What kind of future lies aheadOnline version Students will be able to get more information about the future. by Ana María Sánchez 1 Present progressive We use present progressive for arrangements. That's to say, for programmed actions that are taking place in a near future. In order to use this tense, we must be quite sure that the action is very likely to be fulfilled. If you are getting married, you have probably bought the wedding dress/suit, you have booked the church or the townhall, and you have even thought about where you are going on your honeymoon. If you are going to the cinema, you have probably bought the tickets and you have arranged to meet some minutes before the film starts. 2 Be going to We use "Be going to" For intentions or plans which are not organised. I am going to start a diet. I am going to stop smoking. It represents these kinds of good intentions we have at the end of the year. These kinds of intentions are not likely to be fulfilled but you never know. For predictions based on evidence. If the clouds are black, you can say It's going to rain soon. If someone is pregnant, you can say she is going to have a baby or two. If you are cycling down a hill and suddenly an object appears on the road, you can say I am going to have an accident. 3 Simple future For promises. You don't need to keep them. You just have to make them in order to get something. I will increase everybody's salary. I will come home as soon as the film finishes. I will visit you at least once a week, ... For decisions at the moment of speaking. You are given the menu and you decide what you will eat e.g. I will have the chicken soup. Your friend asks you a question and you say. I don' t know but I will look it up right now. For offers in statements. When you offer to do something and it is not a question, you normally do it with a simple future. If you don't have money I will pay for your drink. I will give you a lift. I will open the window. For predictions when you are only 50% sure. I think he will win the election, but you never know. I think I will pass this exam, but the truth is I didn't study hard enough. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfztVj5Qwqk 4 Shall We use shall for suggestions made by the speaker. Shall we go hiking? Shall we cook lunch? Shall we stay in? Shall is only for the first person singular or the first person plural. Offers made by the speaker to help another person. This kind of offers will always be expressed by means of a question. Shall I kill the spider? Shall I bring you a blanket? Shall I cook lunch? Shall I pay for this?
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