MEANS OF EXPRESSING FUTURITY

An action that takes place in the future is not under the control of the speaker as are the
actions that took place in the past or are taking place in the present. Linguistic frustration, as to
the action that is to take place in the future, is seen in the fact that in English there are few future
tenses proper, but a large number of means of expressing futurity. The speakers feel
uncomfortable that they cannot have real control over future actions and, consequently, they have
''invented'' a variety of means used to express an action that will take place in the future. Up to a
certain point all these means are synonymous in the fact that they all express a future action; but
synonymy stops at this point as each of these means differs from the others in various ways.
When discussing futurity, a distinction is made between future with intention and future
without intention1:
 Future with intention: a form which expresses a future action which will be undertaken
by the speaker in accordance with his wishes. Shall/will + Infinitive, Be going to- form, Present
Continuous can be used in this way.
 Future without intention: a form which merely states that a certain action will happen.
The Present Simple and Future Continuous can be used in this way.
The various means of expressing the future in English are:
1. The Present Continuous Tense
2. The Present Simple Tense
3. The Future Simple Tense
4. The Future Continuous Tense
5. The Future Perfect Simple
6. The Future Perfect Continuous
7. The ''going to'' form
8. Be + infinitive (to be to)
9. To be about + infinitive
10. To be on the point of + gerund

1. The Present Continuous Tense as a future form

Characteristics:

 it is used only with a future time expression as, otherwise, it may be confused with the
present continuous tense proper;
 it is used to express a ''definite arrangement'' in the near future;
 with verbs of movement from one place to another, e.g. arrive, come, drive, fly, go, leave,
start, travel, verbs indicating position, e.g. stay, remain and the verbs do and have (food and
drink) the present continuous tense can be used to express a decision or plan without any definite
arrangement.
This method of expressing the future cannot be used with verbs which are not normally
used in the continuous tenses. These verbs should be put in another form of expressing future
action.
 it cannot be associated with adverbs of frequency.

1
Thomson, Martinet: 168

-1-
  She is working with John on that project tonight. (= they agreed and probably made
plans);
 I am meeting Tom at the supermarket. (= we arranged that meeting in advance, so it is
very likely that we should meet);
 Tom is taking Mary to the restaurant tomorrow night. (= the two talked, Mary agreed to
go out for dinner and Tom probably made reservations at the restaurant);
 John is leaving for Bucharest this afternoon (= he bought his ticket).
 the present tense continuous is the most usual way of asking people about their plans:
 What are you doing tonight? (= have you arranged anything for tonight?)
 I'm going to the disco with some friends.
 I'm not doing anything special. Actually, I'm baby-sitting for Mary's child.

2. The Present Simple Tense referring to Future Time

The Present Simple with future time reference occurs in simple/independent sentences and
in subordinate clauses.
 In simple sentences: The Present Simple denotes planned future actions, when the
future action is considered part of an already fixed programme, particularly when it refers to
statements about the calendar, to a journey or timetable. This use is particularly frequent with a
limited group of verbs of motion such as come, go, leave, return as well as with verbs expressing
planned activity: begin, finish, start, end, meet.
Adverbials indicating future time are obligatory for the correct interpretation of the
temporal value.
 The examination begins at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.
 The train leaves Plymouth at 6:30 and arrives in London at 8:30.
 Our winter holiday begins on December 22nd.
 What time does the film begin?
 The tourists visit the British Museum on Friday morning.
The Present Simple is used only in those contexts in which the anticipated event is
considered as an assured fact, the future event is considered as unalterable, as a certainty. There is
a pronounced modal nuance of certainty with this use. According to R. Quirk, ''the anticipated
event is attributed the same degree of certainty that one usually associates with present or past
events.''
Therefore, the Present Simple with future time reference is used in contexts about plans and
arrangements considered as unalterable.
 In subordinate clauses: The Present Simple with future time reference is used in certain
types of subordinate clauses. The idea of futurity is clearly denoted in the main clause which
expresses or implies future time:
 I'll give you the book as soon as I finish it.
 We shall be late if you don't hurry.
 Unless you leave now, you will miss the train.
 The sooner you finish the better it will be.

3. The Future Simple (Shall/will Future)

Form: This tense is formed of the auxiliaries shall/will followed by the short infinitive of
the main verb. Shall is normally used in the 1 st person sg/pl. This use is more frequent in formal

-2-
British English, while in informal contexts, as well as in American English it is often replaced by
will. Will is used in the 2nd and 3rd person sg/pl.

