logounam logo-avi
logouapa

Expressions of time in the future

(tomorrow, next year, tonight, among others)

Presentation



Me in the future

In this unit, you will find a description of the differences between the use of -will and going to- to refer to plans shortly, predictions, petitions and intentions in the short term.

First, you will find a short text about the plans of a student once he has finished his term. In the text, you will both find expressions using both kinds of future (will and going to) continuously. This will serve as a reference for you to become familiar with the different uses of the future. Afterwards, you will find a graphic that shows the use of will and going to, and the way of building sentences grammatically correct; according to the desired intention.
Finally, you will find exercises to practice the use of the future according to the four language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening).

Objective

By the end of this topic, you will distinguish between the use of expressions with the modal verb “will” and the idiomatic future “going to” by the planning of travels to express predictions, intentions or plans.

Content

Planning and predicting the future

Read the following e-mail and then click on the icon to listen to Paul reading his message.

email

Press the button to listen


Did you notice the use of expressions using the modal verb “will” and the idiomatic future “going to”? Maybe you are wondering what the difference between these two kinds of future is. Well, these are the differences:

Using the modal verb “will”
and the idiomatic future “going to”

We use the modal verb WILL when:

We use the idiomatic future GOING TO when:

Excercise

1. Let’s practice!

Here we have some expressions used by Paul in his e-mail.



Did you notice the difference between each idea?
Let’s see how to build a sentence with “will” and a sentence with “going to”.

How to make sentences with the modal verb “will” and the idiomatic future “Going To”


How to make sentence with the modal verb “will”:

1. Subject

I
Peter

2. Modal verb “WILL”

I will
Peter will

3. Verb in infinitive

I will get
Peter will travel

4. Complement (object, adverb, etc.)

I will get a good score.
Peter will travel to China.

5. Most of the time, when we are talking about predictions or speculations, we can use verbs like “suppose”, “believe”, “think”, or adverbs such as “probably” and “surely”.

I believe I will get a good score.
Peter will probably travel to China.

6. The contraction for will is ’ll. The contraction ’ll with a noun is used only in informal English.

I believe I´ll get a good score.
I think Peter’ll travel to China. (In informal English)

7. You can use expressions of time.

I believe I’ll get a good score tomorrow.
I think Peter’ll travel to China next year.

8. The negative for is will not and it can be contracted as won’t. “Won’t” is more common than “will not” in use.

I believe I will not get a good score.
I believe I won’t get a good score. (more common)
Peter will not travel to China.
Peter won’t travel to China.(more common)

9. In the interrogative form you must invert the first words of the sentence. The modal verb will is placed at the beginning.

Will you get a good score? Yes, I will. / No, I won’t.
Will Peter travel to China? Yes, he will. / No, he won’t.



How to make a sentence using the idiomatic future “going to”:

1. Subject

I
Paul

2. Verb to be + going to

I am going to
Paul is going to

3. Verb in infinitive

I am going to study.
Paul is going to visit his family.

4. Complement (objects, places,adverbs, etc.)

I am going to study maths.
I am going to study in my room.
I am going to study maths briefly.
Paul is going to visit his family in England.

5. You may use expressions of time.

In ten minutes, I am going to study maths.
Tomorrow, Paul is going to visit his family in England.

6. You may contract the verb to be.

I’m going to study maths.
Paul’s going to visit his family.

7. In the negative form, you must add not after the verb to be

I’m not going to study maths.
Paul’s not going to visit his family.

8. In the interrogative form, you must invert the order of the first words. The verb to be is placed at the beginning of the sentence.

Are you going to study maths? Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
Is Paul going to visit his family? Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t.



Special note: with the verb GO it´s unusual to repeat the verb.
I´m going to go to a party. WRONG.
I´m going to a party. RIGHT.

Now you know how to make sentences with Will and Going to.

Excercise

2. Let’s practice!


Reading

Activity 1

What to do in a distant country

Paul is in China now. Read about the activities he can do there in the future. In the following Beijing’s Cultural Guide, you will find some activities. Identify the difference between plans, intentions and predictions according to the use of Will and Going to..



Unsplash. (2017). Hong Kong [photo]. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/photos/DdQkVaQbSsg


Visit China.
Get to know its culture.
Are you coming to China?
Will it be your first trip?
Here you’ll find some tips. We’re sure they’ll be very useful to you!


Planning your trip

We recommend getting a map, proper clothing and making a checklist of your personal belongings. This will allow you to visit every spot in your plans.

Mapa Unsplash. (2014). Map [photo]. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/map-navigation-hands-travel-route-455769/

Beijing weather

Summer: The temperatures are high, and it usually rains during this season, so carry an umbrella, or you are going to get wet!
Autumn: If you come around from September to November, you will find the best weather.
Winter: Although temperatures can be as low as -10C, you will find the snow makes a beautiful sight.
Spring: It has a very similar temperature to autumn, but sandstorms will be more common.

