Will- Talking about the future
By: Jenny Flórez
There are many different ways we can
talk about the future...
Let’s look at:
1.
Uses of the future simple
2.
Uses of going to
3.
Uses of the present
The future simple
Future I Simple will
Will future express a spontaneous decision, an assumption
regarding the future or an action in the future that cannot be
influenced.
Use of will Future
•a spontaneous decision example: Wait, I will help you.
•an opinion, hope, uncertainty or assumption regarding the future
example: He will probably come back tomorrow.
•a promise example: I will not watch TV tonight.
•an action in the future that cannot be influenced example: It will
rain tomorrow. 50%
•conditional clauses type I example: If I arrive late, I will call you.
Signal Words
•in a year, next …, tomorrow
Function: the future simple
Uses
Examples
Predictions/beliefs (often following I think, I’m sure, I
know, etc.)
I think Tina will change jobs before the end of the year.
The island will be under water in a matter of hours.
Facts
She’s already here? I’ll call her now then.
Instant decisions made in the moment.
An assumption about the present.
Remember the contractions are:
‘ll = will
won’t = will not
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education
Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1
Philip will be at the gym right now. You should call round
later.
Modal verbs will and
won’t are followed by a
bare infinitive.
The vowel sound in won’t
is the diphthong /əʊ/. It’s
the same sound we find in
the word nose.
STRUCTURES:
Affirmative: p + will + v + c
I think, she will go to New York next week
Negative: p + won’t + v + c
They will not study math
We won’t attend to the meeting tomorrow
Interrogative : (wh) will + p + v + c +?
Will you be in London next year? - no, I won’t
Where will she get married? – she will get married in Carta
Practice 1: make sentences using the future
1.(I / answer / the question)
2.(she / read / the book)
3.(they / drink / beers)
4.(we / send / the postcard)
5.(Vanessa / catch / the ball)
6.(James / open / the door)
7.(we / listen / to the radio)
8.(they / eat / fish)
9.(she / give / him / the apple)
10.(the computer / crash)
Function: going to
Match the uses to the examples.
Uses
Examples
The tide is going to rise soon.
The mayor is going to make a speech at the
conference.
It’s going to rain soon.
Intentions or plans which are made
before the time of speaking
Actions which are inevitable or
unstoppable
Predictions based on observation
Function: going to
Uses
Examples
Actions which are inevitable or
unstoppable
The tide is going to rise soon.
Intentions or plans which are made
before the time of speaking
The mayor is going to make a speech at the
conference.
Predictions based on observation
going to:
To be + going to + infinitive
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education
It’s going to rain soon.
When speaking quickly, we often
shorten going to to /gənə/ or /gɒnə/.
Present tenses...
Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1
Function: present tenses
We can use the present tenses for the future too. Match the uses to the examples.
Uses
Examples
The concert starts at 3 p.m.
She’s moving back to Germany in September.
The train station is to reopen in the spring following
refurbishment.
As soon as you have spoken to Laura, will you call me?
Scott is due to arrive at 10 a.m.
Expressions
simple
due
timetabled
to, future
be
about
organised
to, be hoped
events.
to,
Present
We use present
be
continuous
tobe
forfor
tenses
official
for
(incl.
plans
the
arrangements
or present
obligation.
perfect)
be
bound
be expected
to +asverb
infinitive
(organised).
after
time to,
clauses
like when,
soon
as, before...
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education
Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1
Function: present tenses
Uses
Examples
Present simple for timetabled organized events.
Present continuous for future arrangements
(organized).
The concert starts at 3 p.m.
She’s moving back to Germany in September.
We use be to for official plans or obligation.
The train station is to reopen in the spring following
refurbishment.
We use present tenses (incl. the present perfect)
after time clauses like when, as soon as, before...
As soon as you have spoken to Laura, will you call me?
Expressions be due to, be about to, be hoped to,
be bound to, be expected to + verb infinitive
Scott is due to arrive at 10 a.m.
be due to = expected or scheduled;
be about to = intend to do something/be close to
doing something;
be bound to = be inevitable that.
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education
Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1
Let’s practise...
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