96/2022

WAYS OF
EXPRESSING
THE FUTURE
IN ENGLISH

DODATEK
There are a lot of ways of expressing the future in English. This guide will take
you through all the possible grammatical forms that are used to talk about the
future. You will find out how and when to use them, and do some exercises to
practice. Let’s get started!

to find out sth | dowiedzieć się czegoś

Poradnik językowy jest bezpłatnym dodatkiem do English Matters nr 96/2022.

Opracowanie: Joanna Naporowska
Korekta: Graham Crawford
Colorful Media ul. Lednicka 23, 60-413 Poznań
tel. 61 833 63 28, redakcja@[Link]
Okładka: Michał Sobański/[Link]
 English Matters 96|2022

Tenses
We’ll begin by looking at the tenses. Most people would immediately think
about future tenses such as Future Simple or Future Continuous if asked about
expressing the future in English. However, other tenses also come in handy.

immediately ɪˈmiːdiətli| natychmiast
continuous kənˈtɪnjuəs| ciągły
however| jednak/że
to come in handy| być przydatnym/użytecznym

Present Simple

The present simple is frequently used to talk about schedules and things
happening regularly. Therefore, it can be used for a future situation that is
a part of a fixed timetable:
• Today, the train for London leaves at 9 pm.
• Kate sees Luke tomorrow. (we can imagine we’re reading Kate’s planner).
• The film starts at 7 pm tomorrow.

frequently ˈfriːkwəntli| często
schedule ˈʃedjuːl / ˈskedʒuːl| harmonogram, terminarz
therefore| dlatego
fixed| stały, ustalony
timetable| kalendarium (np. wystaw), plan zajęć/lekcji, rozkład jazdy

Present Continuous

The present continuous refers to a future situation that has already been
arranged before the time of speaking and is sure to happen in the near future
• Kate is seeing Luke tomorrow. (They arranged this meeting yesterday).
• We’re flying to Barcelona next week. (We bought tickets and booked a hotel).

arranged| ustalony, zaplanowany
to book sth| za/rezerwować coś

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 English Matters 96|2022

Future Simple

Future Simple is used in a number of situations. Let’s focus on the most common
ones:
To express a prediction about the future:
• I think Liam will pass the final exams with flying colours.
To express certainty:
•M  elanie called an hour ago that she was about to leave, so she will be home by
now. (The speaker is certain that Melanie is home)
To offer help:
• ‘This bag is so heavy’. ‘Wait, I’ll carry it for you’.
To express a decision made at the moment of speaking:
• I know what I’ll do tomorrow, I’ll tell my boss I need a few days off. (Tthis is
an instant decision)
To make a suggestion using shall:
• Shall we go to the theatre this evening?

to focus on sth| skupić się na czymś certainty ˈsɜːtnti / ˈsɜːrtnti| pewność

with flying colours| śpiewająco, bez a few| kilka
problemów days off| tu: wolne

Future Continuous

Future Continuous usually refers to a situation that begins before a future time
point and continues through that time point:
• Sandra’s plane takes off from Heathrow at 9 o’clock tomorrow, so about midday
she will be flying over Greece.
It indicates a situation in progress at a particular time in the future:
• Today is my last day at work before the holidays. This time next week, I’ll be
sunbathing in Italy.
It is also used for predictions about activities in progress at a certain time in
the future:
• I n ten years’ time everyone will be driving electric cars.
The final, less common use of Future Continuous is for predictions about what
we think someone is doing right now:
•D  on’t call her now. She’ll be preparing dinner for the children.

to take off| odlatywać to sunbathe| opalać się

midday| południe prediction| przewidywanie
to indicate sth| wskazywać (na)
coś

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 English Matters 96|2022

Future Perfect

When we refer to a future action completed before a later future time, we use
will + have + past participle (third form).
• I will have moved to another house just before I turn 60.
(Moving to another house will be completed earlier than turning 60).
• By the time she leaves Lisbon tomorrow, Craig will have seen Peter and told him
the news.

