Learning English will help you improve your personal, social, and business English, and express your thoughts, feelings, and ideas, using a natural style and a modern vocabulary.

Humans are different from other animals. One important difference is that we can think about time: the past, the present, and the future.

We can think about the past, remember it and learn from it. Things completely in the past started in the past, existed in the past or happened in the past, and ended in the past.

We can think about the present, live now and experience it. Things completely in the present start now, exist now or are happening now, or end now.

We can think about the future, imagine it and make plans for it. Things completely in the future start in the future, exist in the future or happen in the future, and end in the future.

These ideas are useful, but not exact. Things don't exist or happen at a time-point, but exist or happen for a time-period, however short. In language, when a time-point becomes a time-period depends on the context, not a definition or a rule.

For example, if I say It's ten o'clock now, by the time I've said those words it's a few seconds after ten o'clock. Fortunately, in everyday life, this sort of accuracy isn't important. And my watch might be wrong!

Listening Practice: The Future.

I asked Natalie to talk about the future, so that you can hear someone speaking English. To play or pause the player, use the controls. Listen to it several times, and then say it yourself.

In many languages, the names of things, called nouns, have different forms, made by changing the word ending. Generally, the word ending shows if the noun is male, female, neuter, singular, plural, definite, indefinite, or has some other quality. For example, in Spanish: chica, chicas, chico, chicos.

Often, the adjective that describes the noun has a similar word ending, but the verb that relates to the noun has a different word ending. Words, with their endings, are combined using rules, and the final sentence is only grammatically correct if the endings agree. For example, in Spanish:

To make things even more difficult, future verb forms are often similar to present verb forms, but have different spellings, usually at the end of the word. However, some verbs have over fifty past, present, and future endings, so there's a lot to remember.

In English, most verbs have four endings, for example: talk, talks, talking, and talked. So, to express every type of past, present, and future, we use verb combinations.

To express the future, the main verb is combined with one of the auxiliary verbs will or shall, or with a form of the auxiliary verb phrase to be going to.

Note: Shall is not the same as should and will is not the same as would. Unlike most verbs, there are no forms of shall called shalls, shalling, or shalled. The words wills, willing, and willed have meanings, but aren't related to will.

Note: The word going is pronounced as two separate words, go and ing. The two vowels don't make a new sound, as in noise.

		will
I		shall		visit Tuscany soon.
		am going to

Although this seems simple, we use them in very specific ways.

The Future.

As an introduction to the idea of the future, let's talk about my visit to Tuscany. Remember, things completely in the future start in the future, exist in the future or happen in the future, and end in the future.

It's important to understand that we often talk about the future as if it's near. However, in many sentences, the nearness of the future depends on the context, and there may be no expressed time when something will start.

Listening Practice: Future Forms.

I asked Natalie to repeat some of this so that you can hear someone speaking English. To play or pause the player, use the controls. Listen to it several times, and then say it yourself.

Time is a useful concept. It lets us organise things, in sequence, in our minds. We remember being children in the past, we exist now, in the present, and we enjoy planning for our future.

We experience time in two similar ways:

In the first, time stays still, and we move through time from the past to the future, visiting the past, present, and future as time places.
In the second, we stay still, and time moves through us and around us from the future to the past, visiting the present as a time place called now.

The Learning English Time Map combines these two ideas with our original concept of the three main time zones, the past, present, and future:

The open shape on the left represents the past, the centre circle represents the present, and the open shape on the right represents the future.

They overlap because, in English, we can express things that exist or happen in more than one main time zone. The overlap on the left represents the Relative Past and the overlap on the right represents the Relative Future. These are explained in the Grammar modules called Past Verb Forms and Future Verb Forms.

English is written from left to right, so the written and completed past is on the left, and the unwritten and unknown future is on the right.

The Time Map shows where verbs work in time, when we express existence, actions, activities, and events. Why not draw it on paper, to help you remember?

Most people enjoy thinking about the future and making plans. But, at any time, something may happen that will change the life you have now, and change your future.

Your company strategy, your dream of a new home, and your holiday plan, are only possible futures, but they give your life extra meaning and help change you into the person you will be. In the future.

