Verbs

45

STAGE 2

l'm seeing him tomorrow: Present Gontinuous tense as future

We're meeting at 10 o'clock tonight.
My aunt is coming to stay for the weekend.
I'm leaving at 9 o'clock on Friday morning.
Are you staying here tonight?
Alan isn't coming with us tomorrow.

We use the present continuous to talk about arrangements in the future: the
things you write in a diary; often with verbs like go, come, see, meet, stay,

Itoue,leave.

We use the present continuous with future time expressions, e.g. tomorrow, dt
tlrc weekend, next week, on Fidoy, noct year. (Occasionally there is no time
expression. This is because the future time is clearly understood.)

Practice
45a Are the following sentences present or future? Write Present or Fuftrre after
each one.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Where is Jack? Is he working? ..fro.ee.nt...

Are you going out tonight? ..F.tl.tLtrp..

That tree's growing very fast. ....

I'm seeing Ttisha on Wednesday. .....

Anna's starting school on Monday

I'm waiting for a call at the moment.

He's making some chairs for the garden.
We're getting a new car next week.

My parents are coming to stay with me this weekend.

10 'What languages is she learning at school?' 'She's learning French and

Russian.'

45b Complete the sentences, putting the verbs into the present continuous.

I
2
3
4
5
6
7

..Ara.y.eu.!rt.eaLi.n0.. Debbie

tonight? (you/meet)

1..'.tll..na.t.aaWnL. to class tomorrow. (not/come)

...
My cousin
I .........
..........
We
..

to work next week? (you/go)

us on Saturday. (visit)
a special meal tonight. (make)

.. on Friday? (they/eave)

........ there with Skybright Airlines. (fly)

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Verbs

STAGE 2

8 ...........
9 We
10 I .........
ll I .........
12 ...........
13 We
14 Ian
15 They

... at home this weekend? (you/stay)

my niece on holiday with us. (take)

..... a birthday party this year. (not/have)

..... work at 5 o'clock. (finish)
... to another town? (they/move)
home tonight. (not/go)

the train at 12 o'clock. (catch)

tonight. (not/come)

45c Complete the conversation using the information in the diary. Use verbs in
the present continuous and add any other words you need.

8?.n.- Anena' Liz'

MondaY
TiresdaY
WednesdaY
ThursdaY

Srezkfea?auxant
i eefr, dan en' fu*i on'7'3

o'

FridaY
SaturdaY

iAME FoP rFEKEND--

SundaY

A: (you/stay)

.............

B: Yes,
A: And Thursday?
B: I (meet)

72

at home on liresday?

Verbs

46

STAGE 2

l'm going to see a film tonight: he going fo future

FORM
Positive

am ('m)

She
He I is ('s)
It
I
You
We I are ('re)
I

I going to finish.

They

am, is, are going + to-infinitive (present continuous of go)

am not ('m not)

She

He

is not (isn't/'s not)

It
You
We

going to pay.
are not (aren't/'re not)

They
Question
Am
she
Is

he

it
Are

going to finish?

you
we
they

USE

talk about a plan or an intention: something that you have decided to do or

not to do:
We're going to uisit Alice and Ttm on Saturday.
l'm twt going to watch television on holi.day.
To

To make a prediction: something in the present tells you what is going to

happen in the future:

Look at that sky. lt's going to be o nice day tomorrow.

in the future:
Danny's going to be seuen on ltis next bitthday.
To talk about a fact

73

Verbs

STAGE 2

Practice
46a

the people in the sentences below

are all thinking about their summer

holidays. Complete the sentences about what they plan to do using 'm, 're
or going to ... . Use the verbs in the box.

travel teach read stay walk

lie play de rycle swim
I | .'.tr.sa.ir.o.p.q.e!?y... in bed all day.
2 we -Ie.aqlna.tp. do.. the gardening.
lots of books.
3 I .......
..... in the sun.
4 I ........
5

5
7
8
9
10

ItGb

..........
I ...........
I ..........
We .......
I ..........
I ..............

