Talking about future events
Conversation A: Scheduled events
RAJ: What time does the movie start?
INES: It starts at 7:30, and ends at 9:45.
RAJ: Good, we can go on the bus, and get back home before it’s too dark. Is there a bus stop near your house?
INES: Yes. It stops on the corner every fifteen minutes.
RAJ: Perfect. I’m looking forward to seeing this movie.
Conversation B: Plans for the very near future
JENNY: What are you doing tomorrow?
PAULA: I’m going to the beach with my family for a week. We’re leaving early—at 6 a.m.
JENNY: Oh, nice! So I guess you’re planning to go to bed early tonight.
PAULA: Yeah, I’m gonna pack my bag and try to hit the sack by nine o’clock.
JENNY: Good luck with that! What are you taking?
PAULA: I always pack light for the beach—a bathing suit, a couple of pairs of shorts, some T-shirts, a hat, and lots of sunscreen. How about you? What are you doing next week?
JENNY: I’m going to stay home and catch up on some unfinished projects.
PAULA: Like what?
JENNY: Oh, I have a long list! First I’m going to clean up my office, pay bills, write letters, and take care of a bunch of paperwork. Then I’m going to redecorate my bedroom—paint the walls and get new curtains.
PAULA: Wow. What color are you going to paint it?
JENNY: It’s a very light blue. I’ve already picked it out and bought the paint.
PAULA: Cool.
Conversation C: Long-term plans
EMMA: What do you think you’ll do when you finish college?
KIM: Oh, I’ll probably stay in the city and look for work here. Then I’ll go back home on holidays.
EMMA: I love that idea, but I’ll probably go closer to home to get a job. I like being close to my family and old friends. Still, life in the big city is certainly tempting!
KIM: Well, maybe you could find a job in a big city closer to home.
EMMA: Yeah, that would be a good happy medium.
KIM: On the other hand, since you like to travel, you could possibly get a job in another country—do something exotic.
EMMA: You’re right. I might get really bored just doing the same old thing. I’d learn a lot overseas—even pick up another language. It’s definitely something to think about.
KIM: Well, I guess we don’t have to decide now, since we’re still in our freshman year!
Conversation D: Predictions for the more distant future
TEACHER: What will the world be like fifty years from now?
ANDY: Just think! People will be living on Mars.
EMILY: I’ll bet cars will be replaced by little helicopters, so you’ll be able to fly ahead in traffic.
HOLLY: There won’t be any more wars.
JULIE: Women will make more money than men.
STACEY: No way! Women will stay home and the men will do all the work.
JOE: There will be a better form of government.
ZACK: People will have forgotten how to talk and will only communicate electronically.
HEATHER: There won’t be any disease, and people will live to be 150 years old.
COURTNEY: That will be horrible. It will be so crowded!
ANDY: That’s why people will be living on Mars!
Improving your conversation
No one can say for sure what will happen in the future, yet we often talk about it. Future events can be described in several different ways, depending on how probable it is that they will happen.
Scheduled events
The present tense is used to talk about the future. It is used to give the time of scheduled events (99 percent probability).
The flight leaves at four o’clock this afternoon.
The movie starts at five o’clock, so don’t be late.
The present tense is also used to tell what normally happens and is expected to be the same in the future (99 percent probability).
The stores open at ten o’clock tomorrow morning.
The children go back to school in September.
Class ends at 3:15.
The train stops near our building every hour.
I’ll bet
The present tense is used after the expression I’ll bet, meaning I’m pretty sure it will happen.
I’ll bet she wins the election.
I’ll bet he calls me as soon as he gets home.
Going to
To be going to is used to indicate events planned for the near future (95 percent probability).
We’re going to move to our new house next month.
They’re going to get married in June.
In informal conversation, going to is often pronounced “gonna.”
I’m gonna go see my grandmother this afternoon.
The present progressive (basic verb + -ing) can be used as an alternative to going to (95 percent probability).
