Different Means of Expressing Future Actions Compared

 

All future actions are hypothetical; they express intention, willingness, readiness, obligation, expectation and so on. English is rich in means expressing future.

1) Present Continuous expresses a future action due to one's previous decision. The fixed action is go­ing to take place in the near future and the time is indi­cated by to­night, next week, in a few days, etc.

§ She is coming to lunch on Thursday.

§ He' s going to Italy and wants to say good-bye.

Note: in when -questions Present Continuous al­ways refers the action to the future.

§ When is he coming?

§ When are you going back?

2) The difference between Present Continuous and Future Continuous:

§ We are meeting tomorrow (= we have fixed the date of our meeting).

§ We shall be meeting tomorrow (= not because of ar­rangement but in the normal course of events; we work together, or attend classes togeth­er, etc.).

3) to be + infinitive indicates a previous arrangement and implies obligation (to be - modal).

§ I've had a letter from home. I' m to go back at once.

4) to be going to + infinitive

a) intention

§ I' m not going to live at home.

§ I' m not going to marry for years yet.

Note: He is going to go or He is going to come are un­common in English.

 

b) to show the speaker's feeling that the action is unavoidable in the near

future.

§ I don't know what is going to happen.

5) Present Simple expresses future in clauses of time and condition.

 

Sometimes shall and will preserve modal meaning:

Shall - (with 2nd and 3rd persons) obligation, promise, threat or warning.

§ He shall have a scandal.

Shall also preserves modal meaning when ask­ing after the will of the person.

§ Shall I bring you some coffee? Oh, Alfred, what shall we do?

Will is used in affirmative sentences with the 1^st person to express wish, willingness, readiness, intention, determination to perform an action.

§ I will do what I can.

§ I will go wherever you take me.

Will also shows that the speaker of­fers to perform an action:

§ I'll go and get a drink for you.

 

In affirmative sentences will (with the 2^nd and 3^rd persons) may express a command:

§ You will come here tomorrow not later than ten.

§ Bernard will pay the taxi.

 

In negative sentences will expresses refusal to perform an ac­tion:

§ I won't argue with you.

In questions will also preserves its modal meaning and means a request or an invitation.

§ Will you ask him to ring me back?

 

In complex sentences with if -clause will is used to express willingness or consent.

§ We shall be delighted if you will lunch with us.

 

There are cases when two different forms may be used interchangeably without any difference in meaning.

Cf. He is taking his exam next week.

He will be taking his exam next week.

EXERCISES:

 

Ex. 40. Use the required future forms in the following sentences:

 

1. How terribly nice of you to come! I just (to wash) off and (to get) my coat on, and then I (to show) you round. 2. I (to clean) up when you come with my things. 3. Не says they (to finish) the house by the end of next month. 4. Meg cast herself on her father's knee and threw her arms about his neck. "Your father's tea (to get) cold, Meg," said her mother. 5. He probably (to get) here in about three weeks. By which time I (to return) to the University. 6. "I don't have a job." "Don't be scared. We (to find) some­thing." 7. In that case we (to take) a taxi. 8. You can't live that far from the office. In a little while you (to look) for a place back here. 9. Your father (to be) disappointed. 10. He never (to make) much money. 11. He (to eat) an orange every day. 12. He (to practise) the violin all the afternoon. 13. All of Bennet's men (to wait) when the union organisers show up. 14. The judge (to ask) you a few questions.

 

Ex. 41. Choose the best-suited means of denoting future actions for the following sentences:

 

1. I (to write) to Jack tonight and (to make) sure that he (to meet) you and (to look) after you. 2. I have the feeling that something (to happen), and it depresses me. 3. "Can I help you, Mary? You (to wash) up?" "No. Casie (to do) it. I (to take) some strawberries up to Uncle Willy." "May I come, too? I just (to go) as far as the cottage." 4. Well, I (to speak) to Aubrey. I (to see) him at lunch. 5. Do you think there (to be) a war? 6. I suppose I (to stay) here a little longer. 7. Sooner or later you (to get) over it. 8. I never (to forget) that night. 9. We soon (to see) who is right. 10. Whatever damage they (to do) they (to pay) for it. 11. "Ann," said her mother, "here is news that (to surprise) you. Phil has come from abroad. He (to come) to see us tomorrow." 12. If you (not to go) I (to fetch) my husband. 13. It (to be) a real pleasure for me to see them back. 14. Roy is on his way. He probably (to get) here in about three hours. 15. Do put something on, Tony. You (to catch) cold. 16. We (to have) coffee after dinner as usual. 17. You should go and say good-bye to your mother. The train (to leave) in twenty minutes. 18. No, I don't think you can see her. And she (to do) her home­work after supper. 19. A soft voice said: "Are you locked out? Don't worry. I (to let) you in." 20. "Now I feel much stronger. And the doctor says I (to leave) the hospital soon." 21. I (to tell) you the whole story one of these days. 22. I'm sure you (not to like) the play. 23. He certainly (to expect) you to come. 24. Tell me all about it. I (not to mention) it to anybody. 25. You must keep away from the road until it (to be) dark. The peasants (to go) to market soon. 26. It is September already. The leaves (to fall) soon. 27. The sun (to set) by the time we (to get) home. 28. This book (to tell) you all about it. 29. When we (to get) back he (to have) a bath and we (to find) him asleep in his bed. 30. She was still sitting in the chair in which he had left her. "Hello, why haven't you dressed for dinner?" He looked about the room. "You haven't even unpacked." "I (not to unpack). I (not to stay) here. I (to leave) you." 31. "Now that you have arrived, what you (to do) with yourself in England?" "Hunt a job. I expect I (to end) as a chauffeur. Where you (to stay)?" "With my people at first, anyway. If you still (to want) to see me when you (to be) home a week, you (to find) me there." 32. Unlike me, he can't remain alone for any length of time. Place him in my position and see what (to happen). Within an hour he (to look) for his morning paper, within two hours he (to invite) his friends in to play poker.

 

 

UNIT 8