. round the world.

We

. to Brighton on my new bike.

lots of sport.
English in a summer school.

.. in the sea every day.

in the mountains.

fim

is asking Sarah about her holiday plans. Write Kim's questions using
present
the
continuous as future of the verb go, and the be going to future
with the other verbs.

When are you goinq on holiday?

At the beginning of next month.

W
And where are you qoing?

To San Sebastian

in Spain.

No, I don't like planes.

4So

By boat. It goes from Plymouth to

Santander.
Yes,

74

we're going to take Tom's car.

Verbs

STAGE2

I am. Tom doesn't like driving abroad.

?

No, we're not. The hotels are too

?
8So

expensive.

In a friend's flat. I've got a friend

9 And

teaching English there.

For two weeks.

No, there's no need. My friend speaks

10

very good Spanish.

46c Complete the sentences, putting the verbs into the be going to future.

1 Jill ..'?..q?.i!.q.!.2.?9...r"ry pleased with her present. (be)

2 My parents ..?.1?.9.?!f ,0..!?.!.I!tl!... their tent with them. (bring)
... for a new job soon. (look)
3 He
4
... the dinner tonight? (you/make)
..... . (break)
5 Watch out! That glass ........
..... his driving test. (not/pass)
5 He
hot today so we should take
7 lt ........
some bottles of water. (be)

that film on television tonight?

(you/watch)

My

brother

.. in the States next year.

(live)

10

We

........ with friends. (not/stay)

We

a hotel. (find)

11

They

a new swimming pool in the

centre of town. (build)

12

..........

13 The sky looks very grey. It

another car? (they/get)

.............

.......... in

minute. (rain)
14

L........

David's parents tonight. (meet)

75

Verbs

USE

To talk about plans which are arranged for a particular time in the future. This
construction is used very often with come and go, and with verbs like see,

stay, visit, fiteet, etc:.

They're going tomorrow.

I'm arrivittg

next week.

We're uisiting the Stotes in three weeks.

Notes

Remember that a time word or expression must be used, or understood from the
conversation, to make the present continuous a future.

This is not just a 'near' future

- it is possible

to say: He's coming brck in ten yeors.

Practice
Write these sentences in full, putting the verbs into the present continuous and
supply the missing words where necessary.

see

them

Saturday.

l'm aeeing them on Saturday.

They

come

here

three weeks.

They're cominq here in three weeks.

3 | /meet/John/

threeo'clock.

Friday night?

What

you do

5 | / go / lo the disco / Saturday evening.

5

We

They

go back

to the States

go on holiday

three years.

two days time.

8 I / not come home / Friday.

You

work late

10 We

not go to school

tomorrow night?

next week.

'57

VerFs

l1

He

comg to see you

12 Mr and Mrs Green

13 We

14l /

see her again

15 You

49

have a party

tomoprow.

go away / three weeks.

Saturday.

next week.

/ play football / this week?

saing to
FORM
Positive

I
He
She

It
We
You

Negatiue

Question

am ('m)

Am lI

iir

Is

ls

are

('re)

lq:Ts'o
pay.

he

lshe

I going

to pay?

it

we

Are lyou
they

USE

To talk about a planned future action:

going to see my porents on Saturday.
(This use is similar lo present continaous

I'm

58

+ time word L

Exercise 47.)

talk about something in the future which we can see as a result of

something happening now:
Look at those clouds. It's going to rain.
That man on the bike is going to fall off.

To make statements about the future in a neutral way:

Alan's going to ftnislt his exams on Fiday.
Jenny's going to be five next week.
l'm going to work for o televisbn company.
(The future simple is also used for the purpose ) Exercise 50.)

To

lbrb

f8a {rite lhe pprrBqf fprm of g0t4g rg tq complgte these sentences.