Future Perfect Continuous

We use Future Perfect Continuous to express how long someone has been
doing something up to a certain point in the future. It is structured with will +
have + been + – ing form.
• By the end of next week, Emma will have been working as a journalist for three
months.
•B  y the time they graduate from university, they will have been studying English
for fifteen years.

journalist ˈdʒɜːnəlɪst / ˈdʒɜːrnəlɪst| dziennikarz

to graduate from university| ukończyć uniwersytet

Be + going to

Although this structure doesn’t have a proper name like the previously
mentioned tenses, it’s commonly used while expressing the future.
Be going to may be used:
when you predict a future situation on the basis of the evidence you have or
can see.
Look at this dark sky and heavy clouds! It’s going to rain today!
If you think the car is going to break down, we should take the bus then.
when you talk about intentions and plans made before the time of speaking:
• I’m going to pinpoint all the problems of the company in a meeting with my
boss.
• She’s going to stay a couple of days at her friend’s in Germany next month.

previously ˈpriːviəsli | uprzednio, wcześniej

to break down | zepsuć się
to pinpoint sth | s/precyzować, dokładnie określić coś
a couple of days | kilka dni

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 English Matters 96|2022

Talking about events in the near future, we should differentiate between Present
Continuous and be + going to. Compare:
• I’m going to start my journey to Asia in May. (This is what I intend to do, but
it is not yet certain.)
• I’m starting my journey to Asia in May. (This is arranged and certain, I have
tickets and accommodation booked).
We should also be aware of the fact that we can use both be + going to and
Future Simple while talking about predictions based on the same information.
The meaning is very similar:
• I believe it’s going to be very difficult to make her speak her mind. She’s so shy.
• I believe it will be very difficult to make her speak her mind. She’s so shy.

to differentiate between sth and

sth | rozróżnić coś od czegoś
to intend | mieć zamiar,
zamierzać
accommodation
| zakwaterowanie
booked | zarezerwowany
to be aware of sth | być
świadomym czegoś
meaning | znaczenie
to speak one’s mind | wyrazić
swoje zdanie

Exercise 1
Match the sentence halves:
1. Look how rainy it is outside, a. at 4 pm.
2. We will leave without you b. I guess we’ll stay home today.
3. I have lots of plans for the c. if you don’t hurry up.
weekend. First of all,
4. The train leaves d. in two hours.
5. The plane is leaving e. I’m visiting my grandma.

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 English Matters 96|2022

Exercise 2
  1. The bus __________ (to arrive) at 11:30.
  2. We __________ (to have) lunch at this new Italian restaurant on Sunday.
  3. I t __________(to snow) in Warsaw tomorrow morning.
  4. On Sunday at 8 o’clock, I __________ (to meet) my boyfriend.
  5. G eorge __________ (to fly) to Madrid on Tuesday morning.
  6. Wait! I __________ (to help) you with the luggage.
  7. T
 he lesson __________ (to start) at 9.00. I’m so excited!
  8. I __________ (to see) my family in August.
  9. Look at the clouds – it __________ (to rain) in a few minutes.
10. By the time they __________ (to get) married in July, they __________
(to be) together for six years.
11. Y our bag looks so heavy. I __________ (to open) the door for you.
12. Do you think the headmaster __________ (to announce) his decision by
Monday morning?
13. I __________ (to buy) fruit and vegetables from the grocery shop when
it __________ (to open).
14. Before we __________ (to start) our meeting, we __________ (to have
to) draw conclusions on the basis of the results.
15. I ’m very sorry, Mr Smith __________ (not be) back in the office until
2pm.
16. This summer, I __________ (to work) in Warsaw for four years.
17. I don’t think you __________ (to struggle) with English when you land
in London.
18. Anna’s baby should be due in a couple of days, by next week she
__________ (to be) pregnant for nine months.
19. By the time Tim gets to the pub, they __________ (to play) football for
30 minutes.
20. In three years I __________ (to study) medicine abroad.
21. When you __________ (to get) off the bus, Susie __________ (to wait)
for you by the ticket machine.
22. _ _________ (to take) your husband with you to Ireland?
23. T  his time next week, I __________ (ski) in France!
24. Now, I __________ (to mark) my students’ tests.
25. T  he performance ___________ at 7 pm tomorrow.

