Simple Future and Present Tenses with a Future Meaning Compared

Simple Future is used

a) to make predictions about the future:

This time next year I'll be in Japan. I think Tom will get the job.

b) to make statements of fact about the future: Steve will be thirty next birthday

c) to make a decision at the moment of speaking:

— Does Peter know about the picnic?

— I'll tell him tonight.

d) to make a promise or offer: I'll post those letters for you.

Present Continuous (I am doing) is used a) to talk about arrangements, plans for the near future: "Going to" is also possible but "I am doing" is more natural: I'm playing tennis this afternoon, (or I'm going to play tennis

this afternoon)

What time are you meeting Ann? (or What time are you going to

meet Ann?)

"Going to" is used

a) to talk about planned decisions, intentions and arrange­ments:

I'm going to ask for a rise next month.

Compare the use of Simple Future and "Going to" in the follo­wing situation: Helen (to her Father): My bicycle has a flat tyre. Can you repair it

for me? Father: Okay, but I can't now. I'll repair it tomorrow.

We use "will" when we decide to do something at the moment of speaking.

Later Helen's mother speaks to her husband. Mother: Can you repair Helen's bicycle? It has a flat tyre. Father: Yes, I know. She told me. I'm going to repair it tomorrow.

We use "going to" when we have already decided to do some­thing.

b) to make predictions about the immediate future when there is some evidence to show what is going to happen:

Look at those black clouds. It's going to rain in a minute.

Simple Present (I do) is used to talk about timetables, program­mes, etc.

The football match starts at 8 o'clock.

What time does the film begin?

But we do not normally use the Simple Present for personal arrangements.

Practice

/. Make sentences with these situations:

Situation: Margaret has a new job. Her first day in it will be next Monday.

Margaret is starting her new job next Monday. 1. Tom sees his mother every Sunday. It is Sunday tomorrow. 2. Jill and Bert have a date this evening. Trafalgar Square is their meeting place. 3. Mrs Lee has an appointment with the doctor tomorrow. 4. Mr Hanson has a ticket in his pocket for this evening's plane to Moscow. 5. Tony and his wife eat out every Friday. It is Friday tomorrow. 6. You rang up your friend and arranged to see a film this evening after work. 7. Tony and Susan always play tennis on Saturday. It is Saturday tomorrow. 8. Your friend's wedding is tomorrow. You've got an invitation to the wed­ding. 9. On Tuesday Steve always has lunch with Dr Walker. It is Tuesday tomorrow.

//. Say what the people in these situations are going to do. Situation: Charles is alone this evening. He likes boxing ma­tches and there is one on television at 8. It is 7.30 now. Charles is going to watch a boxing match on television. 1. Peter is sitting in the train. He is taking a newspaper out of his briefcase. 2. The telephone in the sitting-room is ringing. Mary is coming down the stairs. 3. There are clouds in the sky and they are getting darker and darker. 4. The train is still standing at the platform but all the passengers are inside now. 5. The Browns usually have dinner at. 7. It's 6.50. Mrs Brown is laying the table. 6. The pianist is walking into the concert-platform. The audience is waiting.

///. Complete these sentences, using "going to" or "not go­ing to": e.g. I watched Panorama last week, but... (not/next week)

I watched Panorama last week, but I'm not going to watch it

next week. 1. Julia caught the 7.45 train yesterday, but... (not/tomorrow).

2. I didn't see the film last month, but... (next month). 3. She bought some meat in that shop last Monday, but... (next time). 4. I didn't travel by air the last time, but... (next time). 5 We stayed at home last night, but.. (not/tonight). 6. I spent £20 on Christmas presents last year, but.. (not/so much this year). 7. I visited Bill in hospi­tal this morning, but... (not/again today) 8. I didn't pay the bill when it came, but... (very soon). 9. We didn't plan our holidays last summer, but... (this summer).

IV. In pairs, practise the following dialogue several times, choosing different words and phrases each time:

A: What are you going to do tomorrow? B: We're going to spend the day

in the country; in the mountains; by the lake; on the coast A: Well, they say it's going to

rain; be cold; freeze; snow; be lovely and sunny. B: In that case I'll take my

skis; swimming things; skates; thick jacket; raincoat.

V. A friend of yours is planning to go on holiday very soon. You ask him about his plans. Use the words in brackets to make, your questions.

e.g. (where/go) Where are you going?

1. (how long/stay?) 2. (when/leave?) 3. (go/alone?) 4. (go/ by car?) 5. (where/stay?)

