LESSON 21.

31-08
Different ways of expressing future time reference in English
In reference to tense, the threefold opposition ​present, past and future time is reduced to
two, since morphologically English has no further form of the verb in addition to
present and past forms. Thus, following Quirk ​et al (1985, p. 176), in this course we
will not talk about the FUTURE as a formal category; what we will say is that certain
grammatical constructions are capable of expressing the semantic category of FUTURE
TIME.

Simple Future Tense

a) We can use the auxiliary “will” to talk about an action or activity that has been
planned for the future.

We ​will study​ the meanings and the uses of verb tenses tomorrow.
Where ​will​ you ​stay​ in Berlin?
As soon as we arrive in Paris, we ​will visit​ the Louvre Museum.

In formal style, “will” is used to talk about future events that have been previously
arranged ​in some detail.

The meeting ​will begin​ at 9.00 a.m.

Refreshments ​will be ​available from 8.30 onwards.

b) We use “will” to tell about an action, a state or event that is definitely going to
happen in the future.

Aunt Catherine ​will be​ 90 next week.

There´s no doubt that another earthquake ​will hit San Francisco in the
future. The only question is when.
One day I ​will die.​
c) We use the Simple Future to express general predictions about the future based on
opinion, analysis, judgement or experience.

Tomorrow’s weather ​will be​ cold and cloudy.

I´m sure you ​will feel​ better after this medicine.
He wants to become a translator in five years, so I know he ​will study​ hard.
I think the shops ​will be​ really busy tomorrow.
You ​won´t walk​ very far in those high-heeled shoes!
The battery ​won´t last​ ​for ever, so you should buy a spare one.
You´​ll feel​ hungry after all that exercise.
I think she​´​ll create​ a sensation in that hat!
You​´​ll damage​ the CD if you hold it like that.
I imagine the stadium ​will be​ full for the match on Sunday.
Why not come over at the weekend? The children ​will enjoy to see you
again.

d) The Simple Future is also used to express ​“on-the-spot decisions”, that is to say,
decisions we make at the time of speaking. It actually represents the process of
decision-making.

There is Sonia. I´​ll go​ and talk to her.

I´m tired. I think I​´​ll stay​ in this evening.

A: Sorry, but I don´t understand.

B: OK – I​´​ll explain​ ​it again.

A: I can’t hear well.

 B: ​I’​ll close​ the door.

A: It’s late; ​I’​ll take​ a taxi home.

B: Don’t worry; I can give you a lift.

A: Have you bought Sally a birthday present?

B: No, I​´l​ l buy​ her some flowers at lunchtime.

A: Pineapples are on special offer this week.

B: In that case, I´​ll buy​ two.

e) The modal auxiliary “WILL” is also used to express ​promises, threats, warnings,
hopes, fears, invitations, refusal, willingness.

I promise I ​will be​ punctual next time.

I swear I ​will not do​ it again.

Stop making so much noise, or the neighbours ​will get​ angry.

I´m afraid the doctor ​will not be able to see​ you today.

Don´t waste your time; he ​will not stop smoking​ although you insist.

f) The modal auxiliary “WILL” is also used to express​ requests and offers​.

A: I don’t understand this exercise. ​Will you help​ me?

B: Yes, of course; I ​will explain​ ​it to you in a minute.

 A: I’m sorry, but I can’t finish this for tomorrow.

B: Don’t worry; ​I’​ll help​ you.

A: ​Will​ you ​do​ the ironing for me, please?

B: If you wait until I finish washing the dishes, I will.

A: I´​ll take​ you to the airport tomorrow.

B: Oh, thank you.

Future Progressive Tense

a) The Future Progressive Tense is used to indicate an action that will be taking place,
in progress (imperfective aspectual meaning), at a certain, stated time in the future.

That was such an unexpected upset that all true sports fans ​will be
discussing​ it for years.

I ​will be travelling t​ o London when you wake up tomorrow.

This time tomorrow I ​will be leaving​ home.

b) Pure Future or Future as a matter of course

This is called “​Pure Future​” because it is not contaminated by any modal attitude. In
this case, we talk about a future activity ​that is part of the normal course of events or
that is one of a repeated or regular series of events.

I ​will be visiting​ you tomorrow morning as usual.

Dr Jones ​will be giving​ the same talk in 103 at 10.00 next Friday.
 Don’t phone him at nine; he ​will be having​ dinner at that time.

According to schedule, we ​will be having​ classes at 9:30 tomorrow.

He says he´​ll be working​ late every day this week.

Tom cannot come with us on Saturday; he ​will be playing basketball.

(He does so every Saturday)

Notice that in certain contexts, there is no difference in meaning between this particular use
of the ​Future Progressive tense and the use of the ​Present Progressive tense when used to
refer to future actions that are arranged beforehand.

I​´​m flying​ / w
​ ill be flying​ to Madrid tomorrow morning as arranged.

If everything goes as arranged, I´​m coming back /​ will be coming back in three
months

Future Perfect Tense

The Future Perfect tense is used to refer to an action that will have been completed prior
to or by (not later than) a certain time in the future. When we use this structure, we
think of a future time and look back from that future time to say that something will be
complete. The grammatical aspect of this tense is perfective and the aspectual meaning
is perfective, since it puts emphasis on the completion of the activity and on its
consequences.

I ​will have finished​ grading the papers before 4.00 p.m.

This coming January we ​will have been​ married for 30 years.

By Friday, I ​will have had​ my final exam.

By Monday night, I ​will have flown​ to Spain.

She​ ​will have moved​ by the end of next week.

 I´​ll have been​ here for a year in January.

They´ll probably be hungry because they ​won´t have eaten​.

When they have talked to me, the police ​will have questioned everybody
in the office.
By the time the twenty-first century comes to an end, many
unimaginable changes ​will have taken​ place in the world.
When people celebrate the Fourth of July in 2076, the United States ​will
have been​ an independent nation for 300 years.

Future Perfect Progressive Tense

The Future Perfect Progressive Tense is used to refer to an action that began before a
certain future time, but will not have been completed by then. It is used to emphasize
the duration of an action up to a certain time in the future (imperfective aspectual
meaning). The action may continue further.

By the end of the year, they ​will have been​ working​ on that project for ten months.
By next February, he ​will have been researching​ into that subject during a year.
We´​ll have been living​ here for two years in July.
By midnight ​we ​will have been flying​ for five hours.
Next year, I ​will have been working​ for the same company for twenty years.

be going to form

a) Future fulfilment of a present intention / plan / ambition:

The ​be going to form is chiefly used with personal subjects, as the speaker has the firm
intention of performing or fulfilling an action.

They​ are going to decontaminate​ the lake.

 I ​am going to study​ psychology next year.

Sarah​ is going to move​ house​ next year.

b) Future fulfilment of a present cause or evidence​:

The ​be going to form is used to show the future culmination of a present cause. It is
used in predictions where there is evidence in the present time that something will
happen in the near future. It can be found with both personal and non-personal subjects.

She ​is going to have​ another baby. (She is pregnant)

I think I’​m going to faint.​ (I’m not feeling well).

There ​is going to be​ a storm in a minute. (I can see black clouds gathering).

Look at the snow. It´​s going to be​ difficult to get into work tomorrow.

Look at that tree! It´​s going to fall down.​

She has made very good progress during the training; She´​s going to make a​ n
excellent nurse.

The acrobat is losing his balance; he ​is going to fall​.

With his criminal record, there isn´t a jury in the world that´​s going to believe
him.

Sssh! The bride´s father has just got up. He´​s going to make​ a speech now.