Uses and values:

 The Future Simple is used to denote actions to be performed in the future. Thus, the
Future Simple is used for predictions about the future, for announcements of future plans. The
performance of a future action or the occurrence of an event in the future may be caused by
objective circumstances or may depend on a condition:
 I shall/will be 20 next week (formal/colloquial English).
 My horoscope says that next year will bring me success and happiness.
 He'll come back next week.
 Will they open the exhibition tomorrow?
Syntactically, the Future Simple is particularly common in:
 the main clause of Temporal and Conditional sentences (the future is not used in the
subordinate clause of Time and Condition. The Present tense is used instead):
 When it gets warmer, the snow will start to melt.
 She will forgive you if you apologize to her.
 Object clauses introduced by verbs which express the speaker's opinion or assumption
about the future: believe, expect, hope, suppose, think, I'm sure, I'm afraid:
 I suppose they'll sell their house.
 Do you think it will rain?
 I promise I'll be on time.
Common time markers (time expressions) with Future Simple are adverbials of future time
such as: tomorrow, combinations with next (next week/month), prepositional phrases introduced
by in (in the future, in two years, in ten days' time), expressions with from now (two weeks from
now) etc.
 Apart from expressing pure futurity, shall and will can acquire modal values when are
used in other persons than specified above, or when are used in some special constructions
(interrogative, negative). Thus, shall acquires special values:
 in the 1st person sg/pl interrogative sentences it expresses:
 request for advice or suggestion:
 Where shall I put the book?
 ''What shall we do this afternoon?'' ''Let's go for a walk.''
 I've lost my bag? What shall I do?
 making an offer:
 Shall I open the door? (Do you want me to open the door?)
 in the 2nd and 3rd person sg/pl. shall expresses the speaker's intention to perform a certain
action as well as a command. Both these uses are rather formal, old-fashioned and are normally
avoided in spoken English.
 the speaker's intention to perform a certain action:
 They shall have my support. (promise, determination)
 You shall have your money by the end of the week.
 He shan't come here. (I won't let him come).
 command, formal instruction:
 Each competitor shall wear a number.

-3-
  All students shall attend classes regularly.
Will expresses modal values:
 in the 1st person sg/pl. will expresses unpremeditated intention, immediate decision:
 ''Can somebody help me?'' ''I will.''
 ''It's hot in here.'' ''I'll open the window.''
 ''I've said it before, but now I really will stop smoking.''
 in the 2nd, 3rd persons sg/pl., interrogative sentences will expresses willingness: request,
invitation:
 Will you do me a favour? (request)
 Will you give me a helping hand?
 Will you come in, please? (invitation)
 in negative sentences will expresses absence of willingness:
 I won't see him again. (I refuse to see him again)
Compare:
 I shan't see him again. (There will be no opportunity for another meeting)

4. The Future Continuous Tense

Form: It is formed of the Future Simple of the auxiliary be + the Present participle of the
main verb: I shall/will be working

Uses and values:

 It denotes an action in progress at a given time in the future. Like the Past Continuous,
the Future Continuous is generally used to set up a background or a frame activity that is in
progress at a certain future time or when another action takes places.
Time markers to indicate the specific/given future time are expressed by:
 an adverbial phrase denoting a point of time: at 5 o'clock, this time tomorrow/next week
etc.:
 ''What will you be doing at 7 o'clock tomorrow?'' ''I'll be working.''
 ''Is it all right if I come at about 8:30?'' ''No, don't come then. I'll be watching the match
on TV.''
With an adverbial expressing a period of time: all day tomorrow, every day next week, the
Future Continuous denotes an action in progress over a period of time:
 I'll be working all day tomorrow.
 I'll be studying late every day next week.
 a subordinate Clause of Time (the verb is in the Present Tense)
 I'll be working when they arrive: (the action of ''working'' will begin before these time
markers - 7 o'clock tomorrow, when they arrive - and will be in progress at that particular time in
future.)
 This time next year she'll be running her own business.
 Don't phone me at 7'oclok. I shall be watching TV.
 Future as a matter of course (future without intention
The Future Continuous refers to a future event which will take place ''as a matter of
course''. According to G. Leech, ''this usage has grown up through the need to have a way of

