Explanation
Exercises
Advanced Future Forms

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.

Exercises:
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Predictions, evidence, arrangements, schedules, future continuous, future perfect and formal future expressions

1
Complete the reply so that the decision is made at the moment of speaking: the call; you finish the cost analysis. (take)
2
Complete the prediction so that it is presented as an inference from evidence already visible now: With 94% of the stock already allocated and two days left, of replacement units before Friday. (run out)
3
Complete the sentence so that the future event is presented as a personal arrangement already fixed: It's in both calendars: the external auditors at 14:30 on Tuesday. (meet)
4
Complete the sentence using the form that treats the event as part of an official published schedule: According to the court timetable, the hearing at 09:30 sharp. (start)
5
Complete the sentence so that the activity is viewed as already in progress at the stated future time: At 11 tomorrow morning, the preliminary findings to the oversight committee. (present)
6
Complete the question so that it sounds like a neutral enquiry about someone's expected plans rather than a request: the recording studio at three? I only need to know whether it will be free. (use)
7
Complete the sentence so that all transfers are viewed as finished before the deadline: By midnight on 30 June, the bank every remaining legacy account to the new platform. (transfer)
8
Complete the sentence so that the duration continuing up to the future reference point is foregrounded: By next January, Maya the research unit for ten years. (direct)
9
Complete the sentence using the expression that presents the change as officially expected on a specified date: The revised safety code on 1 October. (due / come into force)
10
Complete the sentence so that the event is presented as immediately imminent: Please take your seats; the final briefing . (about / begin)

Predictions, evidence, arrangements, schedules, future continuous, future perfect and formal future expressions

1
The phone on line two has just started ringing. Choose the form that presents the response as a decision made now: it; you stay with the client in reception.
2
The graph is already falling sharply. Choose the form that most strongly presents the prediction as evidence-based: At this rate, demand below last year's level before the quarter ends.
3
The flights and hotel are already booked. Choose the form that presents the trip as an arranged plan: I to Geneva on Monday morning.
4
Choose the form that treats the departure as a published timetable fact: According to the schedule, the last ferry at 21:40.
5
Choose the form that places the activity in progress at exactly 09:15 tomorrow: At 09:15 tomorrow, I the final witness.
6
You only want information, not a favour. Choose the most neutral enquiry: to the conference centre tomorrow morning?
7
Choose the form that presents the entire changeover as complete before 2028: By the beginning of 2028, every regional office to the new security standard.
8
Choose the form that foregrounds duration up to next April: By next April, Daniel the programme for twelve consecutive years.
9
Choose the form that best presents the date as an official expectation rather than immediate imminence: The northern entrance on 6 November after the safety inspection.
10
The wheels are down and touchdown is seconds away. Choose the most precise form: The aircraft .

Predictions, evidence, arrangements, schedules, future continuous, future perfect and formal future expressions

1
What would most likely change if I'll call her were replaced by I'm going to call her?She still hasn't received the figures? I'll call her now.
A.
B.
C.
2
What does is going to fail foreground in this context?The motor is making a grinding noise and overheating; it is going to fail if we keep it running.
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B.
C.
3
Why is the present continuous especially natural here?I've confirmed the time with both sides: I'm seeing counsel at 16:00 on Thursday.
A.
B.
C.
4
What viewpoint does the present simple create?According to the published programme, the keynote starts at 09:00.
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B.
C.
5
Which nuance is strongest in the highlighted form?Don't wait for me at noon; I will be briefing the legal team then.
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B.
C.
6
Why can this form sound less pressuring than Will you use the car??Will you be using the car this evening? I need to know whether I should book a taxi.
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B.
C.
7
What does the future perfect add?By the time the inspectors return, we will have replaced every faulty sensor.
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B.
C.
8
What is foregrounded by the continuous perfect?By September, Noor will have been managing the regional programme for eight years.
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B.
C.
9
Why would is about to open change the meaning?The new rail link is due to open in December.
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B.
C.
10
What does is about to contribute that is going to does not necessarily contribute?The chair is about to announce the result; the microphones are live and everyone is waiting.
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B.
C.