Means of Expressing Future Time Means of Expressing Future Time

There are a number of grammatical means that There are a number of grammatical means that can be used to express future time. can be used to express future time.

Shall and will are only one form among them.Shall and will are only one form among them. So when we say that English has no future So when we say that English has no future

tense, we certainly do not mean that English tense, we certainly do not mean that English has not the means of expressing future time. has not the means of expressing future time.

Instead there are a number of constructions Instead there are a number of constructions that can be used to denote futurity in English.that can be used to denote futurity in English.

Constructions denoting future timeConstructions denoting future time Future time can be expressed by means of Future time can be expressed by means of

modal auxiliaries, semi-auxiliaries, the simple modal auxiliaries, semi-auxiliaries, the simple present and present progressive forms.present and present progressive forms.

1)Will / shall + infinitive1)Will / shall + infinitive Will / shall + infinitive can be used to express Will / shall + infinitive can be used to express

future. But in many cases, the future meaning future. But in many cases, the future meaning expressed by these auxiliaries are very often expressed by these auxiliaries are very often colored by modal meanings from prediction to colored by modal meanings from prediction to intention and volition.intention and volition.

-I will be here tomorrow. (future + intention)-I will be here tomorrow. (future + intention) -Tomorrow’s weather will be cold and cloudy. -Tomorrow’s weather will be cold and cloudy.

(future + assumption) (future + assumption) -When shall I see you next? (listener’s intentio-When shall I see you next? (listener’s intentio

n)n) 2) Will / shall + progressive infinitive2) Will / shall + progressive infinitive * This construction usually implies an action w* This construction usually implies an action w

hich will occur in the normal course of events hich will occur in the normal course of events without any human involvement, ie. without any human involvement, ie. without bewithout being colored by volition and intention.ing colored by volition and intention.

-I will go to town this afternoon.-I will go to town this afternoon. -I will be going to town this afternoon.-I will be going to town this afternoon.

-Hurry up. They will be waiting.-Hurry up. They will be waiting. * This construction can also be used to denote * This construction can also be used to denote

an an action that is still going onaction that is still going on at a given future at a given future time.time.

-I will be studying in London during August.-I will be studying in London during August. -What will you be doing this time tomorrow -What will you be doing this time tomorrow

morning? morning? Will / shall + perfective infinitiveWill / shall + perfective infinitive This construction can be used to express This construction can be used to express an an

action that has just finished before a given action that has just finished before a given future timefuture time..

-I will have completed the English course by -I will have completed the English course by this time next year.this time next year.

Will / shall + perfective progressive infinitiveWill / shall + perfective progressive infinitive If If an action has extended for a special length of an action has extended for a special length of

time before a given future moment and possibly time before a given future moment and possibly continues at that momentcontinues at that moment, we can use this , we can use this construction.construction.

-At the end of this week I shall have been -At the end of this week I shall have been studying in this country for exactly three years.studying in this country for exactly three years.

3) be going to + infinitive3) be going to + infinitive a) The uses of be going to + infinitivea) The uses of be going to + infinitive This construction is usually used to express two This construction is usually used to express two

meanings: intention and prediction.meanings: intention and prediction. * In its first use, the “be going to” form implies * In its first use, the “be going to” form implies

an an intention of doing something in the near intention of doing something in the near futurefuture. The doer of the intended action is . The doer of the intended action is generally the subject of the sentence, but in generally the subject of the sentence, but in some contexts it may also be implied or some contexts it may also be implied or realized by a different element, but with realized by a different element, but with personal intention.personal intention.

-Next year we are going to spend our summer -Next year we are going to spend our summer vacation in Sydney.vacation in Sydney.

-A house is going to be built there.-A house is going to be built there.

In its second use, “be going to” can express the In its second use, “be going to” can express the speaker’s feeling of certainty or strong speaker’s feeling of certainty or strong probabilityprobability. The . The time is usually not mentionedtime is usually not mentioned, , but the action is expected to happen in the near but the action is expected to happen in the near or immediate future. It can be used with both or immediate future. It can be used with both personal and non-personal subject. personal and non-personal subject.

-She is going to have a baby.-She is going to have a baby. -It is going to rain.-It is going to rain. -He is going to arrive late at the concert. -He is going to arrive late at the concert.

(context)(context) -He doesn’t like music. He……-He doesn’t like music. He…… -He hasn’t yet had supper. He …….-He hasn’t yet had supper. He …….

b) Contrast between be going to and willb) Contrast between be going to and will *A. Be going to: premeditated intention*A. Be going to: premeditated intention Will: unpremeditated intentionWill: unpremeditated intention -She has bought some cloth; she is going to ma-She has bought some cloth; she is going to ma

ke herself a dress.ke herself a dress. -Where is the telephone book? I’ll get it for you.-Where is the telephone book? I’ll get it for you.

e.g. You shall obey / are to obey / *are going to e.g. You shall obey / are to obey / *are going to obey my orders!obey my orders!