Paisaje chino Skitterians, R., and Skitterians, P. (2014). Country side [photo]. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/countryside-landscape-hdr-nature-384624/

When to travel

We recommend you not travel on Golden Weeks (the first two in October). You’ll find the city choked with traffic.

Muchas personas caminando por calles de China Montraslo, J. (2006). Golden Week [photo]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/yakobusan/256356394

Visa

You will need a visa. The regular waiting period is about 30 days long, but you can get up to 3 months.

Visa China Krüg, K. (2006). Chinese visa [photo]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/142347698

How to Phone Home from China

If you are going to make international calls from a public telephone, there are some options in Beijing: two kinds of phone cards. IP cards (for ‘insert pin’) and IC cards (for ‘insert card’).You will find them at shops, supermarkets, and hotel lobbies throughout the city.

Teléfono cellular Vasek, J. (2014). Smartphone [photo]. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/iphone-smartphone-apps-apple-inc-410324/

Chinese Phrase Books

In the streets of Beijing it’s going to be necessary to have a phrase book. Speaking Chinese is not very difficult and it will get you many friends!

Portada de un diccionario chino Lamont, I. (2010). Chinese dictionary [photo]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilamont/4329344410

Beijing Transport

Transport is not expensive, but it is advisable to spot on a map the places you are going to visit to take the best option.
We think the subway will be a great way to get around Beijing. However, you might prefer a taxi that isn´t so expensive or if you are going to practice your Chinese, try to read the destinations on the buses!

Tren de Beijing Owls, S. (2008). Beijing subway [photo]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Airport_Line_Beijing_Subway_card_01.jpg

Taxi de Beijing (n. a.). (2008). Beijing taxi [photo]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VW_Santana_3000_in_Shanghai.jpg

Chinese money

If you’re planning to exchange Chinese money before your trip, it won’t be possible due to the Chinese legal system, but, once in China, you will be able to do it at banks and some hotels. Keep the receipt, you’ll need it in order to change back the spare RMB you have left.

Billete china (n. a.). (2010). Currency [photo]. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/currency-chinese-money-yuan-100-1954/

Listening

Activity 2

What are we going to do now?

In this activity, you are going to listen to Paul and his friend Wang talking about what to do now they are in Beijing. You will find the difference between plans, predictions, offerings or decisions made at the moment.



Click on the button to listen to the dialogue.




Then answer the questions and mark them as True (T) or False (F). Check your answers at the end of the activity to find if you understood Paul and Wang’s activities.


Writing

Activity 3

Life according to the cookies

In this activity, you will write a short text about the future using the modal verb WILL and the future with GOING TO to refer to plans, intentions, speculations and sure things.
You have to identify the difference between WILL and GOING TO and correctly use them. Imagine you are going to predict the future of a friend. This Chinese fortune cookie has different words and ideas. You have to write 15 sentences about your friend’s future.

Take a look at the following example:

Example

Write a text between 150-200 words.
If you need to look up any word in a dictionary, we suggest you visit Cambridge Dictionary.
TThere you can find the word or words you need.


When you finish your text, take a look at the rubrics to know if you did it well or things you need to improve.


Speaking

Activity 4

My future: what will my future be?

In this activity, you are going to use your knowledge of the future forms in English while you are speaking about yourself.
You will use WILL and GOING TO to refer to the future. According to your ideas, experiences, and opinions, make a little speech in which you talk about your future.

The speech has to include the next items:
• Two plans for the near future
• Two predictions (for you or the world, try using some verbs like THINK, HOPE, EXPECT, or adverbs like PROBABLY or MAYBE)
• Two things you know are for sure in the future
• Two intentions
• Two conditions (using the word IF) For example, If I save some money, I will travel to China.


Use time expressions like TOMORROW, NEXT YEAR, IN SOME HOURS etc. You can talk about your school, friends, own opinions, travels, jobs or hobbies.


Here is an example:
In some hours I am going to meet some friends and then we are going to have a cup of coffee. Next year I think I will finish my career and I will probably start a master’s degree.


Look at the cloud to get some ideas!

If you need to look up any word in a dictionary, we suggest you visit Cambridge Dictionary. You can see the definition and also the pronunciation of any word, in case you need it.


Finally, we suggest you prepare what you are going to say. Write down your speech and practice it before you recording it. Note: DO NOT read while recording this is not a reading activity. The idea is that you try to speak and do your best.



Click on the “Audio” button to listen to an example:

Rubric

Self-assessment

Quoting the future


On this exercise, you are going to read some quotes about the future said by famous people. You have to understand the real meaning of every quote. Then match the picture of the celebrity with the corresponding quote.




Now, match the meaning of each quote with its author.

Reference

Basic references

• Soars, J. and Soars, L. (2003). New Headway Intermediate. Fourth Edition Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Thompson, A.J., Martinet, A. V. (1986). A Practical English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Complementary

• Beijing Made Easy. (2017). The Online Visitor Guide To Beijing, China. Practical Tips. Retrieved on 2017, March 14 from http://www.beijingmadeeasy.com/practical-beijing

ctive').parent().animate({ height: nextH }, 500); }); });