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 English Matters 96|2022

Modal verbs for the future

Most of the future tenses already use modal verbs because they use ‘will’. If
you need to use a different modal verb, such as ‘can’ or ‘should’, do it normally
with the infinitive form of the verb:
• I can hang out at the weekend.
• Should I start studying Physics next year?
Modal verbs can refer to future situations perfectly. Let’s take a look at two
more examples:
• Dave might come over next weekend. (It is possible that this will happen). You
can also use may or could to express future possibility.
• You must finish the test before the end of the lesson. (You are obliged to finish
the report.)

Other forms
Be + to + infinitive

This form is not common in informal language. It expresses something

that is to happen in the future as a plan usually set by some authority other
than the subject of the sentence. These are usually official events and formal
arrangements:
• The Prime Minister is to fly to Budapest this evening for the Climate Change
Conference.
• The First Lady is to open a new hospital in Paris later this evening.
We can also see this form in official instructions and orders. When used in the
negative form, it expresses prohibition.
• All employees are to attend an induction day at the end of the week.
• You are not to leave this meeting until I say so.

set| ustalony
Prime Minister| premier
prohibition| zakaz
employee ɪmˈplɔɪiː| pracownik
induction| tu: wprowadzenie (dla
nowych pracowników)

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 English Matters 96|2022

Be about to

We often use be about to + infinitive to say that something will happen in

the very near future.
• Some products are about to disappear from the market.
• Scientists say they are about to find a cure for cancer.

to disappear tə ˌdɪsəˈpɪə(r) / ˌdɪsəˈpɪr| znikać

Be on the brink/verge/point of

All the phrases are used to say that something will happen very soon.
• Our country’s economy is on the brink of heading into a recession.
• This historical museum is on the brink of closing down because of lack of
funding.
• They are on the verge of becoming a benchmark on the market.
• The two companies are on the point of reaching an agreement.

to be on the brink/verge/point of| być o krok od

benchmark| tu: standard, norma

Be due to

We use be due to + infinitive to talk about things that are planned or expected
to happen.
• She is due to give birth at the end of May.
• The Prime Minister is due to leave for the conference tomorrow morning.

if clauses

We also often use be to + infinitive in an if-clause to talk about future possibilities.

In these cases, we say what should be done (main clause) to achieve the desired
result (if-clause).
• We need to meet at least a few more times if we are to avoid repeating the same
mistake.
• If Jane is to succeed, she will need to focus and work harder.

at least| przynajmniej
to focus| skupić się, skoncentrować się

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 English Matters 96|2022

Be bound to / be likely to

We use be bound to + infinitive to say that something is certain or very likely to

happen. We use be likely to + infinitive to talk about things which will probably
happen:
• They are bound to get to know him. He is also attending a party next week.
• His new film is bound to receive rave reviews from the critics.
• The government is likely to introduce a new tax law as of January.
• It’s likely that John will have to make up for the time off work.
(the structure: it is + likely + that )
We use be unlikely + infinitive to say that something will probably not happen.
• She is unlikely to get a bonus at work .
• It’s unlikely that the company’s turnover rate will get lower.

tax law| prawo podatkowe

to make up for sth| nadrobić coś
turnover rate| wskaźnik rotacji pracowników

Exercise 3
Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets.
1. I’m sure he will face some tough questions in court. (bound)
He_____________________________________________ in
court.
2. I don’t think they will have reached their destination yet. (unlikely)
I think they ________________________________________
3. I expect she’ll be awarded an Oscar for this role. (likely)
I think she _________________________________________
4. He will sign a new contract with his previous employer’s competitor in
the next few days. (verge)
He _____________________________________________
5. T he 50-storey building will be demolished later today. (about)
The 50-storey building ________________________________

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