VI. Ann is going on holiday. Tell about her holiday plans. Use the words in brackets.

^e-g- (go/Scotland) She is going to Scotland.

1. (leave/next Friday). She... 2. (stay/in Scotland for two weeks) 3. (go/with a friend of hers) 4. (stay/in a hotel). They... 5. (go/by train)

VII. Find out:

what your friends are going to do this weekend; what your teacher is going to do immediately after this lesson; if anyone is going to spend the holidays at the seaside; the weather forecast for tomorrow (if it is going to be warm and sunny or wet)

VIII. Match the words and phrases in the two columns below to talk about your plans lor the coming weekend.

e.g. I'm going to write some letters.

1. write my room

2. phone some letters

3. do my bike

4. repair a cake

5. buy my girl/boyfriend

6. take back last week's homework

7. tidy a new pair of jeans

8. make my library books

IX. Now add some plans of your own.

X. Exchange the lists above with your partner. Imagine that it is now Monday morning. Admit that you forgot to do each acti­vity and decide when you intend to do it using "will".

e.g. A: Did you write any letters?

B: No, I forgot but I'll write some tomorrow morning/af­ternoon/evening.

Fluency A Long Lunch Hour

Steve: I'm going to lunch in a few minutes.

Barbara: Oh, are you? You're going early today. It's only 11.30. What time are you coming back?

Steve: Well, I'm meeting Jill in town. We're doing some shop­ping together, but er... please, don't tell Mr. Short!

Barbara: Of course not. What are you doing this afternoon? Aren't you discussing the new series today?

Steve: Yes, we are, but not until 3. Harry's coming to the mee­ting, too. I'm going now. Don't work too hard.

Barbara: Enjoy your lunch, don't eat too much. Don't spend too much money and don't come back late to the meeting.

/. Listen to the conversation and say why Steve is going to lunch early today.

II. Listen to the conversation again and reproduce the phrases with the Present Continuous expressing a future action.

III. Act out the conversation.

IV. Here is Steve's diary:

Monday Liverpool

Tuesday 10.00 interview John Miller (Heathrow Airport)

12.00 see bank manager

Wednesday 2.00 Birmingham

Thursday 9.00 visit Ministry of Transport

2.00 interview Robert Brewster from National

Union of Teachers Friday 10.(• atter New Art Exl.bition

12.30 meet Dr Parker for lunch at Grand Hotel 13.30 see dentist

This is part of a conversation between Steve and his wife Jill. Complete the conversation. Jill: Look, Steve. Here's an interesting advertisement for a flat

in Netting Hill Gate. Let's go and see it. What are you

doing next week? Steve: Oh, I've got a very full week, Jill. On Monday I'm...

V. Your friend Tom wants you to visit him. Look at your diary for the next few days and explain to him why you can't come.

Monday Friday

volley-ball, 7 p. m. football match, 5 p.m.

Tuesday Saturday

repair car cinema, 6 p. m.

Wednesday Sunday

theatre, 6 p. m. visit parents

Thursday meet Judy, 6 p. m.

Tom: Can you come on Monday evening?

You: Sorry, I'd love to but I'm playing volley-ball.

Tom: What about Tuesday evening then?

You: I can't I'm afraid. I...

Tom: What are you doing on Wednesday evening?

You:...

Tom: Well, are you free on Thursday evening?

You: I'm afraid not.... etc.

Happy New Year

It's December thirty-first, New Year's Eve. Bob and Sally Simpson are celebrating the holiday with their children, Lucy and Tom.

The Simpsons are a very happy family this New Year's Eve. Next year is going to be a very good year for the entire family.

Next year Bob and Sally are going to take a long vacation. They're going to visit Sally's cousin in California. Lucy is going to finish school. She's going to move to Boston and begin college.

Tom is going to get his driver's licence. He's going to save a lot of money and buy a used car.

As you can see, the Simpsons are really looking forward to next year It's going to be a happy year for all of them. /. Listen to the text and answer the questions: What holiday are the Simpsons celebrating? What are the Simpsons going to do next year?

//. Say why the New Year is going to be a very good year for the entire family.

III. Here is Bob Simpson's diary for next week.

Monday present for Tom

Tuesday table tennis with Harry

Wednesday car to the garage for service

Thursday tickets for "Oliver"

Friday birthday card to uncle Jim

Saturday football match on television

Sunday jazz concert on the radio"

What is Bob going to do next week?

IV. What are you going to do

a) tomorrow? b) on Sunday? c) next week? d) next month?