Grammar

Future forms
ACADEMIC YEAR 2023/2024 LANGUAGE AWARENESS 1 TRAINER: MOHAMED DIHI
Aim
To outline the form and function of a variety of verb forms
used to talk about future time.

Contents
• will, going to and the present progressive
contrasted
• Future time and different aspects
• Future forms in coursebook material
• Alternative future forms
Lead in
In pairs tell each other about your future
plans for the following times: tonight,
tomorrow, this weekend, next month, in a
year’s time. Listen for different future
forms used by your partner.
After the course
 1a. In pairs, read the conversation below between Rosanna and Jake who are talking
about what they intend doing once they have finished their teacher training course.
Whose future plans are more organised? Who is more worried at present?
Jake: So what are your plans for when you finish the course?
Rosanna: My plans? Well, to have a break for a start. I’m going to just chill out (1) and do nothing.
Jake: Not job-hunting then?
Rosanna: No, not immediately. What about you?
Jake: No relaxation for me. I’m starting back at my old job (2) straight after the course. I got a call a couple of days ago — they‘re
desperate for teachers and want me to come back.
Rosanna: Fantastic — you've got a job already!
Jake: Hmm — dont know if l’m worth employing.
Rosanna: C’mon!
Jake: I’m really nervous about this afternoon’s lesson.
Rosanna: Don't worry — it’s going to be (3) good.
Jake: What makes you so sure?
Rosanna: I’ve seen your lesson plan!
Jake: I was just wondering whether I should move this Stage to ...
Rosanna: Don't change it — it’s fine. Really.
Jake: OK I’Il leave (4) it alone. But what if I don’t get through?
Rosanna: What — the lesson or the course?
Jake: The course.
Rosanna: Stop worrying. I think everyone will get through(5).
Jake: I hope so.I wonder when we'll find out.
Rosanna: It says in the course guidelines. They'll send out (6) the results on the Monday after the course finishes.
1b. In pairs, which categories do the underlined future forms
in 1a fit into? Put the numbers in the correct box.

4–5–6 1–3 2
 1c. In pairs, match the examples in 1a to the meanings below.

a. ‘Going to’ is used to make a prediction based on present evidence. 3

b. ‘Will’ is used to talk about an intention decided in the moment of speaking. 4
c. The present progressive is used to talk about a future arrangement involving 2
other people.

d. ‘Will’ is used to talk about a future fact. 6

e. ‘Going to’ is used to talk about an intention decided before the moment of 1
speaking.

f. ‘Will’ is used to make a prediction about the future that is not based on evidence. 5
Different aspects
• progressive
• perfect
 2a. In pairs, read another excerpt from a conversation
between Rosanna and Jake during the final week of the course.
Who is keen for the course to finish?

Jake: Only three more days.

Rosanna: Amazing, isn't it? The time’s gone so quickly. Just think, this time next week
I'll be lying in the sun reading a novel and not a book on teaching methodology!
Jake: I'll probably be teaching, but at least I won’t have anyone observing me while I do
it. That’s the bit I find hard.
Rosanna: Oh well, it’s your last lesson today and mine tomorrow. By Friday we'll have
finished everything. It'll all be over.
Jake: Roll on Friday, I say!
 2b. In pairs, answer the questions below, using
the conversation in 2a.

1 Find one example of a future form that is progressive.

I'll be lying in the sun reading a novel or I’ll probably be teaching
2 Find one example of a future form that is perfect.
By Friday we'll have finished everything.
3 Complete the rule:
In this context, the ………………………...progressive
future is used to talk about an action that will
be in ………………………………………..
progress at a specific future……………………………………..
time
4 Complete the rule:
In this context, the ………………………………………….
future perfect is used to talk about an event
that will be ……………………………………………..
completed before a specific ……………………………..........
time in
the …………………………………………………..
future
 2c. In pairs, how do we form these two future
forms?

