Forms Used to Talk About the Future Ways of Expressing Future Actions

The Present Simple (Indefinite) and the Present Continuous

Exercise 1. Comment on the use of the Present Simple and Present Continuous Tense to speak about future events. Translate these sentences.

1. John is going to the dentist on Tuesday morning. 2. The boys start school on Monday. 3. Our daughter is getting married on Saturday. 4. What time does the tennis start tomorrow evening? 5. What time is Cathy arriving tomorrow? 6. A new branch of our shop opens next week. 7. I am having dinner with Ann on Friday. 8. My train leaves at 6 o’clock. 9. Sarah is taking an exam on Monday. 10. The football match takes place on Thursday. 11. My grandparents are celebrating their golden wedding next year. 12. Tomorrow is Friday.

Exercise 2. Say that somebody is doing something in the future. Use the verbs in brackets.

Model: We often visit them (today). We are visiting them today.

1. Felix plays golf every weekend (today). 2. Mrs Hibbert cleans the house regularly (this afternoon). 3. We sometimes go to the zoo (tomorrow morning). 4. I don’t work on Saturdays (next Saturday). 5. During the afternoon our boss has meetings with clients (this afternoon). 6. I often meet Janet after work (this evening). 7. Mr Laker, the head of the division, generally has a talk with newcomers (this Friday). 8. Tony and his wife eat out every Saturday (next Saturday). 9. On Tuesday Steve always has lunch with Dr. Walker (next Tuesday). 10. We go for a picnic every Sunday (this Sunday). 11. The children always come with us on holiday (next holiday). 12. He doesn’t usually drive his car (tomorrow morning). 13. We often stay late at work (this evening). 14. My parents-in-law come to dine with us every Sunday (this Sunday). 15. Mr Turner often comes to tea (today). 16. Jill and Bert often have a date in Trafalgar Square (this weekend).

Exercise 3. Put the verbs in brackets into the more suitable form: the Present Simple or Present Continuous to talk about future events.

1. The conference (start) on June 3rd, and (finish) on June 10th. 2.We (watch) a figure skating competition tonight. 3. The Browns (come) to see us on Sunday. 4. We’ve got plenty of time. Our plane (not to take off) until 9 o’clock. 5. The delegation (leave) Moscow tomorrow. 6. Your plane (leave) in an hour’s time. 7. I (meet) Jason at his office on May 25th. 8. When the next train (leave) for Bristol? 9. She (have) a baby in March. 10. Tonight’s concert (begin) at 8.00 and it (not to end) until 11. 11. I (leave) by the 6 o’clock train. 12.The exams (start) in January. 13. Our boat (leave) Dover at 2:00 on Friday and (arrive) in Calais at 6.00. 14. Betty (not to come) to the party. 15. I (go) to Italy for the holidays. 16. Our guests (leave) in a minute. 17. Where you (go) for your honeymoon? 18. Next summer the school holidays (begin) on July 27th and (end) on September 10th. 19. A new comedy series (start) on Channel 4 at the end of the week. 20. We (have) visitors tonight, so I must get the dinner ready.

Exercise 4. Put the verbs into the most suitable form: the Present Continuous or Present Simple Tense.

1. I (go) to the theatre this evening. 2. The film (begin) at 3:30 or 4:30? 3. We (have) a party next Saturday. Would you like to come? 4. The art exhibition (open) on May 3rd and (finish) on July 15th. 5. I (not to go) out this evening. I (stay) at home. 6. – You (do) anything tomorrow morning? – No, I’m free. Why? 7. We (go) to a concert tonight. It (begin) at 7:30. 8. Excuse me. What time this train (get) to London? 9. Ann, I (go) to town. You (come) with me? 10. Sue (come) to see us tomorrow. She (travel) by train and her train (arrive) at 10:15. I (meet) her at the station. 11. I (not to use) the car this evening, so you can have it. 12. I’m bored with this programme. When it (finish)? 13. I (not to go) away for my holidays next month because I haven’t got enough money. You (go) away? 14. George, is it true that you (get) married next week? 15. What time the next train (leave)? 16. The football match (start) at 8 o’clock. 17. I (go) to the cinema at the weekend. 18. What time you (meet) Ann tomorrow? 19. The coach (start) at 7 next Friday. 20. We (spend) next winter in Australia.

Be going + Infinitive (with to)

Exercise 1. Comment on the use of be going to… in these sentences. Translate them.

