How much do you know about the ways we talk about the future in English?
Can you answer the following questions?
Is there a future tense?
Do we always use a modal verb to talk about the future?
Can we use the present simple to talk about the future?
Is will normally contracted?
Which option is best for talking about fixed plans?
Read further to find out the answers to these questions.
Is there a future tense?
No. In English there is a past tense and a present tense but no future tense. To talk about the future we use modals verbs, present tenses and even past tenses.
Do we always use a modal verb to talk about the future?
No. We often use will to talk about the future. However, we can use other modals such as might and semi-modals such as have to and need to. In addition we can also use present tenses and sometimes even past tenses.
Can we use the present simple to talk about the future?
Yes, but not very often. The present simple can be used to talk about future timetabled events. Here are some examples:
The train leaves at 9:15am
He flies to England on Thursday
Is will normally contracted?
Yes. We often use contractions, especially in spoken language. Using the full form of will can sound a bit unnatural.
Which option is best for talking about fixed plans?
The present continuous is often used for talking about fixed plans. Here are some examples:
I'm meeting Rebecca for lunch on Tuesday.
She's leaving the firm at the end of the month.
Is there anything else I need to know?
Yes. As you may have noticed, I've used the word often in these explanations. The rules for talking about the future are not completely fixed and sometimes there is more then one way to express an idea.
There are also other ways of talking about the future that I haven't mentioned yet. If you come to lessons with me, I can tell you more.
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