EfS Grammar VI:Future Tenses

Saying something more about the future than tomorrow.

WiSe 2008/09 © 2008, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon)

EfS Grammar VI: Future Tenses

Decision Tree

Is this on a timetable?

Have two parties agreed to do this?

Does one person intend to do this?Or: Is this about to

happen?

Present Simple

Present Continuous

going to-future

will-future

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

WiSe 2008/09 © 2008, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon)

EfS Grammar VI: Future Tenses

Summary of Functions and Properties

Types

Timetable

Arrangement

Intention, Prior Decision, Immediate Event

Prediction, Calculation, Offer, Spontaneous Decision, Dependent Events

Tense

p.s.*

p.c.

going to

will

V

-

-

-

C

-

--

-

n

0

2

10

0

* Abbreviations: p.s.: present simple, p.c.: present continuous, V: volition, C: commitment, n: number of people involved

WiSe 2008/09 © 2008, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon)

EfS Grammar VI: Future Tenses

Mr May will be 50 next month.

Age is not something that you can arrange or intend.

We are having pizza tonight.

… either you've made the phone call.

We are going to have pizza tonight.

… or you haven't.

Some Choices…

WiSe 2008/09 © 2008, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon)

EfS Grammar VI: Future Tenses

Where will you go on holiday?

Asked in November, December and means: "Guess!"

Where are you going to go on holiday?

Means: "Where would you like to go?"

Where are you going on holiday?

Show me what's on the ticket!

Questions: What do you want to know?