In an earlier module, we said that we can talk about the present in two different ways. One is the exact moment, now, called a time point. The other is the general period, the one we live in, called a time period. The future also has time points and time periods, so let's look at them and show them on the Time Map:

Usually, time points and facts are expressed using a simple verb form, and time periods and activities are expressed using a continuous verb form.

Things in the future will start in the future. A seed will grow into a tree, and humans will visit the stars. Some things will happen at a time point and others will happen over a time period. However, when a point becomes long enough to be called a period depends on the context, not a definition or a rule.

There are eleven basic future forms. They're grouped for easy learning, as you'll see later, but don't try to remember them right now: most English speakers use them without knowing what they're called.

When we express these futures in English, we use the word will as an auxiliary verb before the main verb.

		certain future
will		necessary future
		voluntary future

Let's look at how we do this:

When we say that something is certain, we expect it to happen. It's definite. It's a fact. Here are some examples:

Negative and question examples are:

In spoken English, the word will is emphasised slightly if we feel strongly about something and want to make it very clear. Because the full word will needs to be emphasised, we don't use the short forms, such as I'll. Here are some examples:

Although will can express certainty, in real life we can't control everything. In the following examples, how much certainty depends on what you know about the person, the thing, or the context:

When we say that something is necessary, it's needed so that something else can happen. Something or someone depends on it. Here are some examples:

When we say that something is voluntary, we want to do it and are usually happy to do it. However, although it may be a good intention, we may change our mind and not do it. Here are some examples:

Which future form describes the following example. Read our comments on your choice, even if you were right.

To check your answer, click the Made In England label:

Often, we signal the future, rather than express and emphasise certainity, particularly in conversation or informal writing. It uses the short form 'll to indicate something in the future, but without the more specific qualities of the full words will and shall.

In question forms, you can't use 'll, as you can see in the two following examples:

The phrase will not is often shortened to won't, particularly in conversation and informal writing. There is no word spelled willn't.

Sometimes, the word will is unnecessary because other words show that something is in the future. For example: after, before, expect, hope, if, unless, until, want, when, and wish.

Because those words include the idea of the future, it is wrong to say, for example: I will hope or When Kiara will arrive.

When we express these futures in English, we use the word shall as an auxiliary verb before the main verb. Shall is only used with I and we. It's about personal futures.

		personal future
shall		determined future
		suggested future

Let's look at how we do this:

When we say something is personal, we mean that it's important to us and that we probably don't need or want to ask for anyone's opinion or permission. For example: I shall buy flowers for my mother.

When we say we are determined, we mean that we won't let anyone or anything stop us. For example: I shall have another beer. When the word shall is emphasised it means that I'm determined to have another beer, even if I fall over.

Shall: Suggested Future.

When we say something is a suggestion, we mean that we are offering to do something and have every intention of doing it. It's a question form which checks that the offer is OK. For example: Shall I pay for dinner tonight? It's usually understood to be a genuine offer to pay for dinner rather than a reluctant sense of duty.

The phrase shall not is often shortened to shan't, particularly in conversation or informal writing. There is no word spelled shalln't and shall is not related to should.

Which future form describes the following example. Read our comments on your choice, even if you were right.

To check your answer, click the Made In England label:

When we express these futures in English, we use forms of the phrase to be going to as an auxiliary verb phrase before the main verb.

		planned future
to be going to
		expected future

When expressing the future in these ways, the verb phrase to be going to is used in its present forms. Let's look at how we do this:

Whilst learning about verbs, you'll often hear or read phrases such as the first person singular or the second person plural. It's important to understand what first, second, and third mean in this context.
The first person means me, or us. The second person means you; you singular or you plural. And the third person means the others; other people or other things.

A future plan is something that you have planned for, either in your mind or in a real practical way. But it hasn't started yet. It's something you intend to do. Here are some examples:

In spoken English, it's very common to use short forms. The full forms are usually used to emphasise the intention.

An expected future is something that you expect to happen. It's something that, as far as you know, will not be stopped by anything else. Here are some examples:

In spoken English, it's very common to use short forms. The full forms are usually used to emphasise the expectation.