1. We are going to spend next August in Italy. 2. I’m going to write some letters tonight. 3. My father is going to repair his car tomorrow. 4. Look at those black clouds in the sky. It’s going to rain. We’re going to get wet. 5. Hurry up! It’s getting late. You’re going to miss your train. 6. – There’s a film on television tonight. Are you going to watch it? – No, I’m tired. I’m going to have an early night. 7. I feel terrible. I’m going to be sick. 8. He’s going to give a report at the conference in Berlin next month. 9. I’m studying medicine. I am going to be a doctor. 10. He’s got a new job with a foreign company. He’s going to work abroad. 11. Is Tim going to study maths at university? 12. We sold our flat last month and we are going to live abroad.

Exercise 2. Complete the sentences using be going to… and the verbs in brackets.

1. – I’ve made up my mind. I (change) my job. – What you (do)? – I’m not sure yet. 2. – Why have you bought all that wallpaper? What you (do)? – I (redecorate) the living room. 3. He’s decided that he (not to leave) school this summer. He (stay) on for another year. 4. – I (buy) a new motorbike. – How you (pay) for it? You haven’t got enough money. – I (ask) my bank to lend me the money. 5. – Lynne has just sold her car. – She (buy) a new one? 6. John is very excited. His wife (have) a baby next month. 7. – Why have you moved all the furniture out of this room? – I (clean) the carpet. 8. You (be) very surprised when you see the house. 9. John is well ahead of all the other contestants. He (win) the race. 10. – I hear Ruth has won some money. What she (do) with it? – She (buy) a new car. 11. This food looks horrible. I (not to eat) it. 12. The man can’t see where he’s walking. There is a hole in front of him. He (fall) into the hole. 13. Smoking is very bad for you. I know. I (give up) it soon. 14. There is a hole in the bottom of the boat. A lot of water is coming in through the hole. The boat (sink). 15. It is 8.30. Jack is leaving his house. He has to be at work at 8.45 but the journey takes 30 minutes. He (late). 16. This is my bus. I (take) it.

Exercise 3. Say what a person is going to do next in the following situations.

Model: There’s a nice cake in front of Tom (eat). He is going to eat it.

1. Kate is taking a book from the shelf (read). 2. The teacher is standing at the blackboard (write). 3. The Jones’s car is very old (sell). 4. Jack is switching on the TV (watch). 5. William and Joe are on the way to the railway station (meet). 6. There’s no butter at home (buy). 7. My job is not well-paid (change). 8. Our flat is small (move). 9. I have friends in Boston (visit). 10. I am very tired (have a rest). 11. Kate is making tea (have tea). 12. Jack has bought a new American magazine (look through). 13. The nurse has a syringe in her hand (make an injection). 14. Mary is looking through the menu (order her meal). 15. George is training hard (take part in a competition). 16. My cousin has just got married (congratulate).

Exercise 4. Answer the following questions using the prompts.

Model: Is Tom going to play chess this evening? No, he’s going to watch TV.

1. Are you going to repair your car this weekend (study English)? 2. Is Lucy going to play tennis in the afternoon (cook)? 3. Is Kate going to type in the evening (write her course paper)? 4. Are you going to have dinner at a restaurant (cafeteria)? 5. Are you going to spend your holidays in the mountains (at the seaside)? 6. Are the Browns going to spend the weekend in the country (in town)? 7. Is Peter going to leave on Friday (Saturday)? 8. Is Helen going to apply for a job at Mr Green’s office (Mr Brown’s office)? 9. Is Jack going to fix the sink (Ben)? 10. Are Mary and Steve going to take part in the picnic (to see their parents)? 11. Are you going to invite a lot of people to your party (few)? 12. Is your son going to be an economist (a lawyer)? 13. Are you going to take me to the pictures (the theatre)? 14. Are the boys going to play cards (chess)? 15. Are you going to be a pilot (a manager)? 16. Is Fred going to take a shower now (after supper)?

Exercise 5. Complete these sentences using be going to or not be going to

Model: I watched this talk-show last week, but ______ (not/next week)

I watched this talk-show last week, but I’m not going to watch it next week.

1. Julia caught the 7:45 train yesterday, but ______ (not/tomorrow). 2. I did not see the film last month, but ______ (next month). 3. She bought some meat in that shop last Monday, but ______ (next time). 4. I didn’t travel by air the last time, but ______ (next time). 5. We stayed at home last night, but ______ (not/tonight). 6. I spent 20 rubles on Christmas presents last year, but ______ (not/so much this year). 7. I visited Bill in hospital this morning, but ______ (not/again today). 8. I didn’t pay the bill when it came, but ______ (very soon). 9. We didn’t plan out holidays last summer but ______ (this summer). 10. I didn’t read the newspaper yesterday, but ______ (this morning). 11. We invited the Walkers to our last party, but ______ (not/next party). 12. I gave my son some pocket money last week, but ______ (not/next week). 13. We didn’t have a chance to speak to the boss before the conference, but ______ (after the conference). 14. John didn’t book his hotel room last time he went to London, but ______ (next time). 15. I didn’t celebrate Christmas with my family this year, but ______ (next year). 16. I flew to Paris economy class, but ______ (not/next time).

