Future Forms “be going to” + infinitive Use: 1 Future plans and intentions: * Mike and Annie are going to adopt a child. * Are you going to work as a teacher? * I’m not going (to go) to Prague next week. 2 “Inevitable actions/situations”: * It seems/I think it’s going to rain. (Thy sky is very dark.) * They are going to win. (They are playing very well.) * Look! That car is going to have a crash! Present Continuous: be + verb + -ing Use: Future arrangements and fixed plans: * I’m meeting the headmaster in the afternoon. * She is leaving on Friday. * We are having a conference on Friday. NOTE: I’m meeting the headmaster in the afternoon. (We have already arranged a meeting and the probability that we really meet is nearly 100%.) X I’m going to meet the headmaster. (This is my intention; I have decided about it but he may not know yet.) “will”/“shall” + infinitive Use: 1 Immediate/instant decisions: * I’ll have a cola and a cheese sandwich, please. * …So, there are no tickets for tonight, …I’ll take two for tomorrow then. 2 Promises: * I’m busy at the moment, but I promise I’ll talk to him later. * I won’t tell anybody you failed the test. 3 Offers: * The bag looks really heavy. I’ll carry it for you. * Shall I help you with that suitcase? 4 Predictions: * The film is amazing. You’ll love it. * I’m sure you’ll enjoy the show. 5 Suggestions: * Shall I reply to their letter? * Shall we invite Pete as well? Present Simple Use: Scheduled events (timetables, programmes…): * My plane leaves at 6.30 a.m. * The conference starts on Monday at 9.00. Practice 1 Read the following email and underline the most suitable form of the verbs. To: Mark Cc: Jo Subject: Trip Why don’t you come with us to Yorkshire? It’s all arranged. Jo comes/is coming (1) to my house at six so we can go to the station together. The train doesn’t leave/isn’t leaving (2) until 6.45 but we don’t want to be late. It stops/is stopping (3) a lot on the way so it doesn’t arrive/isn’t arriving (4) until three in the afternoon. We stay/are staying (5) in a youth hostel and we spend/are spending five days there. We can catch a bus some of the way from the station but it doesn’t go/isn’t going (7) all the way so we have to walk the last two miles from the village. We have/are having (8) breakfast and our evening meal at the youth hostel. It’s in a beautiful spot with lots to see. On the way back we need to set off early as there is only one bus and it leaves/is leaving (9) at 8.30. The train back is faster so it arrives/is arriving (10) just after lunch. 2 Choose the correct alternative. In some cases both options might be ok. 1) "Can I borrow your car?" -- "_________ by 10 o'clock, I promise." I’ll be back I'm going to be back 2) "Can I help you, sir?" -- "Yes, _________ a coffee and a tuna sandwich." I’ll have I'm going to have 3) "Do you know about Claire?" -- "_________ a baby!" She’ll have She's going to have 4) "________________ eat out tonight?" -- "Good idea." Will we Shall we 5) "I'm really tired." -- "_________ you home if you want." I’ll take I'm going to take 6) He's got a new job in Boston, so _________ there. he’ll move he's going to move * * 7) "What are you doing tomorrow?" -- "I don't know. I think _________ my parents." I’ll visit I'm going to visit * 8) _________________ an old friend of mine this evening. I’m meeting I meet 9) Ugh, that food was terrible! I think _________ sick! I’ll be I'm going to be * 10) _________ new strings for my guitar when you are in town? Thanks. Will you buy Are you going to buy 11) Don't go out now. _________ a thunderstorm. I've just heard it on the radio. There‘ll be There's going to be 12) I don't think that _________ on Mars. people will ever live people are ever going to live * 13) Do you think __________________ tomorrow? it will rain it’s going to rain 14) _______________________ to get married in June. They’re getting They’re going 3 Complete the sentences using the verbs in brackets. 1 When I ………………………………… (be) forty, I’m going to move to Australia. 2 We’ll have dinner as soon as she………………………………… (arrive). 3 I’ll contact him after he ………………………………… (get) our offer. 4 You can move out when you………………………………… (find) a job.