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

2. Let’s check Exploration 1 on page 112
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3. 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.
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4. 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
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5. 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.
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6. Do
Activity 1 on
page 113
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7. 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.
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8. Do
Exploration 2 on
page 112
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9. 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.
 -
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10. Do
Activity 2 on
page 112
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11. 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
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12. Do
Exploration 3 on
page 114
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13. 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
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14. 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
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15. Do Exploration 4 on page 114 with Activity 3 page 115
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16. 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
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17. 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.
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18. 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.
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19. 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.
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20. Do
Activity 4 on
page 117
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21. 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
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22. Home Study
Exploration 1 on page 120
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23. Modern English Grammar
Bye for now…
and don’t be sad; soon you will experience the thrill of another
Modern English Grammar
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