Exercise 6. Miss Green is a secretary. Say what she is going to do tomorrow.

1. 9 o’clock – come to the office

2. from 9 to 11 – type some documents on her computer

3. 11 o’clock – take the printouts to her boss

4. 11:30 – have lunch

5. 12 o’clock – start typing again

6. 5 o’clock – finish work

7. 6 o’clock – play tennis in the park

8. from 8 to 9 – type and send email to her French friends

9. from 9 to 10 – watch television

10. from 10 to 11 – read an interesting book

11. 11 o’clock – listen to the news.

Exercise 7. Translate these sentences using to be going to.

1. Ты собираешься смотреть телевизор сегодня вечером? 2. – Чем сейчас занимается Роберт? – Переводит статью. – А что он собирается делать потом? – Он хочет сходить в кинo. 3. – Когда ты собираешься навестить брата? – Завтра утром. 4. Мои друзья приезжают в вoскресенье. Я собираюсь встретить их на вoкзале. 5. Я знаю только английский язык, но собираюсь изучить и немeцкий. 6. – Почему ты включаешь телевизор? – Я собираюсь посмотреть новости. 7. Не могу поверить. Посмотри на Джейн! Мне кажется, она собирается пригласить того парня на танец. 8. Где вы собираетесь провести отпуск? 9. Она не собирается здесь оставаться больше ни одной минуты. 10. Он не собирается играть в шахматы завтра. 11. Я собираюсь изучать французский язык в будущем году. 12. Мы собираемся послать им завтра телеграмму. 13. Боюсь, он на меня рассердится. 14. Он собирается провести летние каникулы в Крыму. 15. Морской воздух принесет вам пользу. 16. У нас скоро будет экзамен по английскому языку.

Exercise 8. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Continuous Tense or

be going to… Sometimes both structures are possible.

1. I (see) Sarah this afternoon. 2. Hurry up! We (miss) our bus. 3. It (snow) later tonight. 4. She (meet) them tomorrow morning. 5. What you (do) this afternoon? 6. Be careful! You (break) that glass. 7. He (not to come) next Saturday. 8. Look out! You (hurt) yourself with that knife. 9. She (have) a difficult year. 10. She (have) a baby in June. 11. I (play) bridge tonight with Tom and Ann. 12. The inspector (ask) you a few questions. 13. I’ve already reminded you; I (not to do) it again. 14. Be careful! You (break) that chair. 15. You (hate) this party. 16. I (leave) by the 6:35 train this evening. 17. I (not to work) tomorrow, so we can go out somewhere. 18. He (suffer) for this. 19. The Democratic Party (hold) their convention in Boston next week. 20. Jim’s plane (arrive) in London at 7:00 tonight.

Exercise 9. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Simple, the Present Continuous, or be going to…. Sometimes both structures are possible.

1. There (be) two flights to Tokyo next Thursday. There (be) Delta flight that (leave) Heathrow at 20:30 and (get) in at 6:20 and there (be) a British Airways flight that (depart) at 22:00 and (arrive) at 8:50. 2. I (have) a meeting with the Export Manager on Thursday at 2:15. 3. I don’t think the present government (win) the next election. 4. Mrs Mason has booked three weeks’ leave in October. She (have) a holiday. 5. I’ve booked your flight and hotels for your trip to Ethiopia. You (leave) on the 18th at 6:30 a.m. 6. I’ve made up my mind. I (buy) a BMW. 7. – We’ve chosen a brand name for the new biscuits. – Really? What you (call) them? 8. It’s already 28^o C. It (be) very hot today. 9. – Who do you think will win the next World Cup? – I think Brazil (win) next time. 10. What you (do) on Friday afternoon? – I (see) the accountants. 11. Our company (open) a new Nissan dealership this summer. 12. – Why are you taking the day off on Friday? – I (look) at a new house. 13. – What time your evening class (finish)? – Half past nine. – Shall I come to collect you? – Thanks, but I (meet) my brother for a drink. 14. Where’s Freddie? – He (spend) the night at his friend’s house. 15. – Jack, could we arrange a time tomorrow to talk about the new freight schedules? Say, er-r... 9:15? – I’m very busy because I (have) a meeting with the new driver. Would 10 o’clock suit you? 16. – You’ve bought a lot of groceries today. – Yes. I (cook) dinner for the people who work in my office.