7

GRAMMAR

Future time

Wi/1 and wi/1 not

• For factual predictions, often with a qualifying adverbial:

Prices will increase by 1 0 % over the next year.

Prices will almost certainly increase by 1 0 % over the next year.

Other qualifying adverbials: definitely; probably, no doubt.

Begoingto

• Generally for personal plans and intentions, or when we can see what is going to

happen:

I'm going to take this work home with me.

Look at that egg! lt's going to hatch.

• Por decisions about the future:

Tve decided about next year. I'm going to apply to Imperial College.

• Qualifying adverbials are also common:

There is probably going to be a revolution in this field within ten years.

Wi/1 or going to?

• In formal speech and writing will for prediction is more common, but going to is

common in journalistic writing. It can be replaced by going to in everyday speech.

This is not true for other meanings of will:

Prices will rise by up to 5% over the next six months.

As I see it, prices are going to rise by up to 5% over the next six months.

Present simple and continuous

• Use present simple for a fixed event, with no personal choice, and the event seen as a

fact:

The next meeting is on March 3rd.

• Use present continuous for a fixed arrangement, one already definitely made:

We're leaving on Saturday. Are you coming with us?

Going to in this example gives the same information:

Are you going to come with usi

Future time clauses

• Use present simple after as soon as, after, before, by the time, immediately, the

moment, until, when, etc even though there is a future reference:

As soon as we know the results, we'll let you know.

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IELTS LANGUAGE PRACTICE

• Use present perfect simple instead of present simple to emphasize completion:

When we've completed the experiment, we'll have a break.

Future continuous

• To describe an event or state at a future point:

Within a few years, most countries will be facing the same problems.

Future perfect simple

• To describe what we can say when we look back from a future point:

By the end o
f the Zl" century, temperatures will have reached a dangerous level.

Formal instructions

• Forms of will are all used formally to state what must happen, or must be the case:

Students will leave all bags, books, documents, etc outside the examination room.

Staff in this category will have completed safety training.

� SEEALSO

Grammar 10: Direct and indirect questions

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 GRAMMAR 7 FUTURE TIME

1 Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence. Sometimes more than

one form is possible.

1 Thanks very much for your help. I'll let you know!I'm going to let you know!I'm

letting you know how the interview goes.

2 This time next week while we are all hard at work Helen will lie!will be lying/is

lying in the sun on a beach somewhere!

3 Despite these promising sales results, we expect that profits will fall!are going to

fall!are falling in the long term.

4 There will be/is going to be!will have been another meeting next Friday morning.

Do you think you'll be able to come?

5 I don't think that this problem will simply go away. What are we going to do!will we

do!will we be doing about it?

6 Something's come up, so we won't be leaving!aren't leaving!won't leave on Saturday

after all.

7 It won't be easy, but I think we'll finish!we'll be finishing!we're going to finish the

project on time.

8 I'm sorry you're leaving. We're all going to miss/We'll all miss/We are all missing

you.

9 By the end of the year, interest rates will probably have risen/are probably rising!will

probably rise sharply.

10 Tm going to work!I'll be working!I'll work this weekend, so its not worth arranging

anything.

2 Complete each sentence with the future continuous or future perfect form of

the verbs in brackets.

1 Please remember that we (work) ���L�.�..":Y.l?r.��.1'.1:9. in the lab on Tuesday morning.

You won't need your laptops as we (put) all the data online. Don't

forget that we'll be in the Memorial Building, not in the New Block.

2 With the government's plans to be announced next week, the financia! sector

(soon enter) a new era. On Wednesday the speculation will be over,

and the finance minister (make) further changes to the tax system

which he hopes will provide shelter from the financia! storm. But with the ferocity

of the global crisis, and the massive public deficit, it remains to be seen whether

these measures will succeed.

3 We would like to inform customers that engineers (replace) the

supplies (return) by 10.00pm the same evening. During the <lay we

(supply) households with bottled drinking water.