The Time Map shows the three basic time zones and the general future, with time moving from right to left, from the future to the past.

The open shape on the left represents the past, the centre circle represents the present, and the open shape on the right represents the future.

They overlap because, in English, we can express things that exist or happen in more than one main time zone. The overlap on the right represents the Relative Future. But what is it?.

The scheduled future is used for timetables, itineries, diaries, to-do lists, and whenever we write down things to do in the future. Let's listen to Martin on the phone to his wife:

In this context, a simple present verb form I fly expresses a future schedule. Using the present to express a scheduled or arranged future is the only time the present expresses the future.

To English people, the story sounds like a formal, uninteresting, sequence of facts: a scheduled future that someone else has probably organised and Martin must follow.

Sometimes a future event is arranged, fixed in time, and seems certain. For example, when we book a plane flight, arrangements we make now fix events or activities in the future. Let's listen to Martina on the phone to her husband:

In this context, a present continuous verb form I am flying expresses a future arrangement. Using the present to express an arranged or scheduled future is the only time the present expresses the future.

To English people, the story sounds like a personal, interesting, sequence of events or activities: an arranged future that Martina has probably organised and wants to follow.

As usual, key examples use the Bampton Midi Orchestra to show how words, phrases, and sentences are used in everyday English.

That example uses the auxiliary verb will to make a certain future. It's definite. It's a fact. Although, something unexpected might happen to stop it.

That example uses the auxiliary verb shall as a determined future. Our manager does not want us to go, and feels strongly about his decision. Although, he may change his mind.

That example uses the auxiliary verb phrase is going to as a planned future. It's arranged. It's an intention. Although, something unexpected may happen to change the plan.

Learning English includes music, usually played by the Bampton Midi Orchestra, to interest, educate, and entertain you. So why not take a break and listen to Catrina Makin, a pianist with the Bampton Midi Orchestra playing part of the Piano Octo No 5 by the English composer, Angela Vennal. She's ready to start, so just click the player:

Angela Vennel has written twelve short pieces for piano which express the exitement and stress of modern city life. Her music is often called futuristic and has been used in several visionary films about possible futures.

Story Time is about typical modern living: things that you hear about during conversation, on the radio, on television, or at the cinema. Generally, the style is informal, so it's ideal for talking to people that you know well.

If there are any coloured words in the text, make sure that you understand what they mean and why they are used. You might need to use a dictionary.

It's important to read this text aloud. And it's good practice to record yourself, then listen to the recording later. This helps you to speak confidently, listen carefully, connect ideas, and understand and enjoy the whole text.

If you're learning with family, friends, in a class, or at work, remember to join in, although it's not important for you to have a strong opinion. Try to express your own ideas clearly, but listen carefully when you disagree and be ready to change your own views. Be aware of the difference between facts and feelings.

It's very important to understand that a discussion doesn't need to end with everyone agreeing and making one statement or decision, and it shouldn't become an argument. There might have to be compromise or you might just have to let go of something you felt was important. But was it?

Notice that, in this dialogue, Andy has one arranged future and Polly has three scheduled futures.

What is the difference between these two examples:

In conversation, it's important to understand things as soon as your hear them. Look at the following sentences and choose the one that you think is not in the future. Try to make a quick decision.

To check your answer, click the Made In England label:

How you use the auxiliary verbs will and shall, and the auxiliary verb phrase to be going to, is a good test of your English. Here are some clear examples for you, with explanations:

Note: In modern spoken English, will is used most of the time, even when shall would be correct. However, by reducing language to the level of popular television, we will gradually lose the fine variations in meaning that make English so expressive.

Won't is a short form of will not. The apostrophe replaces the missing letter, although three other letters have been changed or are missing. There is no short form spelled willn't.

Shan't is a short form of shall not. The apostrophe replaces the missing letter, although two other letters are also missing. There is no short form spelled shalln't.

The word will has other meanings which you should look up in a dictionary. But here are a few examples:

Although you've been learning about the different ways of expressing things in the future, here are some typical uses of the word future taken from everyday conversation:

Here is a short reminder of the main things that were in this module. Try to remember them, or write them down, before you click the Made In England label:

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