There is NOT just one future tense in English.

How to express the future then?

1. With the modal WILL. (Future Simple)

There are several ways to express the future. Let’s see two of those ways.

2. With BE GOING TO.

FUTURE SIMPLEAFFIRMATIVEAFFIRMATIVE:

Subject + WILL + base form of verb

Your brother WILL become famous soon.

Will = ‘llYour brother’ll become famous soon.

FUTURE SIMPLENEGATIVENEGATIVE:

Subject + WILL + NOT + base form of verb

My friend WILL NOT marry that man.

WILL + NOT = WON’TMy friend won’t marry that man.

FUTURE SIMPLEINTERROGATIVEINTERROGATIVE:

WILL+Subj.+ base form of verb ?

WILL IT rain tomorrow ?

Short answersShort answersYes, it will.

No, it won’t.

Future Simple

We use the modal WILL + the base form of the main verb for:

1. Predictions.

You will get married and have 10 children!

2. Quick decisions.

I’ll have another cup of coffee, please!

3. Promises.

Ok! I’ll call you tomorrow.

I WILL (’ll) call

You WILL (’ll) call

He / She WILL (’ll) call

We WILL (’ll) call

You WILL (’ll) call

They WILL (’ll) call

“GOING TO”

I am (I’m)You are (You’re)

He is (He’s)She is (She’s)

It is (It’s)We are (We’re)

You are (You’re)They are (They’re)

going to(base form

of verb =Infinitive without

“to”)

AFFIRMATIVEAFFIRMATIVE:

“GOING TO”

I am not not (I’m not)You are notnot (You aren’t)

He is notnot(He isn’t)She is notnot (She isn’t)

It is notnot (It isn’t)We are notnot (We aren’t)You are not not (You aren’t)

They are notnot (They aren’t)

going to(base form

of verb =Infinitive without

“to”)

NEGATIVENEGATIVE:

“GOING TO”

Iyou

he /she /itwe/you/they

going to Base ?

INTERROGATIVEINTERROGATIVE:

AmIs Are

Short answersShort answers

Yes, + Subject pronoun + amam / is / are.is / are. No, + Subject pronoun + isn’t / aren’t.

*(Note: No, I’m notI’m not).

BE GOING TO

We use BE GOING TO + the base form of the main verb for:

1. Plans / Intentions.

I am going to practise hard to become a rock

star!

2. Predictions based on clear signs.Look at those clouds!

It is going to rain! I am going to + V

You are going to + V

He / She is going to + V

We are going to + V

You are going to + V

They are going to + V

REMEMBER!

PREDICTIONS

QUICK DECISIONS

PROMISES

PLANS / INTENTIONS

PREDICTIONS BASED ON

CLEAR SIGNS

WILL + V BE GOING TO + V

WILL WITH « BE » WILL WITH « BE »

When the main verb is When the main verb is BEBE, we can use , we can use the simple future tense even if we have a the simple future tense even if we have a firm plan or decision before speaking. firm plan or decision before speaking. Examples:Examples:

• II'll be'll be in London tomorrow. in London tomorrow.

• I'm going shopping. I I'm going shopping. I won't bewon't be very long. very long.

• WillWill you you bebe at work tomorrow? at work tomorrow?

QuestionsQuestions

• How How are you going to spendare you going to spend your next your next vacation? Are you going anywhere?vacation? Are you going anywhere?

• When When will the new machine arrivewill the new machine arrive??

• What What are you going to doare you going to do next? next?

• Is anyone going to travelIs anyone going to travel with you? with you?

• What do you think What do you think the party will bethe party will be like? like?

IF YOU HAVE FIRM PLANS USE «GOING TO » IF YOU HAVE FIRM PLANS USE «GOING TO » BUT IF YOU DON’T USE « WILL ».BUT IF YOU DON’T USE « WILL ».

PRACTISE!Choose the right way to express the future in the following situations.

SITUATION 1 SITUATION 2 SITUATION 3

You’re thirsty, aren’t you? I (get)

you a glass of water.

Oh no! He really (paint) the room that

colour?

ANSWER

I WILL (’ll) get you a glass of water.

(QUICK DECISION)

ANSWER

IS he really GOING TO paint the room that colour?

(INTENTION)

ANSWER

We WILL not (won’t) be back late. (PROMISE)

The film finishes at 10 p.m.

We (not be) back late.The film finishes at

10 p.m.

ANSWER

In Scotland it WILL rain tomorrow. In the south of England it WILL be sunny.

(PREDICTION)

SITUATION 4 SITUATION 5

ANSWER

I WILL (’ll) call the doctor.(QUICK DECISION)

You’re not well.I (call) the doctor.

In Scotland it (rain) tomorrow. In the

south of England it (be) sunny.

SITUATION 6

Ketchup or mayonnaise?

I (have) mayonnaise, please.

ANSWER

I WILL (’ll) have mayonnaise,please.

(QUICK DECISION)

Will / Be Going to Will / Be Going to

• 1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper? 1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper? B: I (write)___________ a letter to my friends back home B: I (write)___________ a letter to my friends back home in Texas. in Texas.

• 2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up! 2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up! B: I (get)_________ you a cup of coffee. That willB: I (get)_________ you a cup of coffee. That will

wake you up. wake you up. •

3. A: I can't hear the television! 3. A: I can't hear the television! B: I (turn) __________ it up so you can hear it. B: I (turn) __________ it up so you can hear it.

•4. We are so excited about our trip next month to 4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) ___________Paris and Nice. France. We (visit) ___________Paris and Nice.

Am going to write

‘ll turn

are going to visit

‘ll get

Am going to write

‘ll get

‘ll turn

Am going to write

‘ll get

• 5. A: It is so hot in here! 5. A: It is so hot in here! B: I (turn)________ the air conditioning on. B: I (turn)________ the air conditioning on.

•6. I think he (be)_________ the next 6. I think he (be)_________ the next President of the United States.President of the United States.

• 7. I am ___________to work in ten minutes.7. I am ___________to work in ten minutes.

• 8. I guess I ____________stay home 8. I guess I ____________stay home tonight.tonight.

• 9. I________be in Texas next week.9. I________be in Texas next week.

‘ll turn

will be

going to

will

will

‘ll turn

will be

going to

‘ll turn

will be

will

going to

‘ll turn

will be

will

will

going to

‘ll turn

will be

‘ll turn

will be