| 3.1 |
List of future forms:
- I'm leaving tomorrow. present continuous (→ Unit 19A)
- My train leaves at 9.30. present simple (→ Unit 19B)
- I'm going to leave tomorrow. (be) going to (→ Units 20, 23)
- I'll leave tomorrow. will (→ Units 21-23)
- I'll be leaving tomorrow. future continuous (→ Unit 24)
- I'll have left by this time tomorrow. future perfect (→ Unit 24)
- I hope to see you before I leave tomorrow. present simple (→ Unit 25)
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| 3.2 |
Future actions
We use the present continuous (I'm doing) for arrangements:
- I'm leaving tomorrow. I've got my plane ticket. (already planned and arranged)
- 'When are they getting married?' 'On 24 July.'
We use the present simple (I leave / it leaves etc.) for timetables, programmes etc. :
- My train leaves at 11.30. (according to the timetable)
- What time does the film begin?
We use (be) going to ... to say what somebody has already decided to do:
- I've decided not to stay here any longer. I'm going to leave tomorrow. (or I'm leaving tomorrow.)
- 'Your shoes are dirty.' 'Yes, I know. I'm going to clean them.'
We use will ('ll) when we decide or agree to do something at the time of speaking:
- A: I don't want you to stay here any longer.
B: OK. I'll leave tomorrow. (B decides this at the time of speaking)
- That bag looks heavy. I'll help you with it.
- I won't tell anybody what happened. I promise. (won't = will not)
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| 3.3 |
Future happenings and situations
Most often we use will to talk about future happenings ('something will happen') or situations ('something will be'):
- I don't think John is happy at work. I think he'll leave soon.
- This time next year I'll be in Japan. Where will you be?
We use (be) going to when the situation now shows what is going to happen in the future:
- Look at those black clouds. It's going to rain. (you can see the clouds now)
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| 3.4 |
Future continuous and future perfect
Will be (do)ing = will be in the middle of (doing something):
- This time next week I'll be on holiday. I'll be lying on a beach or swimming in the sea.
We also use will be-ing for future actions (see Unit 24C):
- What time will you be leaving tomorrow?
We use will have (done) to say that something will already be complete before a time in the future:
- I won't be here this time tomorrow. I'll have already left.
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| 3.5 |
We use the present (not will) after when/if/while/before etc. (see Unit 25):
- I hope to see you before I leave tomorrow. (not before I will leave)
- When you are in London again, come and see us. (not When you will be)
- If we don't hurry, we'll be late.
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