FUTURE MEANING

William Wordsworth “Life is divided into three terms – that which was, which is and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, and from the present to live better in the future.”

Tenses

Expressing future meaning What you already know: Present simple Present continuous Future simple: will / going to

Expressing future meaning What you already know: Present simple Present continuous Future simple: will / going to

The present simple The race starts at five. Can express future meaning! Use: timetables and programmes Example: The race starts at five.

Expressing future meaning What you already know: Present simple Present continuous Future simple: will / going to

Expressing future meaning What you already know: Present simple Present continuous Future simple: will / going to

The present continuous Can express future meaning! Use: arrangements and fixed plans Example: We are visiting London.

Exercise!

Expressing future meaning What you already know: Present simple Present continuous Future simple: will / going to

Expressing future meaning What you already know: Present simple Present continuous Future simple: will / going to

Will / going to Difference: Going to → opinion / intention (of the speaker or subject) Example: “I am going to play outside.”

Expressing future meaning What you already know: Present simple Present continuous Future simple: will / going to What is new: The future continuous The future perfect The future perfect continuous

Expressing future meaning What you already know: Present simple Present continuous Future simple: will / going to What is new: The future continuous The future perfect The future perfect continuous

Future continuous Example: An hour from now he will be lying in the hospital. Form: will + be + present participle (ing-form) Use: Something that will happen between two future points in time

Future continuous Example: At ten o’clock tonight she will be meeting her boyfriend. Form: will + be + present participle (ing-form) Use: an arrangement

Exercise!

Expressing future meaning What you already know: Present simple Present continuous Future simple: will / going to What is new: The future continuous The future perfect The future perfect continuous

Expressing future meaning What you already know: Present simple Present continuous Future simple: will / going to What is new: The future continuous The future perfect The future perfect continuous

The future perfect Example: He will have prepared by the time he leaves the house. Form: will + have+ past participle (-ed or irregular) Use: An action that will happen before another action in the future

His wife will have made dinner, by the time he returns. The future perfect Example: His wife will have made dinner, by the time he returns.

By the time he leaves the bar, he (to drink) a lot. The future perfect Example: By the time he leaves the bar, he (to drink) a lot.

By the time he leaves the bar, he will have drunk a lot. The future perfect Example: By the time he leaves the bar, he will have drunk a lot.

The future perfect Example: By tomorrow, he will have slept well. Form: will + have+ past participle (-ed or irregular) Use: An action that will happen before a specific time in the future.

The baby (to destroy) the book in 5 minutes. The future perfect Example: The baby (to destroy) the book in 5 minutes.

The baby will have destroyed the book in 5 minutes. The future perfect Example: The baby will have destroyed the book in 5 minutes.

Exercise!

Expressing future meaning What you already know: Present simple Present continuous Future simple: will / going to What is new: The future continuous The future perfect The future perfect continuous

Expressing future meaning What you already know: Present simple Present continuous Future simple: will / going to What is new: The future continuous The future perfect The future perfect continuous

The future perfect continuous Example: By the end of the night, he will have been performing for five hours. Form: will + have+ been + present participle (ing-form) Use: Stress on duration

The future perfect continuous Example: In October, he (to work) here for five years.

The future perfect continuous Example: In October, he will have been working here for five years.

Exercise!