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Future
15 Write the numbers of appropriate examples in the spaces.

Future: will and shall

There is no single form used as the future tense. We can use will plus the base form of a verb to give
or ask for information about the future 2 and to talk about possible future actions when we make
promises, requests or threats . We usually use contracted forms after pronouns (’ll) or in negatives
(won’t) unless we are being formal or emphatic.
1 We’ll help you clean up. • I won’t tell anyone. • Will you please go? • Stop or I’ll call the police.
2 Christmas will be on a Friday. • The meeting won’t start until 9.30. • When will you leave?
We can use shall with I or we to express determination, or in questions to make offers or suggestions.
3 We will forgive, but we shall never forget. • Shall I make some tea? • Let’s talk later, shall we?
In American English, will/won’t (not shall/shan’t) are used with I and we.

Future continuous, future perfect and future perfect continuous

We can use will + be + present participle (the future continuous) to talk about future actions in
progress at a particular time and as a way of expressing plans or intentions .
4 I’ll be sending in my application tomorrow. • Will you be using the car later or can I have it?
5 Next week at this time, you will be lying on the beach and we’ll all still be slaving away here.
We can use will + have + past participle (the future perfect) to say that something will be completed
by a particular time . We use will + have been + present participle (the future perfect continuous)
when we look ahead to a future time and imagine an action lasting from a point before that time up
to that future time .
6 On the 10th of this month, I’ll have been living here for exactly two years.
7 By next summer I’ll have finished my degree. • It’s 5.30. Will Jay have left work already?

Will or be going to?

We use will for a prediction based on past experience or knowledge , especially in predictive
conditionals , and be going to for a prediction based on what we feel or think now . We can use
would or was/were going to when we describe a past prediction about the future .
8 Oh, no, I think I’m going to be sick. • We’ve just heard that Kim’s going to have a baby.
9 If you eat too much ice cream, you’ll be sick. • We’ll do okay if the test isn’t too difficult.
10 As soon as the victorious British team lands at Heathrow, thousands of fans will start celebrating.
11 When I was a teenager, I thought I was going to be a rock star and I would never have to work.
We use be going to for a decision already made and will for a decision made at that moment .
12 Her parents have said they’re going to pay for her tuition. • I’ve decided I’m going to get a new
phone.
13 I need someone to take this to the post office. ~ I’ll go! • That’s the phone ringing. ~ I’ll get it!

Present simple and present continuous for the future

We can use the present simple for future events in a schedule or timetable . We also use the present
simple for future actions in clauses after subordinating conjunctions . We can use the present
continuous to talk about a future action we have planned or arranged .
14 I’m seeing the doctor on Friday. • We’re playing tomorrow. (NOT It’s snowing tomorrow.)
15 It won’t matter what he says later. • I’ll see you when I get back. (NOT I’ll see you when I will
get back.)
16 The new course starts in January. • I think Kate’s flight arrives tomorrow morning.

24 Predictive conditionals 185 Subordinating conjunctions 12 Will, would, be going to, shall 32

Oxford Practice Grammar Advanced PHOTOCOPIABLE © Oxford University Press 2008

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2 TENSES

16 Choose an ending (a–d) for each beginning (1–4) and add will, will be or will have been.
1 Next April 21st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . my a By then, he . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . working here for
parent’s silver anniversary. (. . .) 40 years.
2 I’m sure everyone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . want b That means they . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . married for
to get an early start. (. . .) 25 years.
3 Mr Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . teaching his c Do you realize that I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in school
last English classes during May. (. . .) for most of my life so far?
4 My life as a student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . over d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
at the end of this term. (. . .) ready to leave at about 6 am?

17 Complete this text with the most appropriate forms of the verbs, using will, be going to or
the present simple.

be give have make not start not stop

I was standing at the bus stop reading my horoscope in the newspaper. It said, ‘You
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . good moments and bad moments today.’ I looked up and saw the bus coming.
Then I realized it (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . because it was already full. ‘Oh, no,’ I thought. ‘If I
(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . walking fast, I (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . late for my first class!’ I had just started
walking when a car pulled up beside me and one of my classmates leaned out. ‘Hey Jean, get in, we
(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . you a lift.’ It’s amazing how the bad moments (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the good
moments feel so much better.

18 Correct the mistakes in these sentences.

will happen
Example: An imminent event is one that happens soon.
1 Please stop making so much noise or I report you to the supervisor.
2 As I was about to leave his office, Bob said, ‘Let’s get together for lunch sometime, will we?’
3 They came and asked for people to help immediately, so Jenny jumped up and said, ‘I do it!’
4 When he is released next week, Pat McGuire will spend almost five years in prison for a crime he
didn’t commit.
5 I’m going to work on the report at home last night, but I had left all my notes in the office.
6 It’s probably too late to phone Margaret. Do you think she’ll go to bed already?
7 I’m not certain, but I guess it’s raining later this afternoon.
8 Forthcoming books are those that we think to be available soon.
9 I can’t believe that you’ll sit on a plane to Malta while I’m driving to work tomorrow morning.
10 If I’ll finish before you, I wait for you outside.
11 Will Stefan to get these boxes later or is to take them now?
12 I must get to the post office before it’ll close or the parcel doesn’t arrive in time for Joy’s birthday.

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Oxford Practice Grammar Advanced PHOTOCOPIABLE © Oxford University Press 2008