Verb Forms referring to future events Modern English Grammar 2 Session 5

Let’s check Exploration 1 on page 112 MEG-2 © FAM

14.1 Verb Forms a) 1. They leave on Sunday. They are leaving on Sunday. They are going to leave on Sunday. They will leave on Sunday. 2. It’s going to rain. *It’s raining.* It will rain … etc. MEG-2 © FAM

14.1 Verb Forms b) … etc 3. I’ll do it (right away). I will do it (, honest)… etc 4. The lecture starts in two minutes. The lecture is starting in two minutes. … etc 5. I shall discuss it with the director next week. I’m going to discuss it with the director next week. … etc MEG-2 © FAM

14.1 Verb Forms c) 6. This time tomorrow I’ll be sitting in the exam. 7. This time tomorrow I’ll have completed the first part of the exam. 8. This time tomorrow I’ll have been sitting in the examination room for an hour. MEG-2 © FAM

Do Activity 1 on page 113 MEG-2 © FAM

14.1. Verb Forms Verb Form Example Present Simple They leave on Sunday. Present Continuous The lecture is starting in two minutes. be going to I’m going to discuss it with the director. will/shall I’ll do it right away. will + be –ing participle This time tomorrow I’ll be sitting in the exam. will + have –ed participle This time tomorrow I’ll have completed the first part of the exam. will + have been –ing participle This time tomorrow I’ll have been sitting in the examination room for an hour. MEG-2 © FAM

Do Exploration 2 on page 112 MEG-2 © FAM

14.2 Meanings of Verb Forms      Example Degree of certainty for the speaker I fly to New York tomorrow.  + I’m flying to New York tomorrow.  I’m going to fly to New York tomorrow.  I’ll fly to New York tomorrow.  I’ll be flying to New York tomorrow.  - MEG-2 © FAM

Do Activity 2 on page 112 MEG-2 © FAM

Certainty expressed in Verb Forms I fly to New York tomorrow. fixed, unalterable event with little or no speaker control I’m flying to New York tomorrow. arranged, definite not absolutely unalterable; expresses speaker’s fixed intention I’m going to fly to New York tomorrow. intended, possibly arranged but not unalterable; expresses speaker’s intention I’ll fly to New York tomorrow. event is predicted, certain in the speakers mind; the speaker may not have much control over this I’ll be flying to New York tomorrow. event is imagined, describing an imagined activity or state, focus on it being in progress at a future point MEG-2 © FAM

Do Exploration 3 on page 114 MEG-2 © FAM

Meanings of Verb Forms a) examples +human -human intention You will come back, won’t you. They are discussing this issue tomorrow.   X volition The headmaster will see you now.  X  undertaking/promise I shall deal with the widget factor in chapter 29.   X prediction It will rain, you know.  X  X inevitable consequence When the breadwinner of the family goes down with malaria, the family will go hungry.   X X future event or plan the speaker is certain about I’ll see/be seeing the doctor this afternoon   X future event of duration that is certain For the next two weeks she’ll be appearing at the Old Vic in her role as Eliza Doolittle.   X X MEG-2 © FAM X

Meanings of Verb Forms b) examples +human -human event preceding another at a future point (certainty) By the time we get to the station the train will have left.   X X event leading up to a future point (certainty) By this time next year you will have been studying English for nearly two years.   X X occurrence likely, based on present evidence I think the government are not going to have a very easy time in the coming months.   X It’s going to rain.   X scheduled event The coach leaves at 8.30 tomorrow morning.   X The new students start courses in the first week.   X MEG-2 © FAM

Do Exploration 4 on page 114 with Activity 3 page 115 MEG-2 © FAM

Meanings of Verb Forms c) Present Simple when an impersonal event is certain to take place or is fixed: The ship leaves at six o’clock tomorrow morning. when the personal subject has a fixed arrangement, or if the plan is unchangeable: George starts school next September. Present Continuous when a future action has been arranged and the speaker sees no reason why it should not occur, but it may not be fixed: I am playing tennis this afternoon. used with non-personal subjects when something is going to happen which is related to present: The train’s leaving in two minutes. Hurry up. cannot be used for a future event which is beyond human control: *It’s raining.* can only mean: at this moment MEG-2 © FAM

Meanings of Verb Forms d) be going to when personal subject thinks the action will occur or intends to do something: It’s going to rain. I think I am going to faint. as a vague replacement for other verbs: I’m going to emigrate. = I intend to informal register as replacement for will/shall: I am going to concentrate on the following points. MEG-2 © FAM

Meanings of Verb Forms e) will/shall can be used with personal or impersonal subject and may refer to actions beyond human control: George will leave tomorrow. Of course it will rain tomorrow. when the future event or action has no present indications: I’ll get to New York at 7 o’clock. (according to plan) when the future event depends on other conditions: We’ll go if the weather is fine. for immediate future resulting from external control: The concert will start in a moment. Future Continuous when a future time is imagined: Tomorrow I’ll be basking in the sun. when a situation is imagined as backdrop for another action: When he comes, I’ll be working outside. MEG-2 © FAM

Meanings of Verb Forms f) “Future Perfect” Simple when the speaker is imagining a time in the future when an action has been completed, i.e. the Present Perfect Simple transferred to the future: By lunch-time tomorrow I shall have read your article. “Future Perfect” Continuous when the speaker is imagining a time in the future and describing an action that has been going on until that moment, i.e. the Present Perfect Continuous transferred to the future: By lunch time tomorrow I shall have been reading your report all morning. MEG-2 © FAM

Do Activity 4 on page 117 MEG-2 © FAM

14.3 Other Future Reference The delegation is due to arrive at 15.30 planned, inevitable event I am to tell you that you’re fired. acting on instructions, immediate future The President is to make an announcement. volition, immediate future I’m about to leave. I’m on the point/verge of leaving. immediate future He is certain to be here any minute. He is likely to be here any minute future event with degrees of certainty Modality We’re supposed to clean the rooms this afternoon. We’re expected to clean the rooms this afternoon. obligation or expectation MEG-2 © FAM

Home Study Exploration 1 on page 120 MEG-2 © FAM

Modern English Grammar Bye for now… and don’t be sad; soon you will experience the thrill of another Modern English Grammar MEG-2 © FAM