(I’m willing to let you obey my orders.)(I’m willing to let you obey my orders.)

She shan’t be / ?isn’t to be / *isn’t going to be She shan’t be / ?isn’t to be / *isn’t going to be back late. (I’m not willing to let her be back late)back late. (I’m not willing to let her be back late)

*B. The both forms can express prediction.*B. The both forms can express prediction. Be going to: implying that there are signs that Be going to: implying that there are signs that

something will happensomething will happen Will: implying what the speaker thinks or Will: implying what the speaker thinks or

believes will happen, no signsbelieves will happen, no signs -She is going to have a baby. (She is pregnant.)-She is going to have a baby. (She is pregnant.) -She will love her baby. (It is her baby.)-She will love her baby. (It is her baby.)

Look at the balck clouds Look at the balck clouds

– – it *will rain / is going to rain. it *will rain / is going to rain. 4) Present progressive4) Present progressive The present progressiveThe present progressive can express an action can express an action

that will happen in the near future according to that will happen in the near future according to a a present arrangement, plan, or programpresent arrangement, plan, or program..

-What time are you coming back?-What time are you coming back? As a future form, the present progressive is widAs a future form, the present progressive is wid

ely used with verbs of movement from one placely used with verbs of movement from one place to another such as go, come, leave, start, arrie to another such as go, come, leave, start, arrive, etc. and other dynamic verbs.ve, etc. and other dynamic verbs.

-We are leaving on Friday.-We are leaving on Friday.

••When used to denote futurity, the future When used to denote futurity, the future reference must be clearly indicated.reference must be clearly indicated.

-He is washing the dishes. (now, later)-He is washing the dishes. (now, later) ••Since both the “be going to” form and the Since both the “be going to” form and the

present progressive can be used to refer to a present progressive can be used to refer to a future happening arising from the present future happening arising from the present decision, the two forms are sometimes decision, the two forms are sometimes interchangeable for future reference.interchangeable for future reference.

-She is getting married this winter.(=She is -She is getting married this winter.(=She is going to get married this winter.)going to get married this winter.)

We are going to invite / are inviting several We are going to invite / are inviting several people to the party.people to the party.

When expressing that something will probably When expressing that something will probably happen, we often use “be going to”.happen, we often use “be going to”.

-I feel dizzy. I think I am going to faint.-I feel dizzy. I think I am going to faint.

*I think I am fainting.*I think I am fainting.

5) Be to + infinitive5) Be to + infinitive 1) As a form expressing futurity, this construction can 1) As a form expressing futurity, this construction can

denotes denotes a future happening based on a present plan a future happening based on a present plan or arrangementor arrangement. It is very much . It is very much used in newspapers, used in newspapers, and in headlines with the verb “be” omitted to save and in headlines with the verb “be” omitted to save spacespace..

-The line (is) to be open to traffic on October 1.-The line (is) to be open to traffic on October 1. 2) Another use of this construction is to convey orders, 2) Another use of this construction is to convey orders,

instructions, or prohibitions; it can also connote instructions, or prohibitions; it can also connote possibility or destiny.possibility or destiny.

-You are to stand here. Do you understand? (order)-You are to stand here. Do you understand? (order) -The football match is not to be played tonight. -The football match is not to be played tonight.

(possibility) (possibility)

The future action expressed by be to + infinitive The future action expressed by be to + infinitive is usually controlled by human will. In this case, is usually controlled by human will. In this case, be to + infinitive and be going to can be used be to + infinitive and be going to can be used interchangeably, but they have different interchangeably, but they have different meanings.meanings.

-I am going to play football this afternoon. -I am going to play football this afternoon. (present intention)(present intention)

-I am to play football this afternoon. (planned)-I am to play football this afternoon. (planned) ““Be going to” Be going to” cannot cannot be replaced by “be to be replaced by “be to

+infinitive” when expressing the action that is +infinitive” when expressing the action that is not controlled by human will.not controlled by human will.

-He is going to be fat. *He is to be fat.-He is going to be fat. *He is to be fat. -It is going to rain. *It is to rain. -It is going to rain. *It is to rain.

Be about to +infinitiveBe about to +infinitive This construction expresses an immediate fuThis construction expresses an immediate fu

ture and can be used interchangeably with ture and can be used interchangeably with “be on the point of + -ing participle”“be on the point of + -ing participle” and with and with “be just going to +infinitive”.“be just going to +infinitive”.