-4-
referring to the future uncontaminated by factors of volition, intention, plan which enter into the
future meanings of shall/will + Infinitive, Present Progressive and Be Going to''.
The Future Continuous suggests that the activity is part of the normal course of events, an
activity without any implication of personal intention. The construction is particularly useful for
avoiding the suggestion of intention in the simple will-construction.
The fact that the Future Continuous indicates a future event without intention (i.e. an event
which will happen independently of the will or intention of anyone concerned) can be seen in a
comparison of the Future Simple and the Future Continuous.
 In affirmative sentences: unlike the Future Simple which expresses the speaker's
intention of a future action, the Future Continuous does not express intention:
 I will write to Tom. (I've made up my mind/I intend to write)
 I will be writing to Tom. (the Future Continuous expresses no intention: it's a mere
statement of fact).
 In interrogative sentences: The distinction between the Future Simple and the Future
Continuous is even more obvious in questions. The Future Simple expresses intention, request or
invitation while the Future Continuous expresses a mere question about a future action:
 When will you visit us again? (is a question about the listener's intention)
 When will you be visiting us again? (simply asks the listener to predict the time of his
visit)
 Will you bring the boxes in here? (polite request. Possible answer: ''yes, Sir!'')
 Will you be bringing the boxes in here? ( a question about a future action. Possible
answers: ''I think I will" or "No, I think I will leave them in the hall") 2
 In negative sentences: the Future Simple expresses intention not to do a certain thing,
absence of volition, i.e. refusal, while the Future Continuous merely states that a certain action
will not take place:
 Ann says she won't come if Tom is driving.
 Well, tell her Tom won't be driving; he's had his license suspended.
 The Future Continuous with other temporal values
The Future Continuous can express supposition, strong probability referring to the present,
virtual certainty in the present:
 You'll be wondering why I acted like that.
 She'll be sleeping now.
 He'll be asking himself what has happened.

5. The Future Perfect Simple

Form: It consists of the future tense of the auxiliary have + the Past Participle of the
main verb: I shall/will have worked

Uses and values:

 The Future Perfect Simple expresses a future action which will take place or will be
completed before a certain future moment. The verb in the Future Perfect is used with a reference
point (or time marker) to indicate the future moment/action before which this future action is seen

2
Thomson and Martinet

-5-
as completed. The future moment from which the action is viewed as completed may be indicated
by means of:
 an adverbial phrase introduced by the prepositions by, before, in:
 By next Sunday he will have moved into the new house.
 They will have emigrated to Canada by Christmas.
 In two years' time I'll have finished this book.
 I hope they will have repaired the road by next Sunday.
 In two years' time he will have taken his degree.
 a subordinate clause of time introduced by the conjunctions before, when, by the time. (the
verb is in the Present Tense)
Compare:
 I hope they will have repaired this road by next Sunday.
 I hope they will have repaired this road by the time we come back.
 Continuative use
With state verbs (i.e. verbs which cannot be used in the Continuous forms) the Future
Perfect Simple expresses an action begun before a given future moment and still going on at that
future moment.
Usually, two time markers occur with the Future Prefect Simple having a continuative use:
 a time marker which expresses the reference point: a certain/given future moment
 a time marker introduced by for to indicate the length of time (the duration)
 By the end of the year I shall have been here for two months.
 On October 1st I shall have been here for two months.
 Next February I shall have been here for two months.
 The Future Perfect with other temporal values
The Future Perfect can be used to express supposition, strong, probability, an assumption
on the part of the speaker about an action performed at a previous moment (in the past).
The verb is used in the 2nd or 3rd persons:
 No doubt you will have heard of this writer. (= I assume, suppose you have heard of this
writer)
 They will have left by now. (= I think they have already left)
 They will have got home by now. (= They have surely got home by now).

6. The Future Perfect Continuous

Form: It consists of the Future Perfect of the auxiliary be + the present participle of the
main verb: I shall/will have been working.

Uses and values:

Like any continuous tense, the future perfect continuous underlines the continuous
character of an action which will occur in the future, and which, at that future moment will be in
the past. It is always used with time expressions beginning with by, e.g. by then, by that time, by
tomorrow, by next Sunday etc., or this time next week/month/year etc. Sometimes, the future
perfect continuous can be used as an alternative of the future perfect simple.
 By the end of January he will have been studying/will have studied English for 20
years.

-6-
  This time next year we will have been living/will have lived here for a decade.
It can be used for an apparently continuous action in the future which, at a certain time, will
be in the past, i.e. adverbs of frequency and numerical restrictions are forbidden:
 By the end of the year he will have been teaching English to non-natives for 10 years.
 This time next month he will have been playing in concerts.

