.
There has been time for the plan (the intention) to become concrete in the person’s
mind.
This concrete nature of the plan is communicated through the (be) going to
construction.
1.2 WHAT WE PLAN TO
DO — THE MOMENT OF DECISION
Before our
intentions are formed, of course, we must first decide to do something.
If we announce our idea at the moment of decision, we usually use the
word will:
(A)
My car is really dirty. [A decision is made.]
I know! I
WILL
wash my
car on Saturday!
(B) Our computer is
too old. [A decision is made.]
I know! We
WILL
buy a new computer!
(C) Golf looks like
a lot of fun. [A decision is made.]
I
know! I
WILL
learn golf!
|
|
The rule of thumb is that the "(be) going to" construction sounds stronger than
the "will" construction --- when talking about YOUR PLANS.
1.3 PREDICTIONS
Often
when we talk about a future event, we are making a prediction, what we
believe will happen based on the information we have or our intuition.
For predictions, we use EITHER will or (be)
going to.
There is no difference in meaning.
The economy
will
turn around in the next quarter.
The economy
is going to
turn
around in the next quarter.
The Euro
will
solve many problems.
The Euro
is going to
solve many problems.
After Castro dies, Cuba
will
become democratic.
After Castro dies, Cuba
is
going to
become democratic.
The next world war
will
be fought over water.
The next world war
is going
to be fought over water.
America
will
win the next World Cup.
America
is going to
win the next World Cup.
Notice that
none of these examples have "I" as a subject.
That is because predictions are about what OTHER PEOPLE (and things) will do.
When you talk about what YOU will do, you are talking about your PLANS, so remember to use
the (be) going to construction. [See
1.1 What we plan to do --- our
intentions.]
1.4 THE NORMAL PASSAGE OF TIME
Some things will
take place no matter what your intentions are, no matter what other people or things
do.
They are unavoidable.
We are talking about events that are a result of the normal passage of time.
In the American language, both constructions are used.
He
will
be
fifty on his next birthday.
He is
going to
be
fifty on his next birthday.
We
will
have
an eclipse on the first of the month.
We are going to
have
an eclipse on the first of the month.
She
will
retire
next week.
She is going to
retire
next week.
1.5 SCHEDULED EVENTS
When talking about
events that are scheduled, it is possible to use
|
will
(be) going to
the simple present
the progressive present |
Something will happen tomorrow.
Something is going to happen
tomorrow.
Something happens tomorrow.
Something is happening
tomorrow. |
You really have a lot of
choices here!
First,
there are PERSONAL SCHEDULES.
I am seeing my dentist tomorrow.
I am going to see my dentist tomorrow.
I see my dentist tomorrow.
I will see my dentist tomorrow.
For personal
schedules, the progressive present and (be)
going to are the most commonly used forms.
Then, there
are OFFICIAL SCHEDULES.
The next train
leaves
in one hour.
The next train is leaving in one hour.
The next train will leave
in one hour.
The next train is going to
leave in one hour.
For official schedules,
the simple present and the progressive present are the most
commonly used forms.
|
NOTE:
In England, people tend to use
the the simple present for official schedules and the
progressive
present for personal schedules. |
1.6 TIME SIGNALS for the
FUTURE TENSE
Time signals for the future tense
use words like "tomorrow" and "next".
Here are some examples of future time signals.
at 6:45 a.m.
tomorrow
next Friday
on Thursday
tomorrow morning
tomorrow evening
at noon tomorrow
next Tuesday afternoon
next month
on October 31st
on Christmas Day
in 2011
in 5 days
5 days from now
Some future time signals are
clauses*, with a subject and a verb.
In this case, the verb in the time signal is NOT in the future tense but in the PAST
tense!
Here are some examples:
When
John CALLS, I
will
speak to him about your idea.
When I
GO on
vacation, I
am going to read
a lot of fiction.
Before we
HAVE our
meeting,
we
will eat lunch
together.
Before you
RETURN next week,
we
will fix your
computer.
After the conference
ENDS,
there
is going to be a lot to do.
After she
GETS married,
we
are going to buy
her a car.
Of course the verb in the main
part of the sentence (in green) is in the future tense.
But the verb in the Time Clause is always in the simple present tense.
* For an explanation of
Time Clauses,
go here.
2 THE PROGRESSIVE FORM
will
be … ing:
I will be working.
You will be working.
We will be working.
They will be working.
He will be working.
She will be working.
It will be working. |
I will not be
working.
You will not be working.
We will not be working.
They will not be working.
He will not be working.
She will not be working.
It will not be working. |
Will I be
working?
Will you be working?
Will we be working?
Will they be working?
Will he be working?
Will she be working?
Will it be working? |
Yes, I will.
Yes, you will.
Yes, we will.
Yes, they will.
Yes, he will.
Yes, she will.
Yes, it will. |
No, I won't.
No, you won't.
No, we won't.
No, they won't.
No, he won't.
No, she won't.
No, it won't. |
2.1 EVENTS AT PRECISE MOMENTS IN THE
FUTURE
We sometimes speak
as if we absolutely know what will happen in the future.
If we think we know what will happen at a PRECISE MOMENT in the future, we may use the
PROGRESSIVE form of the future tense.
When you arrive,
I WILL BE
WAITING in the VIP lounge.
At this time next week,
I WILL BE
SITTING on the beach.
At midnight,
I
WILL
BE SLEEPING.
2.2 FUTURE EVENTS THAT ARE
UNDER OUR CONTROL
When we use this
form, we tend to sound as if we have detailed information about what will happen in the
future.
Therefore, we often use this form to express confidence that the future is unfolding
exactly as planned.
This makes other people feel comfortable; it sounds as if the speaker has an intimate
knowledge of the future.
Ladies and gentlemen, we
WILL BE LANDING
in ten minutes.
They WILL
BE DOING
a lot more business next year.
I'LL
BE ADDRESSING that issue at the
appropriate time.
John
WILL
BE CALLING you tomorrow with the revised
figures.
3
A SUMMARY:
(1)
If you are talking
about an intention ---
yours or anybody else's
--- use the
(be) going to
construction.
(2)
Otherwise, when talking about the future (predictions, coming events),
use both will and (be) going to to give your speech variety.
(3) If you want to communicate
confidence about future events --- the idea that everything is normal and under control
--- use the will
be …ing construction.
(4) For scheduled
events
(personal or official), you can use the present tense (simple or
progressive) as an alternative.
|
