Talking about the future

3.05 Talking about the future

This is a tricky area of English! There are various ways of referring to the future, and often two or more of these structures can have the same meaning. It is often a case of 'knowing' which one sounds the most natural.

BEWARE! Many students, particularly in spoken English, tend to use will too much for the future, perhaps because of poor teaching in the past. Will is one way of referring to the future, it is not the only way: will is not 'the future tense' in English; it has many other uses.

Usually, we use the following structures to talk about the future: present progressive (I'm seeing); "going to" (I'm going to see); present simple (I see); will (I will see). Here are some examples:

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

This tense is often used when we want to talk about what has been arranged for the future; events over which we or others have some control.

What are you doing tonight? (NOT What will you do tonight? NOR What do you do tonight?)
I'm looking after their cat while they're on holiday next month.
When is he starting his new job?

As previously stated, in many instances going to or the present simple could also be used to talk about plans (but usually NOT will !!)

GOING TO

Going to is often interchangeable with the present progressive, but its use does emphasise the idea of a decision that has been made. It is also used to make predictions based on present evidence, on what we can see in front of us, for example.

I'm going to go on a diet next week.
What are you going to wear for the party?
Have you seen the state of the roads? I'm going to write to the council!
He's playing terribly now! He's going to lose!
Hold me! I think I'm going to faint!

Again, will would not be possible in any of the above examples.

PRESENT SIMPLE

The present simple has two specific uses in talking about the future:

(i) subordinate clauses

After words such as if, when, while, unless, where etc the present simple is used in subordinate clauses to refer to the future:

When I get back I'll give you a ring.
If I pass all my exams next month I'm going to have a holiday.
The match will have to be delayed unless the weather improves soon.

(ii) timetables, schedules etc

If events or actions take place within a fixed timetable or schedule, then the present simple is often used.

What time does the bank open tomorrow?
The holiday sounds great. First we spend two nights in Lima and on Sunday we fly to the mountains.
Next term starts on October 1st.

WILL

Will is used:

(i) To talk about the future when none of the present tenses decribed above would be suitable. This would often mean in cases where there is no obvious link to the present.

The office will be open all summer.
This essay will discuss the consequences of the agreement.

(ii) To make predictions when there is no concrete evidence available:

I reckon Worcestershire will win the championship.
What will you do if you don't get the job?

Compare:
He's playing terribly! He's going to lose! (You can see him playing badly now)
with
Do you think he'll win next year? (You'd just be guessing)

(iii) In conditionals, when you say what will happen if or when something else happens:

If interest rates fall further, people will be deterred from saving.
You'll have to ask nicely if you want to borrow that much.

See guide 3.7 (Modal auxiliary verbs) for 'non-future' uses of will.

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OTHER WAYS OF TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE

The Future Perfect

This tense is used to express the idea that something will have been done by a certain time in the future.

By September I'll have been here for five years.
When you come back from holiday the work will have been completed.

The Future Progressive

Used to say that something will be in progress at a certain time in the future.

At this time tomorrow I'll be driving through France.
I'll be thinking of you while you're doing your exam.

The tense is also used in a similar way to the present tenses, to refer to fixed or decided events, but not always with the idea of personal intention:

I'll be doing more teaching next year.
I'll be calling for you at about 10.
The train will be making a special stop at Preston.

'To be to'

The Queen is to meet the Pope on her visit to Rome.

Links to further resources on talking about the future

English Online

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Steve Gould
Last updated: 27 May 2011