7. The ''be going to" form

Form: the be going to - construction is formed of the continuous form of the verb go + the
long infinitive of the main verb. E.g. I am going to write. In this structure, go loses its meaning
as a verb of movement and becomes an empty grammatical word (an auxiliary).
The going to - construction has two values:
 Intention: The be going to - form expresses the subject's intention (plan, decision) to
perform a certain future action (the future fulfillment of present intention). This use is found
chiefly with human (+animate) subjects:
 ''What are you going to do tonight?" "I'm going to stay at home and watch TV."
 They are going to leave tonight. (they've decided to leave)
 I'm going to be a teacher when I grow up.
The be going to - form can be used without a time expression. It then usually refers to the
immediate or near future.
 I'm going to read you some of my own poems.
 We're going to spend our holiday in the mountains.
 "Do you remember that job I was talking about?" "I'm going to accept it."
 Prediction. The going to - form expresses a future action which appears likely or
inevitable due to present causes or circumstances. The construction is used without a time
expression but, usually, refers to the near or immediate future. The construction is found both
with animate and inanimate subjects.
 He has solved all the problems in his test; he is going to get a good mark.
 The horse is limping badly. He isn't going to finish the race.
 Those dark clouds men it's going to rain. (i.e. I can already see black clouds gathering)
 I feel dizzy - I'm going to faint. (I already feel ill)

Comparison between the Be going to form and other means of expressing futurity:
 Be going to - form and Present continuous
Be going to - form can be used with a time expression as an alternative to the Present
Continuous for the ''near future":
 I'm going to meet them at the station at 5 o'clock.
 I'm meeting them at the station at 5 o'clock. (The Present Continuous implies an
arrangement)
 Be going to - form and Simple Future
Both forms express intention: The be going to - form always implies planned, premeditated
intention (the decision has been made before the moment of speaking). The Simple Future
implies unplanned, unpremeditated intention.
 "I have bought some bricks and I'm going to build a garage." "I'm thirsty." "I'll fetch
you a glass of water."

-7-
 8. Be to + infinitive
NOTE: to be to + infinitive is a very useful construction that, essentially, is used to convey
orders or instructions and to convey a plan, which can be included among the means of
expressing a future action.
The construction expresses the following meanings:
 an arrangement which has been planned for the future, a future action which has already
been arranged , decided upon, or is bound to happen.
 The meeting is to begun at 8 o'clock.
 The President is to visit Japan next year.
 They are to be married in June.
 an order, instruction, command, usually an indirect one: the speaker merely passes on
orders issued by someone else. It's a construction expressing the will of someone other that the
speaker.
 You are to be back by 10 o'clock.
 You are to stay in bed for ten days.
This construction is frequently used in written media:
 The president is to open the UNO session tomorrow. (= The President is scheduled to
open the UNO session tomorrow.)
 The Queen is to make a statement tonight. (= She was scheduled/ this plan has been
made, to make a statement tonight.)
In order to make such a newspaper title shorter, the definite article THE may be left out as
well as the verb IS, the resulting form being:
 President to open the UNO session tomorrow;
or
 Queen to make a statement tonight.
The past equivalent is the verb to be in the past tense form + infinitive:
 They said that the President was to open the UNO session the following day
 They said that the Queen was to make a statement that night.
 Was/were + vb-infinitive is possible, as well as
 Was/were + vb-perfect infinitive
 She was to stay with them the whole summer. (= we do not know if the plan was carried
out and she did stay with them the whole summer)
 The Lord Mayor was to have laid the foundation stone but he was taken ill last night so
the Lady Mayoress is doing it instead. (=unfulfilled plan, i.e. the Lord Mayor was taken ill and he
did not carry out the plan).

9. To be about + infinitive
The construction expresses an immediate future action whose fulfillment is imminent. It is
thus an equivalent to the be going to - form and Present Continuous form.
The construction is used with animate and inanimate subjects. Additional time markers are
usually not required since the meaning of the construction itself is ''soon'', or ''right away''.
 Hurry up! The train is about to leave.
 I feel that something terrible is about to happen.

-8-
 10. To be on the point of + Vb-gerund
This construction is very similar to the previous one, although it expresses a little bit more
immediate future action.
 She is on the point of getting married. (= she is very likely to get married very soon).
 "Can you come over for dinner?" "I'm sorry, we can't. We are on the point of
leaving/we are leaving for London. (= the action is imminent/we have the tickets)
The past equivalent is also useful:
 When we got there, they were on the point of leaving/they were just leaving for the
countryside.

-9-