1 Whpq (yqv) ,,afey.aq.acing.!,p.. phone her?

z (Thev qal) .lhet.ar.ep.t.aelps.to._.

3 \{hat (ygu) ...... ......:.::

6tay yery long.

pay to

ypur father?

5 (we) ...:............:...:..... play tenqis tomonow?

e (!he) .........:.,.......:.:i:.. ..,. live ir1llexico for a few months.
z (The mSchine) :. ... .:...:.. ...: ,:..........
wprk?
8 (YgUr paren{s) ... ..:::..... .. ..::...
,,, h4vp a hpliday this ygara
g (Thgy) ::.:..:.........
.........: bqrrqw some morey frorn the
.

bank.

lQ (l not) :.... :........ :...... : : :.. ::. : :........:..

eat there 4gain,

48h Write the correct form.of gglltg

{q 4nq use one of these verps to Complete

the sentences. Use each verb gqpg only.

finiqh complain falt off bq miss

die rain drive wor\ fail
1 Look at those clog(st Il .s,gdf.q.!9..f4!1..
2 Look at the sun! I[.:.....:...
3 Susan's not working vefy hafd. I think she .....
.

hot today.

her exams.

4
5
6
7
8
9

He's very angry. HB

,,,,,

It's nearly four o,clocf. The lesson

I don't like travelling by plane. I ..........

........ tg the man6ger.

.. soon.

........... there.

This plan is too complicated. ft (not) ....

The President's very ill. I think he .......
Watch the baby!

She..........

.... the bed!

10 This bus is very slow. I lhink we ....

the train.

59

Verbs

49

going

fol

Present Gontinuous + time word

:TIT:J
I'm

possibre to use either tense:

seeing them tomorrow. I'm going to see them tomorTow.

The going to future is very common, especially in conversation.

If there is doubt about which of the two futures to use, it is better to use
going to.

.H::I;,1"'"::JT;il';H::.'i.:il:iIffi:::::T:::::'.."
particular time in the future.

Practice
In your notebook, supply the godng to or present continuous future for these sentences. If two answers are possible, write them both.

We ...... at home tonight. (stay)

We're going

to etay at home toniqht./We're etaying at home toni7ht.

Look at the sky. It ...... tomorrow. (rain)

Look

at the

sky.

lt's going to rain tomorrow.

3 We ...... at a restaurant tonight. (eat)

4 They ...... to Manchester tomorrow morning. (drive)
5 I ...... my teeth, have a wash, and go to bed. (brush)
6 Be careful with that plate! You ...... it! (break)
7 My parents ...... with us for the weekend. (stay)
B Who's ...... him the news? (tell)
9 Hurry up! We ...... the train! (miss)
l0

How many people ...... today? (arrive)

11 They ...... Nick at 10 o'clock tomorrow. (see)

12 I ...... to the seaside next weekend. (go)

13 Who ...... to John's party later? (come)

14 Bring your hat and gloves

- it ......

cold later tonight. (get)

15 Mary ...... to Barbados next Tuesday. (fly)

16 Our friends ...... us before the concert. (meet)
17 We...... into our new house next month. (move)

60

Verbs

50

Future Simple
FORM
Positive

Question

Shall/will

I
He

She lwill

It |
we l('ll)

stay.

You

I]
hel
she

will

Negative

it

I
He

She lwill not

It I
We l(won't)

stayl

You

Shall/will I we

They

will

lstay.

They

you
they

Notes

won't.

the negative contraction

shall is not used very often now. We generally use it only as a first person
question (: with I or we) to make suggestions and offers:
Sho,ll I cafly your suitcase for you?
Shall we go to a restaurant?

USE

For a statement of future fact. This can be

a) certain:
They'll be here on Saturday aftemaon.
The journqt will take six lnurs.
b) uncertain:
I tltink it'll roin tomorrow.
I'm not sure he'll be there.
Going to can also be used for this purpose

Exercise 48.