We’re moving to our new house next month.
They’re getting married in June.
We’re planning to go to the game tomorrow.
I’ll be doing homework after school.
Will probably
Will probably + basic verb is used to indicate about a 75 percent probability of happening.
She’ll probably be late.
We’ll probably leave early.
Probably won’t + basic verb is used to indicate about a 25 percent probability of happening.
He probably won’t come with me.
You probably won’t like this movie.
May/might
May or might + basic verb can be used to express about a 50 percent possibility of something happening.
He may be late, because he has to work until 6.
She might be late, too.
I might come over tomorrow. It depends on what time I get home.
Maybe
Maybe also expresses about a 50 percent possibility of something happening. Unlike may and might, it is placed before the subject.
Maybe they’ll be late.
Maybe I’ll come over tomorrow.
Will
Will + basic verb is tricky, as it can indicate both very high and very low probability. It is used to make a promise (99 percent probability).
I’ll be here at six tomorrow morning.
We’ll call you as soon as we arrive.
It is also used to predict the more distant future (10 percent probability).
My baby will be a doctor when he grows up.
You will get married and have a bunch of children.
Won’t
Won’t + basic verb indicates a very low probability that something will happen.
He won’t be at the wedding.
We won’t be able to see you in such a big crowd.
Hit the sack
Hit the sack is a very informal way to say to go to bed and sleep.
Man, I was exhausted last night. I hit the sack as soon as I got home.
Pack light
To pack light means to prepare only a very small suitcase or carry-on for traveling.
Be sure to pack light, because we’ll have to carry our bags part of the way.
Catch up on
To catch up on means to do or learn something that you didn’t do earlier.
When we’re at the beach, I plan to catch up on some important reading.
Take care of
To take care of can mean to perform a task.
Take care of can also mean to attend to a child or other person needing supervision.
They’re looking for someone to take care of her ninety-year-old mother during the day.
Pick up
To pick up means to grasp something that is on a lower surface.
I broke the glass and had to pick up all the pieces.
It can also mean to lift.
This box is too heavy. We can’t pick it up.
Pick up can also mean to meet and give a ride to someone.
You can go with us. We’ll be glad to pick you up.
To pick up can also mean to learn easily.
I don’t think you can pick up Italian just by going to Venice on a vacation.
Of course, you will pick up a few useful phrases.
Happy medium
To reach a happy medium means to agree by accepting some parts of one argument and some parts of the opposing argument.
His style was modern, and hers was traditional. They reached a happy medium by buying an old house and putting in modern furniture.
A verb with the same meaning is to compromise.
The only way to keep everybody happy is to compromise.
A bunch of
A (whole) bunch of means a lot of. Alternative expressions include quite a few and a number of.
A whole bunch of friends are coming over tonight.
She has quite a few admirers.
There are still a number of tickets available.
The same old thing
The same old thing is a way to indicate that activities are routine.
On the other hand
On the other hand is an expression that introduces an argument that is contrary to—or opposite to—a previously mentioned argument.
Well, we could use our savings to buy the house. On the other hand, we could use the money to visit your family in Ethiopia.
Since
Since can mean because, usually indicating that something is convenient.
I don’t have an appointment for a haircut, but since I was in the neighborhood, I stopped by to see if you had time for me.
I was going to go home early today, but since you’re here, I’ll do your hair.
Since can also indicate the beginning of a time period.
She’s been studying English since last September.
I’ve been waiting for you since four o’clock.
Still
Still has several meanings. In the example conversations, it introduces information that the speaker feels is contrary to the previous information, indicating a dilemma.
I’d love to buy the house. Still, it’s important to go visit my family.
Overseas/abroad
Overseas refers to places on the other side of the ocean. Abroad refers to all countries except the one you are in.
We lived overseas for a number of years.
Many college students have the opportunity to study abroad.