-We are just about to leave.-We are just about to leave. -The talk is just about to begin. -The talk is just about to begin.

6) Simple present6) Simple present a) The future use of the simple present is more a) The future use of the simple present is more

frequent frequent in dependent, especially conditional in dependent, especially conditional and temporal, clausesand temporal, clauses than in main clauses. than in main clauses.

--If you try hardIf you try hard, we’ll be able to finish the plan., we’ll be able to finish the plan. -Mr. Smith will telephone you -Mr. Smith will telephone you as soon as he as soon as he

returns.returns. b) In main clauses, the simple present refers to b) In main clauses, the simple present refers to

an immutable future event predetermined by a an immutable future event predetermined by a timetable or a schedule which is very definite timetable or a schedule which is very definite and unalterable.and unalterable.

-Tomorrow is my birthday.-Tomorrow is my birthday. -The term starts on September 1.-The term starts on September 1.

For future reference, the simple present, just For future reference, the simple present, just like the present progressive, usually goes with like the present progressive, usually goes with transitional verbs with transitional verbs with the implication of a the implication of a “plan” or “program” already made,“plan” or “program” already made, but the plan but the plan implied by the simple present is more implied by the simple present is more impersonal than that by the present impersonal than that by the present progressive, and therefore, more fixed and progressive, and therefore, more fixed and unalterable. unalterable.

One day I / you / he will die.One day I / you / he will die. *One day he is going to die *One day he is going to die I shall be 25 / *am going to be 25 next week.I shall be 25 / *am going to be 25 next week. ““Come to the party.”Come to the party.” ““Ok, I will bring / *bring /*am going to bring my Ok, I will bring / *bring /*am going to bring my

boyfriend.” boyfriend.”

the simple present, the present progressive and the simple present, the present progressive and will + dowill + do

e.g. The match starts/is starting at 2 o’clock.e.g. The match starts/is starting at 2 o’clock. We start / are starting for Istanbul tonight.We start / are starting for Istanbul tonight.

e.g. The exhibition closes / will close / *is closine.g. The exhibition closes / will close / *is closing on Friday next week.g on Friday next week.

e.g. Tomorrow is / will be / *is being Saturday.e.g. Tomorrow is / will be / *is being Saturday.

Next Christmas falls/will fall/ *is falling on a ThurNext Christmas falls/will fall/ *is falling on a Thursday.sday.

PracticePractice

Translate the following sentences:Translate the following sentences: 1. Eu voi merge acasa. 1. Eu voi merge acasa.

2. Veti desena? 2. Veti desena? 3. Diana won't sing. 3. Diana won't sing. 4. The life will be beautiful. 4. The life will be beautiful. 5. Noi nu vom povesti (spune). 5. Noi nu vom povesti (spune). 6. This cart will dissapear. 6. This cart will dissapear. 7. Unde veti locui? 7. Unde veti locui? 8. Veti semna acolo? 8. Veti semna acolo? 9. My mother will come. 9. My mother will come. 10. Nu voi mai face iar. 10. Nu voi mai face iar. 11. Va zbura? (11. Va zbura? (el /ea, neutruel /ea, neutru) ) 12. I won't repeat. 12. I won't repeat.

PracticePractice Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses:Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses: 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 in Texas. B: I (write) a letter to my friends back home 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 will wake you up. B: I (get) you a cup of coffee. That will 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 France. We (visit) Paris, Nice and Grenoble.4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) Paris, Nice and Grenoble.

5. Sarah (come) to the party. Oliver (be) there as well. 5. Sarah (come) to the party. Oliver (be) there as well.

6. Ted: It is so hot in here! 6. Ted: It is so hot in here! Sarah: I (turn) the air-conditioning on. Sarah: I (turn) the air-conditioning on.

7. I think he (be) the next President of the United States. 7. I think he (be) the next President of the United States.

8. After I graduate, I (attend) medical school and become a doctor. I have wanted to be a doctor all my life.8. After I graduate, I (attend) medical school and become a doctor. I have wanted to be a doctor all my life.

9. A: Excuse me, I need to talk to someone about our hotel room. I am afraid it is simply too small for four people. 9. A: Excuse me, I need to talk to someone about our hotel room. I am afraid it is simply too small for four people. B: That man at the service counter (help) you. B: That man at the service counter (help) you.

10. As soon as the weather clears up, we (walk) down to the beach and go swimming. 10. As soon as the weather clears up, we (walk) down to the beach and go swimming.

THE ENDTHE END