TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE IN ENGLISH
Many students use only will or going to in order to talk about the
future. However, it’s very common to use the present continuous to
talk about the future, in the case of arrangements that are planned:
+ I’m having dinner with friends tonight.
+ She’s meeting David at the train station tomorrow.
– He isn’t coming to the party.
– We aren’t seeing our family this weekend.
? What are you doing on Saturday?
? Is Mary arriving at 7:00 or 8:00 tomorrow morning?
You can use the present continuous for future plans with these
words:
tonight, tomorrow, this weekend
next week/month/year
this summer/fall/winter/spring
on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/etc.
next Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/etc.
"Present continuous" vs "Future"
1. Present Continuous
Describe una acción que va a tener lugar en un futuro más o menos inmediato,
pero que la decisión de realizarla fue tomada en el pasado.
Next Monday I am flying to Paris (La decisión de volar a París no la he
tomado justo en este momento sino que ya lo había decidido con
anterioridad).
Con un sentido similar se podría utilizar la expresión "going to...".
Next Monday I am going to fly to Paris
No obstante entre el "present continuous" y "going to..." hay
algunas diferencias:
a) El "present continuous" se prefiere en aquellas acciones que han sido ya
programadas del tipo, reuniones, viajes, fiestas, etc, en las que hay que
poner de acuerdo a otras personas.
b) La expresión "going to..." se utiliza principalmente cuando se quiere
resaltar la voluntad del emisor. Éste está plenamente decidido a realizar esa
acción por lo que hay muchas probabilidades de que se lleve a cabo.
Posiblemente el emisor haya realizado ya alguna actuación encaminada a
ejecutar la acción.
This evening I am going to the see the match between Real Madrid
and Barcelona (ya he comprado las entradas).
c) También la expresión "going to" se utiliza para describir acciones que van
a suceder en un futuro inmediato ya que hay indicios que apuntan a ello: The
sky is very dark; it is going to rain.
d) Mientras que con el "present continuous" siempre hay que mencionar
el momento en el que se va a desarrollar la acción, con la expresión "going
to..." cabe a veces omitir toda referencia temporal (se entiende que va a
tener lugar en un futuro inmediato pero no se precisa cuando).
Arrangements: acordado arreglado
Let´s Practice….
Present continuous for future
1. Say if the Present Continuous expresses:
a) an activity happening now or b) a planned future arrangement.
a. It’s eight o’clock, Meg. Are you getting ready for school?
a) b. What time are Paul and Paula coming for dinner tonight?
c. Why are you laughing?
d. Where’s Jim? He’s taking the dog out for a walk.
e. What are you doing after school?
f. Are you enjoying the lesson?
g. She is working late next Friday?
2. Complete with the words from the boxes
taking leaving is having are Are
Questions:
When _________ you _________________ the hotel? Who __________
_________ you to the museum? _____________ they _____________ lunch
with us?
’m ’m not are having isn’t returning
visiting watching
Affirmative sentences
I _____________ _________________ lunch with Tomek tomorrow. They
___________ _________________ at half past five.
Negative sentences I _________________ _________________ the film
tomorrow. She _________________ _________________ the museum with
Ben.
3.Complete with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
BEN: Hi Pedro! Are you (1) ______________(visit) the Science Museum
tomorrow?
PEDRO: No, I’m not.
BEN: Really? What are you (2) _________________ (do)?
PEDRO: Well, I’m (3) _________________ (come) with you in the morning.
BEN: Okay
PEDRO: And we’re all (4) _________________ (have) lunch together.
BEN: Yes, but why aren’t you (5) _________________ (come) to the Science
Museum then?
PEDRO: Because I’m (6) _________________ (visit) the National History
Museum.
BEN: Who’s (7) _________________ (take) you there?
PEDRO: Kate. BEN When are you (8) _________________ (return) to the
hotel?
PEDRO: At half past five.
BEN: Oh! The same time as us!
4. Make questions using the prompts.
1 When / Ben and Pedro / leave the hotel?
______________________________________________________
2 What / they / do / between 11am and 1pm?
______________________________________________________
3 What time / they / have lunch?
______________________________________________________
4 Where / they / have lunch?
______________________________________________________
5 What / they / do / at 2.30?
______________________________________________________
6 Who / visit / the Natural History Museum?
______________________________________________________
7 Who / take / Ben / to the Science Museum?
______________________________________________________
8 When / they / leave / for the theatre?
______________________________________________________