• Future progressive:
subject + will + be + verb + —ing (present participle)

• Future perfect:
Subject + will + have + verb(past participle)
The interpreter game
Putting it all together
3a. Do the exercise
below.
Do it alone then check in
pairs.
3b. What level do you think the book that
this is taken from is aimed at?
Rope problem
Look at the first sketch and imagine
that you are the person shown
standing in the room. You have been
given the task of tying together the
ends of the two strings suspended
from the ceiling. The strings are
located so that you cannot reach one
string with your outstretched hand
while holding the second in your other
hand. The room is totally bare, and you
have only the resources you would
normally have in your pocket or
handbag. How would you solve this
problem?
Rope problem
Most people will see the difficulty as a
shortness of reach. That is, they state
the problem to themselves as: “How can
I get to the second string?” The
consequence of this perspective is that
all effort goes into vain efforts to find a
means of making one of the strings
longer. But the “givens” of this problem
make such a solution impossible.

If, however, you define the problem as “How can the string and I get together?”, another sort of
solution may occur to you. The solution requires that you see the difficulty in terms of getting
the second string to come to you. If you tie a small object-say, a key or a ring-to the end of one
string and set it swinging like a pendulum, you can grab it while still holding the end of the
second string in the other hand.
3c. Name the correct future forms in the dialogue.
Do this task alone and check in pairs.

• 1 present progressive
• 2 present progressive
• 3 future progressive
• 4 will + base form
• 5 will + base form
• 6 going to + base form
• 7 will+ base form
• 8 will + base form
• 9 future progressive
• 10 will + base form
• 11 simple present
• 12 going to + base form
• 13 will + base form
 3d. Match the examples in 3a to these
descriptions of meaning. Note: There is often
more than one example of each description.
Do this task alone and check in pairs.
a)A personal plan or intention 6
b)An arrangement with other people or organisations 1/2
c)A decision that is made at the time of speaking 4/5/8/10
d)A fixed event on a timetable, calendar, etc. 11
e)A prediction that is based on present evidence 12
f)A prediction that is not based on present evidence 7/13
g)Something that will be in progress at a point in time in
the future 3
h)Something that will happen in the normal course of
events, without any particular plan or intention 9
Office Tennis
In this challenge, the contestants will be doubles partners in the exciting Office Tennis game. Using
clipboards as rackets, the couple must rally a crumpled paper ball back and forth, before landing it into a
wastepaper basket on the opposite side of the stage. If either player double-hits or carries the ball, the line
judge will nullify the point.

Equipment Needed
•Clipboard for each player per person or team
•Balled up paper per person or team
How to Play
1) Each player is given a clipboard/binder
2) They are to hit a balled up paper between the two players and make the ball travel a distance to the trash can
3) They must get the ball into the trashcan
4) They have 60 seconds to get a certain amount or the most.
The Rules of Office Tennis Minute to Win It Game
Neither partner may carry, double hit, or drop the ball.
Other futures
4a. Unscramble the words to create a correct sentence.
Do this task alone and check in pairs.

1. start any race due the at to minute is

The race is due to start at any minute.
2. to opening about is the begin ceremony
The opening ceremony is about to begin.
3. to year plan up next I yoga take
Next year I plan to take up yoga.
4. for go pizza shall out tonight we a ?
Shall we go out for a pizza tonight?
5. imminent is their means strike disagreement a
Their disagreement means a strike is imminent.
6. President to trade this is the the afternoon delegation meet
The President is to meet the trade delegation this afternoon.
4b. Answer these questions:
Do this task alone and check in pairs.

1. Underline the words that indicate future time in these examples.

2 Which example is more formal than the others?

The race is due to start at any minute.

The opening ceremony is about to begin.

Next year I plan to take up yoga.

Shall we go out for a pizza tonight?

Their disagreement means a strike is imminent.

The President is to meet the trade delegation this afternoon. (more formal)
Future dominoes
5. In groups of three or more,
play future dominoes.

Rules of the game:

One player deals out the dominoes
between all the players. Player one puts
down one domino face up on the table.
The players then take it in turns to put
dominoes down by matching future
forms with their meaning.
 There is no future tense in
Reflection task English. To what extent do you
agree with this statement?