4 During the spring the union intends to ask their members to support strike

action, though they say they (also talk) to management. A spokesman

commented, 'Over the next few weeks, we (visit) our members to

explain our p osition, an d by the end of April either we (come) to sorne

agreement with management, or we (start) moving more definitely

towards strike action,'

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IELTS LANGUAGE PRACTICE

3 Complete each sentence with the wi/1, present simple or present perfect form of

the verbs in brackets.

1 When we (process) .'flt:9.<:-.��!.h.t:t.V.�.:Jl.rRxM:-?.�.�-- your application form, we (let)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . you know about the date of your interview.

2 Befo re you (leave) , I (give) you the address of that hotel I

mentioned.

3 We (begin) to market this new product only after we (test) .

it thoroughly in real-life conditions.

4 When the plane (take off) and the captain (switch off) the

seat belt sign, you can use your laptop.

5 As soon as there (be) any news, one of our representatives (contact)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . you.

6 The moment I (have) the chance I (send) you the data you

have requested.

7 I (meet) you in the cafetería when the next lecture (finish) .

8 By the time governments all over the world (come) t o a n agreement on

how to <leal with global warming, it (be) too late.

9 There (be) a short meeting in Room 33 for all speakers before the

afternoon session (begin) .

10 Don't worry, I (send) you a text message as soon as 1 (arrive)

4 Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first

sentence, using the the word in bold. Do not change the word given.

1 Doctors expect artificial organs to be commonplace by the end of the century.

will

Doctors expect that .�!':t.�fl.r{�J.!?r.0.�.�f..W.�h�.��.�9.��{).�}>J�!:-�.�!;j.t��.�.�.�.P.f.

���.��.���r� .

2 Sorne experts predict a doubling of car use within twenty years.

have

Sorne experts predict that .

3 Experts expect most people to be home workers in twenty years' time.

be

Experts expect that .

4 The future is unknown.

happen

Nobody knows .

5 Sorne people expect future technology to be much cheaper.

lower

Sorne people expect that the price .

6 Engineers expect to have completed the tunnel by the end of the year.

that

Engineers expect .

7 Scientists predict 90% mobile phone use by the end of the decade.

be

Scientists predict that .

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 GRAMMAR 7 FUTURE TIME

8 The forecast predicts rain for tomorrow.

it

The forecast says that .

9 It is hard to predict future diet exactly.

eating

It is hard to predict exactly what .

10 Space experts predict human colonization of other planets by the end of the

century.

colonized

Space experts predict that humans .

5 Complete the text by writing a verb from the box in each space.

wm be ifltroducing starts will have closed will pass will be able

· won't really be will cause is going to make will end up will prove

will record will get will no longer be won't come back passes

will receive will confuse will result

N ew toll system to cause chaos say hire firms

According to city car hire firms, the automated toll system which the

government ( 1 ) ���L��--��tr.t??.�x��-- on the M36 next year (2) .

difficulties for car renta! companies. When the new system ( 3 ) .

operating, there ( 4) a chance to pay tolls directly in cash at

toll booths, which ( 5 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Under the new system, when the car

(6) through the toll barrier, cameras (7) the car

registration plate. Motorists ( 8 ) : to pay automatically by signing

up to the Tollpass payment system. Those who are not signed up can pay their

toll online or by telephone. All tolls must be paid by 20.00 the following day,

and non payment ( 9 ) in a fine of up to € 1 5 0 . This system is n o t a

problem for local residents, but it ( 1 O) life difficult for customers,

such as tourists or business visitors, who are not signed up with Tollpass. lt is

the driver who is responsible for paying tolls and fines, and car hire firms think

that this ( 1 1 ) visitors. 'This system ( 1 2 ) disastrous

to tourism,' said Monica Donovan of FirstUp Cars. 'Three quarters of all cars

returned to car renta! companies at the City Airport ( 1 3 ) through

the toll system during their renta! period. We think that a lot of visitors

(14) not paying and it ( 1 5 ) their fault. They

(16) fines through the post, they ( 1 7 ) upset, and

they ( 1 8 ) to the city in the future.'

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