Expressing futurity
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1. There are several ways to talk about the future in English including will/shall, going to, present continuous, present simple, future continuous, future perfect simple, and future perfect continuous. Each structure expresses a degree of certainty or plan for the future event. 2. Will/shall is used for spontaneous, unplanned future events or predictions without evidence. Going to expresses premeditated intentions or predictions based on present evidence. Present continuous indicates solid plans and arrangements. Present simple follows time conjunctions or refers to schedules. Future tenses involve events starting or continuing in the future. 3. The document provides examples and explanations of how and when to use each future tense in English.
Expressing futurity
- 1. 1 Prof, Dr Mohammed FarooqAlbadri1 Expressing Futurity The future is uncertain. We know the past. We know the present. We do not know the future. We can be 100% sure or certain about the past and the present. But we can never be 100% certain about the future. In English there are several structures and tenses to talk about the future. It is usually the degree of certainty about the future that decides our choice of structure or tense. In this article we look at some of the most common ways to talk about the future . 1-Will/shall Form WILL/SHALL + infinitive (without "to") for all persons (will/shall do; will/shall look).There should be no problem in making this particular form of the future tense since will/ shall does not change with the subject and the main verb is the form that you would find in a dictionary and so does not change either. Meanings This is the form that most people immediately associate with the future tense, but it is in fact restricted in its use. It has two main functions. the first is to talk about unplanned or spontaneous future events; the second is for predictions that are not based on current evidence. For example: I'm thirsty. I'll drink a glass of water. I'll make us a cup of coffee. In these two cases the speaker is deciding what to do on the spur of the moment without prior consideration. 2-Going to Form This is an unusual compound form since it is made up of the Present Continuous tense of the verb go with to + the main verb, so it is easy to confuse this with a normal Present Continuous. Meanings There are two main functions of this tense :- the first is to refer to premeditated intentions. For example: She's going to look for a new job nex year 1 A university Professor atThe IraqiaUniversity,Colledgeof the Islamic Sciences.
- 2. 2 We're going to visit my parents at the weekend. The meaning that the speakers want to get across here is that she/we hope that these events will take place, but they are always subject to change if needs be or if some unforeseen obstacle arises. There is a sense of an arrangement, but it has a rather indefinite feel to it. The second use of this form is for talking about predictions based on present or past evidence. We said that will is used for referring to predictions that are not reliant on current evidence - going to, on the other hand, is used for those predictions where we can rely on present evidence or past experience. For example: Look at those clouds - it's going to rain. In this sentence there is clear, visible evidence that my prediction is likely to come true. It would be, at best, unusual to use any other of the future forms in this situation . 3-Present Continuous Form The present continuous of any verb is composedoftwo parts - the present tense of the verb to be + the present participle of the main verb. (The form of the present participle is: base+ing, e.g. talking, playing, moving, smiling). This can also be used to refer to events that have not even started yet. more than just a plan – sth. has already been arranged, In fact, this is a very important use of this tense. Meanings While the going to future form is often used to discuss intentions (possibly prearranged), the Present Continuous is used more for referring to solid arrangements and plans. For example, we are more likely to prefer this form when we have made a booking at a restaurant or theatre or have bought tickets for a train/plane journey. This tense is often accompanied by a time adverbial such as next month, in July etc. Next holiday we're staying in a five-star hotel. (the reservation has been made). 4-Present Simple Form The present tense is the base form of the verb: I work in London. But the third person (she/he/it) adds an -s: She works in London. The Present Simple may, at first sight at least, seem the most unlikely candidate for talking about future events.
- 3. 3 Meanings The foremost use of this tense form to indicate future time is almost certainly after time conjunctions such as after, before, when, if, until, as soon as and so on. A few examples should demonstrate this: She'll get in touch as soon as she has the information. If I see Ali, I'll give him the message. When you finish the article, put it on my desk. Perhaps not quite so obvious is its use in referring to programmes, timetables, itineraries and public events that we have no direct control over. I'm spending Christmas in the Bahamas. The plane leaves on the 20th. When does the film start? 5-Future Continuous Form There are two more commonly used tenses with more complex forms that are used to refer to the future, the first consisting of will + be + the present participle and the second consisting of be going to + be + the present participle. Meanings There are two basic functions for these two forms and the difference in meaning between them is, for our purposes, negligible. Firstly, we use the Future Continuous to talk about predicted or planned events that start at some unspecified time in the future and are still occurring at a given time in the future. In this sense it is often used with time adverbials beginning this time next... or a precisely specified time. This time next week I'll be lying on a beach in Turkey. We'll be watching the TV at 9:00. (It is not known when we will start, but at 9:00 we will be in front of the TV and we will probably continue to watch after 9:00.) In their second sense, we can avoid any hint of intention, planning, prediction, willingness or unwillingness by using these two tenses. The impression is that this is how the future will unfold in spite of everything else, so it can be used to show that we are not being put out or putting others out or to check on someone's plans before asking a potentially embarrassing favour. For instance: Would you like a lift? - I'm going to be heading in that direction anyway.
- 4. 4 Will you be dropping by later? (e.g. As a prelude to asking the listener to bring something from the supermarket on the way.) 6-Future Perfect Simple Form The Future Perfect Simple is made with will + have + the past participle. Meaning We use this tense to look at events or actions from a point in the future after we expect the event or action to have already finished. It is often accompanied by a time phrase beginning with either by or before. I will have passed my driving test by the end of the year. 7-Future Perfect Continuous Form The Future Perfect Continuous is formed with will + have + been + the present participle. Meaning Rather like the Future Perfect Simple, this tense is used to view future events that have already happened from a more distant point in the future The main difference between the two being that by using the Future Perfect Continuous, we are emphasising the duration of the event. One example of this tense might be: My family will have been living abroad for 5 years this September. References Parrott, M. (2000) Grammar for English Language Teachers, Cambridge: CUP. Yule, G. (1998) Explaining English Grammar, Oxford: OUP. The internet sources "Future Time." <i>English Club</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 June 2015. <https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-m_future.htm>. "Talking about the Future - English Future Tenses." TESOL-direct. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2015. <https://www.tesol-direct.com/guide-to-english- grammar/future-tenses>.
- 5. 5 "The Key to the Future Tenses: Adverbs of Time." <i>Useful English</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 June 2015. <http://usefulenglish.ru/grammar/the-key-to-the-future-tenses>.