One of the most fascinating aspects of language is its power to express the future. English provides learners with various ways to talk about things that haven’t happened yet, allowing us to set goals, make plans, and imagine endless possibilities. For TESOL teachers, helping students master future expressions can give them the confidence to speak about their aspirations, arrange plans, and discuss upcoming events. Here’s a guide to teaching the different ways to express the future in English, along with practical examples for the classroom.
1. Using “Will” for Spontaneous Decisions and Predictions
The auxiliary verb “will” is one of the most common ways to express the future. We use “will” for decisions made at the moment of speaking and for making predictions about the future.
Examples:
- Spontaneous Decision: “I forgot my notebook. I’ll go get it.”
- Prediction: “It will rain tomorrow, so bring an umbrella.”
Teaching Tip: Encourage students to think of simple predictions they can make about the weather, future events, or outcomes in their daily lives. This helps them feel comfortable using “will” naturally.
2. “Going to” for Planned Actions and Predictions Based on Evidence
“Going to” is used when we talk about plans or intentions we’ve already thought about. It also works for predictions when we see evidence for something about to happen.
Examples:
- Planned Action: “I’m going to study tonight for the exam.”
- Prediction with Evidence: “Look at those dark clouds; it’s going to rain.”
Teaching Tip: Have students write a few personal goals or plans using “going to.” This allows them to connect their future plans to the lesson and practice expressing intention.
3. Present Continuous for Fixed Arrangements
The present continuous tense (e.g., “I am meeting…,” “We are visiting…”) can also express the future, particularly when discussing definite plans or arrangements. This form implies that details have already been arranged.
Examples:
- “I’m meeting my friend at 5 PM tomorrow.”
- “We’re visiting the museum on Saturday.”
Teaching Tip: Ask students to think of appointments or meetings they have in the coming days. Practicing with real-life scenarios helps students get comfortable with the present continuous for future arrangements.
4. Simple Present for Scheduled Events
In English, we often use the simple present to talk about scheduled events, especially with transportation or timetables. This form is generally used with phrases like “starts at,” “leaves at,” or “opens at.”
Examples:
- “The train leaves at 6:00 AM.”
- “The concert starts at 8:00 PM.”
Teaching Tip: Provide students with a fictional event schedule, like a timetable or itinerary, and have them describe it using the simple present to practice this form.
5. Future Continuous for Ongoing Actions in the Future
The future continuous tense (e.g., “I will be working…”) is used for actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future. It’s useful for highlighting ongoing actions and is often combined with expressions like “this time tomorrow” or “in a few hours.”
Examples:
- “This time tomorrow, I’ll be flying to Paris.”
- “In a few hours, they’ll be having dinner.”
Teaching Tip: Have students describe what they imagine they’ll be doing at a specific future time. This allows them to practice setting scenes and imagining future situations.
6. Future Perfect for Actions Completed by a Certain Time
The future perfect tense (e.g., “I will have finished…”) is used to talk about actions that will be completed by a specific point in the future. It helps students express goals or deadlines.
Examples:
- “By next month, I will have completed my course.”
- “They will have finished the project by Friday.”
Teaching Tip: Have students think of goals or tasks they plan to complete within a specific timeframe. Practicing future perfect sentences gives students a sense of accomplishment and reinforces the concept of reaching goals.
The Importance of Practicing Future Forms
Being able to express the future accurately gives students the confidence to discuss their plans, ambitions, and expectations. It also provides a way to practice setting goals and visualizing the future, skills that can be both motivating and empowering. Teaching these forms helps students gain fluency in an essential part of everyday conversation and professional communication.
Join Our Live Stream: “How to Express the Future in English”
To delve deeper into teaching future expressions, join us on Friday, February 21st, at 1:30 PM EST for a live stream on facebook.com/tesol with FluencyMC. This interactive session, titled “How to Express the Future in English”, will provide practical tips, activities, and explanations that will make teaching the future forms engaging and effective. Together, let’s help students master the art of expressing the future and prepare them for conversations that shape their dreams and aspirations.
Don’t miss this chance to elevate your teaching techniques and expand your students’ linguistic horizons—because where there’s an auxiliary verb, there’s a way!
