Lesson focus
Predictions, evidence, arrangements, schedules, future continuous, future perfect and formal future expressions
Advanced aim: Treat future forms as competing ways of construing evidence, arrangement, schedule, expectation and future viewpoint, not as one-form/one-time rules.
Spontaneous decision
Use will for a decision made at the moment of speaking.
- Example: I'll handle the call; you finish the report.
- In another context: I'll handle the call; you finish the audit summary.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Evidence-based prediction
Use be going to when present evidence points strongly to a future result.
- Example: Look at those figures; we're going to exceed the quarterly target.
- In another context: Look at those figures; we're going to exceed the production target.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Personal arrangement
Use the present continuous for a future arrangement that has already been organised.
- Example: I'm meeting the legal team at two tomorrow afternoon.
- In another context: I'm meeting the procurement lawyers at two on Thursday morning.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Official schedule
Use the present simple for timetabled or officially scheduled future events.
- Example: The hearing begins at 10:00 on Monday.
- In another context: The hearing begins at 10:00 on Thursday.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Expected future activity
Use the future continuous for an activity expected to be in progress at a future time.
- Example: This time next week, we'll be presenting the findings in Geneva.
- In another context: At this point next month, we'll be presenting the case findings in Dublin.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Polite future enquiry
The future continuous can make questions about someone's plans sound neutral and non-pressuring.
- Example: Will you be using the conference room this afternoon?
- In another context: Will you be using the presentation hall this afternoon?
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Future completion
Use the future perfect for something expected to be completed before a future point.
- Example: By the end of June, we will have migrated all customer accounts.
- In another context: By the end of July, we will have migrated all customer accounts.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Future duration
Use the future perfect continuous to emphasise duration up to a future reference point.
- Example: In October, she will have been leading the unit for five years.
- In another context: In February, she will have been leading the support desk for four years.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Due to
Be due to is useful for events expected or scheduled to happen at a particular time.
- Example: The report is due to be published next Wednesday.
- In another context: The audit summary is due to be published early next month.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
About to
Be about to refers to the immediate future: something is on the point of happening.
- Example: The chair is about to announce the final decision.
- In another context: The meeting lead is about to announce the final decision.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
C1 takeaway
Do not ask only “Which form is grammatically possible?” Ask what the speaker is presenting as background or foreground, completed or ongoing, certain or tentative, generic or specific, neutral or emphatic. Advanced grammar is the control of those choices.
Predictions, evidence, arrangements, schedules, future continuous, future perfect and formal future expressions
_____ the call; you finish the feasibility study.
Look at those figures; _____ the annual savings target.
_____ the compliance advisers at two early next week.
The hearing _____ at 10:00 on Wednesday.
At the corresponding time next week, _____ the survey conclusions in Rotterdam.
_____ the interview suite this afternoon?
By the end of March, we _____ all customer accounts.
In May, she _____ the policy team for six years.
The feasibility study _____ on the following Monday.
The moderator _____ the final decision.
Predictions, evidence, arrangements, schedules, future continuous, future perfect and formal future expressions
_____ the call; you finish the assessment.
Look at those figures; _____ the monthly output target.
_____ the external counsel at two at the end of the month.
The hearing _____ at 10:00 on Friday.
At this time next Thursday, _____ the recommendations in Brussels.
_____ the training room this afternoon?
By the end of September, we _____ all customer accounts.
In September, she _____ the regional branch for nearly a decade.
The assessment _____ next Tuesday.
The panel chair _____ the final decision.
Predictions, evidence, arrangements, schedules, future continuous, future perfect and formal future expressions
I'll handle the call; you finish the briefing paper.
Look at those figures; we're going to exceed the recruitment target.
I'm meeting the contracts team at two on Friday evening.
The hearing begins at 10:00 on Tuesday.
At the same time next Tuesday, we'll be presenting the preliminary results in Helsinki.
Will you be using the main boardroom this afternoon?
By the end of November, we will have migrated all customer accounts.
In November, she will have been leading the research division for seven years.
The briefing paper is due to be published on Thursday morning.
The facilitator is about to announce the final decision.