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Many of you will know that I am a huge fan of mind maps and infographics. I think they are a colourful and imaginative way of showing language points whether they are grammar or lexis.

I haven't had the time to create my own mind maps, however I have made good use of the excellent resources available from my creative fellow teachers to help me with my posts.

And today is no exception. During my research for this post, I came across this wonderful mind map created by Blog Educativo. I think it shows very clearly the different uses of the future tenses in English.

I will give an example sentence for each use as illustrated in the mind map. In addition to these tenses we also have the future perfect (I will have done) and future perfect continuous (progressive) (I will have been doing) tenses. More of that in a later post.

We use + the infinitive (without to). is usually shortened in speech and informal writing to 'll.
Positive Sentence:
Questions and short answers:

"Over the next decade there Prediction and state facts
will be a big increase in the use of nuclear power".

" Spontaneous decisions and thoughts that come into our head at the moment of speaking (resolution)
I'll have the fish, pleaseTell him I'll call him in the morning."

"
I'll give you a hand with the report tomorrow. Don't worry".
BE GOING TO Structure Positive Sentence: Negative Sentence: Questions and short answers:
"Be careful! The glass Predictions based on present evidence
is going to fall."(I can see it on the edge of the table)

Intentions - these are things that we have already decided to do
" I'm going to call her in the morning".
" She's going to monitor the situation closely".

WILL or BE GOING TO?

There are many occasions when we can use either form. Will is more used in writing whilst is more usual in speech. Native speakers of English use more than will. Here are some examples:
" I'll talk/ I'm going to talk about three main areas in my presentation....."
(Here the speaker could see it as a (will) or an (going to)

general beliefs about the future or with present evidence?

"I'm sure you'll love the movie" (general belief or opinion)

"This year we're going to make a profit for the first time in five years." (I have the figures in front of me - present evidence)

We use the present continuous to talk about things that we have arranged to do. There is nearly always a future time expression. The arrangements are often social arrangements or appointments.

NB: I don't agree entirely with the mind map above in terms of its example uses "planned actions" and "near future". I would substitute the word "actions" with "arrangements" and add the word "fixed" to it.
A planned, fixed arrangement could be next week or next year, so it doesn't necessarily have to be "near future".

BE GOING TO or PRESENT CONTINUOUS?

For plans and arrangements there is often very little difference, however often suggests that the arrangements are still open (not fixed), while the can suggest that the arrangement is fixed.

I'm going to see my lawyer next month -
(just a plan - time and place unknown)

I'm seeing my lawyer next month in London
(a definite arrangement with place confirmed)

We use the present simple tense ( PRESENT SIMPLE for FUTURE
not WILL) to refer to the future in the following situations We use the present simple (or present perfect) for future after these words:
when, after, before, unless, in case, as soon as, until, by the time, the next time

Note that WILL is used in the second part of the sentence in the first three sentences.

We can use present simple or the present continuous to talk about events in the future based on a timetable or calendar.

To really get a better understanding of how to use the future tenses correctly you need to see them in context. Reading in English is one of the best ways for you to really get a feel of how the tenses are used and in what context. I cannot stress enough how important it is to see the language in context.

So read as much as you can. It doesn't matter what you read as long as you do.

And that's it! I hope you found this post helpful. If you did, please share it. And don't forget to subscribe to my blog if you don't want to miss out on my posts.

Ciao for now

Shanthi

Source: Business Grammar Builder, Paul Emmerson (2010) Macmillan

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Fwd: [New post] English Grammar Pill: How to use the future tenses correctly

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Many of you will know that I am a huge fan of mind maps and infographics. I think they are a colourful and imaginative way of showing language points whether they are grammar or lexis.

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GERUND-INFINITIVE The to- infinitive is used: 1. to express purpose: e.g. She called to invite them to her dinner party. 2. after cert...