Freshman
Freshman refers to a student in the first year of high school or college. It can also be another name for the first year. Second-year students are called sophomores; third-year students are juniors, and fourth-year students are seniors.
She may look like a freshman, but actually she’s in her senior year.
This is the biggest freshman class we’ve ever had.
Senior (citizen) can also refer to a person who is sixty years old or more.
He’s a senior in high school, and his grandmother is a senior.
Just think
Just think is an expression that introduces a fantasy or real plan the speaker is excited about.
Just think! We could get married and have children.
Just think! This time tomorrow we’ll be in Rome!
Good luck with that
Good luck with that is an expression indicating that the speaker doesn’t think the previous statement is very likely to happen.
No way
No way indicates that something is impossible, unbelievable—or even wonderful.
Fill in each blank with the most appropriate word or words.
1. When you grow up, you _________________ rich and famous.
a. are being
b. are
c. will be
d. were
2. Can you join us tomorrow? That’s impossible because we _________________ sightseeing.
a. went
b. are going
c. will go
d. go
3. Don’t be late. The show _________________ at 6:30.
a. will start
b. is starting
c. started
d. starts
4. Will you go to the party with me on Friday night? I can’t. I _________________.
a. study this weekend
b. will stay in
c. am going to stay in
d. might
5. I’m not sure what to do. _________________
a. Maybe I’ll take the job.
b. I’ll take the job.
c. I won’t take the job.
d. I’m taking the job.
6. Is your brother going to the circus with you? _________________
a. No. He doesn’t go.
b. No. Maybe he doesn’t go.
c. No. He won’t go.
d. No. He is going.
Match the words and expressions in the first column with those in the second column that have a similar meaning. Note: There may be more than one match for each expression.
Circle the word or expression that best completes each of the following sentences.
1. Our mayor is an excellent politician. _________________, he’s not exactly a good administrator.
a. Just think
b. No way
c. On the other hand
2. I’ll probably take his course. _________________, I’ve heard he’s a hard grader.
a. Still
b. Just think
c. No way
3. It’s great to have a holiday. _________________, otherwise we’d be at the office right now.
a. Just think
b. No way
c. Still
4. I’m exhausted. I’ll probably _________________ as soon as I get home.
a. hit the sack
b. pack light
c. reach a happy medium
5. I’m going to ask the teacher to give me an A in this course. _________________!
a. Still
b. Just think
c. Good luck with that
Fill in each blank with an appropriate word or expression that is explained in this chapter.
1. There aren’t very many jobs available. _________________, I’m going to keep looking.
2. He’s seventy-five, so he gets a _________________ discount.
3. We’re so bored. It seems like every day we do _________________.
4. Maybe if I got a job _________________, I could pick up another language.
5. There will be _________________ new students next year.
6. I heard the _________________ class is going to be the biggest one ever.
7. You have a lot of airport changes on this trip. You really should _________________.
8. She’s staying at home tonight to _________________ some reading.
9. I tried to pay for the dinner, but he insisted on _________________ it.
10. He wants an apartment, and she wants a house. They could _________________ by buying a townhouse.
Write a question or remark for each of the following responses. Ask an English-speaking friend to check your work.
1. ___________________________________________________
I’ll take care of it!
2. ___________________________________________________
I’ll take care of her!
3. ___________________________________________________
Still, I’m not sure it’s a good idea.
4. ___________________________________________________
We could pick up a little Arabic.
5. ___________________________________________________
On the other hand, it’s very expensive.
6. ___________________________________________________
Just think! We’ll be having so much fun!
7. ___________________________________________________
She won’t go.
8. ___________________________________________________
Good luck with that!
9. ___________________________________________________
No way!
10. ___________________________________________________
That sounds like a good happy medium.
Write a letter to a friend in which you tell of your plans for today and tomorrow and of your hopes and dreams for the future. Use all of the future expressions explained in this chapter. Ask an English-speaking friend to check your work.
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