Future - B1

Elliot is talking to his friend Kelly about the weekend. Look at the pictures. What are Elliot’s plans? What are Kelly’s plans?

Listen and check if you were right.

Why is Kelly annoyed with Elliot?

Listen again and complete the sentences below.

Look at your answers and find the sentences which contain:

To talk about the future, we use

to say what we know or believe about the future (often with maybe, I think, I expect and I hope):

I’ll be 17 next week. (= he knows this)

Everybody will do shopping by computer in a few years’ time.(= he believes this)

I expect I’ll be asleep all day.

when the speaker decides something at the moment he/she speaks.

I’ll have a coffee with you. (= she decides now)

when we can see that something is certain to happen:

The plane is going to land.

NOT The plane will land.

to talk about plans:

We’re going to see the new James Bond film. (= we decided earlier)

NOT (We will see the new James Bond film)

We can often use going to or will to talk about the future:

I’m going to be 17 next week. = I’ll be 17 next week.

We use will more often when we write, but going to when we speak.

“Hey! Did you hear the news? This year’s party is going to take place on the 19th.”

We use Present continuous...

for plans already made when we know or guess the time:

What are you doing tonight? (= what plans have you got?)

I’m meeting a designer at 2.30. (= he has an appointment)

We can often use the present continuous or going to to talk about plans:

We’re spending the weekend at the seaside.

= We’re going to spend the weekend at the seaside.

NOT: We will spend the weekend at the seaside

We use Present simple

for timetables (trains, planes etc.) and for programmes

(films, classes etc.):

My flight leaves Rome at 11 pm on Saturday and it arrives in London at 1 am.

The film starts at nine o’clock.