Introduction

This unit looks at the ways that futurity is expressed in English, with special attention to the modal auxiliary will and the modal phrase going to.

Tasks

1 Future tense

There is no future tense verb inflection in English. Futurity is expressed in a number of different ways, some of which are exemplified in these emails. Can you identify the verb forms that have future reference?

2 Choice of future form

Given the number of future forms, what determines their choice? Two common assumptions are that the choice of future form is determined by:

• a how certain the future event is;

• b how soon it will occur.

• To which two more reasons could be added:

• c what caused it? i.e. what is the perceived origin or agent of the future event, e.g. is it arranged, scheduled, planned, desired, predicted, or does it simply happen as a matter of course?; and

• d the style or register of the context, e.g. spoken vs. written, formal vs informal.

Which of these reasons (a, b, c or d) do you think best explains the differences between all of the following:

• 1 I’ll take you to the hotel.

• 2 I’ll be taking you to the hotel.

• 3 I’m going to take you to the hotel.

• 4 I’m taking you to the hotel.

• 5 I take you to the hotel.

3 Future forms

Like most expressions of modality, future forms can express two kinds of meaning: logical and personal (see Unit 21). Now, complete this chart, using examples from the above emails, and filling in the other missing details:

4 Will

The modal auxiliary will is considered by many learners (and a number of grammarians) to be the nearest thing to a ‘pure’ future in English. But will does not always express futurity. In each of the following examples decide whether will/won’t is used with future reference. Can you explain what will/won’t means in those instances where it does not have future reference?

• a After the 17th, although you will still be active, you will also feel more introspective. Keep your spending to a minimum.

• b It’s difficult. Deb won’t speak to me or see our children. Oliver’s mother blames me and won’t meet me.