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2.- How to say it: How to express future in English.

Citas Para Pensar

“The future is always beginning now”

Mark Strand.

Think about it

Are you looking forward to your next holiday? Where are you going? Which are your plans for your next holiday?

Hombre haciendo autostop con un cartel en el que se puede leer la palabra futuro en inglés.

With the following three sentences you can give information about your holidays:

  • I'm going to visit my sister who lives in London.
  • I'm setting off at 7.30 to catch my plane.
  • I'll probably go bungee-jumping in the Grand Canyon.

Think about it

Look at the examples and tell me how many different ways of expressing future are we using?

Be going to – We use be going towhen we already have a plan or an intention to do something.

  • I’m going to visit my sister.

We also use be going to to make a prediction based on some evidence.

  • Look! The plane is going to take off.

Present continuous – We use present continuous when we have an arrangement and normally the place and time to do something have been decided. That is, it describes a future action which is agreed or scheduled.

  • I’m setting off at 7.30 to catch my plane.

Willis used:

  • To make future predictions based on what you think. Normally with adverbs like perhapsorprobably and after the verbs believe, think, hope, expect, be sure …
  • I’ll probably go bungee-jumping in the Grand Canyon.
  • To talk about spontaneous decisions:
  • Ok, I’ll change the reservation right now.
  • For promises, threats and warnings:
  • I’ll be at the airport on time to pick you up.
  • For offers and requests:
  • I’ll take that heavy bag for you.

Look at the following negative sentences:

  • I’m not going to visit my sister.
  • I’m not setting off at 7.30.
  • I won’t (will not) go bungee-jumping.

As you can see be and will are auxiliaries, so we add not after them to form the negative sentences.

And what about questions in future?

  • Are you going to visit your sister? (Am/Are/Is + Subject + going to + Infinitive?)
  • Are you setting off at 7.30? (Am/Are/Is + Subject + -ing form?)
  • Will you go bungee-jumping?(Will + Subject + Infinitive?)

A piece of advice

With verbs like go and come you should normally use Present Continuous instead of be going to:

  • I’m going on a business trip next month.

Ejercicio Resuelto

Click to read the Spanish translation.