The Present Continuous as a Future Form

Note that the time must be mentioned, or have been mentioned, as otherwise there may be confusion between present and future.

A. The present continuous can express a definite arrangement in the near future:
Bob and Bill are meeting tonight implies that Bob and Bill have arranged
this. If there is merely an expression of intention, we use the be going to
form.

B. But with verbs of movement from one place to another, e.g. arrive, come,
drive, fly, go, leave, start, travel, verbs indicating position, e.g. stay, remain,
and the verbs do and have(food and drink), the present continuous can be
used more widely. It can express a decision or plan even without any definite
arrangement.

Note also the usual way of asking people about their plans:

What are you doing next Saturday?

Possible answers: I’m going to the seaside.

The neighbours are coming in to watch television.

but: I’m going to write letters. (I’m writing... would not be possible.)

C. This method of expressing the future cannot be used with verbs which are not
normally used in the continuous tenses. These verbs should be put into the
future simple (will/shall):

I am meeting him tonight. but I will/shall know tonight.

Note, however, that see, when it is used in certain expressions (see someone
off/out/home etc.) can be used in the continuous tenses (see 5, p. 25):

I’m seeing him off tomorrow.

to becan be used in the continuous tenses when it forms part of a passive verb:

He is being met at the station tonight.

Our new piano is being delivered this afternoon.

5. The be going to form

This form is used: a. For intention

b. For prediction

A. The be going to form used for intention

We use this form when we say what we have already decided to do, what we
intend to do in the future. This intention is always premeditated and there is
usually also the idea that some preparation for the action has already been
made.

The following points may be noted:

1. be going tocan be used for the near future with a time expression as an
alternative to the present continuous, i.e. we can say:

I am meeting Tom at the station at six.

I am going to meet Tom at the station at six.

But note that I’m meeting Tom implies an arrangement with Tom.

I’m going to meet Tom does not: Tom may get a surprise.

2. be going tocan be used with verbs not normally used in the continuous
tenses:

I am going to think about it.

I am going to be a dentist.

I’m sure I’m going to like it.

3. It is not very usual to put the verbs go and come into the be going to
form. Instead we generally use the present continuous tense: i.e. instead of
I am going to go we normally say I am going and instead of I am going to
come we say I am coming.

4. Now we ‘ll compare the use of be going toand will + infinitive to express
intention. We use both will andbe going toto talk about our future
actions but there is a clear difference. Study this situation:

Another difference is that will + infinitive in the affirmative is used almost
entirely for the first person. Second and third person intentions are normally
expressed by be going to:

Don’t worry. I’ll help you with the dinner.

but Are you going to leave without paying?

But in the negative won’t can be used for all persons. So we can say:

He isn’t going to resign. or He won’t resign.

But note that He won’t resign means He refuses to resign and

He isn’t going to resign means He doesn’t intend to resign.

B. The be going toform used for prediction

1. We use be going toin this way when we say what we think will happen.
In other words, we predict future happening. Usually there is something in
the present situation that makes the speaker be sure what will happen. It
can be used in this way after such verbs as be sure/afraid, believe, think:

How pale that girl is! I am sure/I believe/I think she is going to faint.

2. Comparison of be going toused for prediction with willused for
probable future (the future simple) willis a common way of expressing
what the speaker thinks, believes, hopes, assumes, fears, etc. will happen:

I’ll probably be a bit late this evening.

I expect you will get a job.

You’ll pass the exam./I am sure you will pass the exam.

will and be going to are therefore rather similar and often either form
can be used.

But there are two differences:

a) be going toimplies that there is a certain evidence in the present
situation that shows what will happen, will implies that the speaker
thinks/believes that it will happen.

b) be going tois normally used about the immediate future; will doesn’t
imply any particular time and could refer to the remote future.

Compare: The lift is going to break down implies that it is making
strange noises or behaving in a strange way.

The lift will break down implies that this will happen some
time in the future ( perhaps because we always overload it).

The Future Simple

A. Form

There is no future tense in modern English, but for convenience we often use
the term ‘future simple’ to describe the form will/shall+ bare infinitive.

I/we will work I/we will not work ---

I/we shall work I/we shall not work Shall I/we work?

You/he/they will work You he they will not work Will you/he/they work?

B. First person will and shall

Formerly willwas kept for intention:

I will wait for you = I intend to wait for you

and shall was used when there was no intention:

I shall be 25 next week.

We shall know the results of the election tomorrow

(They will be in the papers)

shall, used as above, is still found in formalEnglish, but no longer common
in conversation. Instead we normally use will:

I will be 25 next week.

We’ll know the results tomorrow.

shall, however, is still used in the interrogative:

In question tags after let’s: Let’s go, shall we?

In suggestions: Shall we take a taxi?

In requests for orders or instructions: What shall I do with your mail?

In speculations: Where shall we be this time next year?

C. Uses of the future simple

1. The future simple is used to express the speaker’s opinions, assumptions,
speculations about the future. These may be introduced by verbs such as
assume, be afraid, be/feel sure, believe, daresay, doubt, expect, hope,
know, suppose, think, wonder or accompanied by adverbs such as per
haps, possibly, probably, surely, but can be used without them:

(I’m sure) he’ll come back.

(I suppose) they’ll sell the house.

(Perhaps) we’ll find him at the hotel.

They’ll (probably) wait for us.

2. The future simple is used for future habitual actions which we assume
will take place:

Spring will come again.

Birds will build nests.

3. The future simple is used in sentences containing clauses of condition
and time:

If you need money I’ll lend you.

When she is ready we’ll start for the station.

4. Verbs not normally used in the continuous tenses, usually express the
future by the future simple:

He’ll be here at six.

They’ll know tonight.

5. The future simple is used, chiefly in newspapers and news broadcasts,
for formal announcements of future plans and for weather forecasts. In
conversations such statements would normally be expressed by the pre
sent continuous or be going toform:

Newspaper: The President will open the new art exhibition tomorrow.

But the average reader will say:

The President is going to open/is opening.......

6. won’t can be used with all persons to express negative intention. So He
won’t pay can mean either He refuses to pay or I don’t think he’ll pay

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1510