For a sudden decision to do something (usually used with

No one's offered to lrclp? l'll da it for you!
Wait o minute - l'll open the door for you.

I think I'll

I or ue):

hnue eggs and chips please.

To show willingness to do or not to do something

promise or a threat):
I promi.se I'll be there.
I'll neuer speok to ltim again.

in the future (often as a

He says he'll send tle monqt.

Exercise 58 for future simple

in conditional sentences.

Exercise 53 for future simple

+ when,

as soon ds, etc.

61

Verbs

Practice
Write these sentences, putting the verbs into the future simple.

I'm sure he (not be) late.

I'm sure he won't be late.

(I open) the window for you?

thall I open the window for you?

How long (the journey take?)

I suppose (she be) in London next week.

John (phone) your office for you.

(There be) a lot of people at the meeting?

What time (the race start?)

He (never agree) to your idea.

You (never see) your money again.

10 What's the matter? (I phone) the doctor?

11 Don't worry. I (payJ for the damage to your car.

12 (You be) at home tomorrow?

13 The company (not give) you an extra day's holiday.

14 Don't touch that! You (hurt) yourself!

15 There (not be) any newspapers tomorrow.

62

Verbs

51

going fo - future plan, and will

- sudden decision

CONTRAST

o In convetsation, going to is often

used to indicate a future plan that has been

made before the time of speaking:
I'm going to see Pat tomorrow - we arranged it this morning.

o Will is often used to indicate

a sudden decision, made at the time of speaking:

How con we get to the airport?

I know! I'll borrow

Sue's car!

Practice
Write the correct form of going to or will to complete the dialogue.
LAURA:

rANyA:

What are you doing this weekend, Jan?

r'..'ry.9.?!!9..r?.9?.e,.. .....(see) a new play tomorrow

Royal Court Theatre - 'Day of the Flood'.

LAUM: Have

rANyA:No,

at the

you got the tickets yet?

I'..

... (get) them this afternoon,

actually. Would you like to come?

LAURA:

Oh, thank you, that would be nice.

rANyA:OK,
LAURA:

I'..

... (get) you a ticket too.

Great ... what time does

it

start?

n.....
rANyA: Eight o'clock, but *e

(all meet) in

the Green Cafe at 7.15 .-.

'..
..........
u........
... I

LAURA:

OK, I

rANYA:

That's fine.

LAURA:

il lll lllll lllll l :::l ;:,:,T"i*: ffi;rrs,rra, oxr

rANyA: Yes,

........ (meet) you in the cafe, but, er

. (be) there about half-past seven.

that's OK, no problem.

LAURA:

(you eat) in the cafe, or just have a

cup of coffee?
rANYA:

Just a coffee I think ...

LAUM:Look,'......

(we go) to a restaurant after the

show? I know a very good Chinese restaurant ...

TANvA:That's a good idea

- I'0............

if they want to come too.

LAUM:Good, and then I "........
Great! I "............
.......

(phone) the

others and see

TANYA:

Yes, see you.

Bye!

........ (book)

table...

(see) you tomorrow.

63

Verbs

Practice
Write these sentences, putting the verbs into the future simple or present simple.

(give) it to them when they (visit) us.

l'l_l

qive

it to them when they vieit us.

I (not send) the parcel until I

(hear) from you'

I won't send the parcef:until I hear from you.

As soon as they (phone) me,

(contact) you'

4 I (see) you before I (fly) to Paris.

5

They (send) you the money before they (leave).

When

She (visit) her parents before she (go) to the airport.

I (talk) to him, I

8 I (finish)

this when

(give) him your news.

I (be) at the office.

(send) you a postcard when

I (gefl to Bermuda.

10 She (do) her homework before she (go) out.

11 After

I (visit) the hospital, I (go) and see her parents.

12

13

I (call) you as soon as we (sign) the contract.

(phone) Mary when we (geO to San Francisco.

14 He (not do) anything before you (tell) him to.

15 You (be) very surprised when you (meet) him.

66