In English as in Spanish there are several ways to express future and facts that will happen. These different ways to express future give color to the language and intention to the speakers. The most commons future forms are be going to, will as well as other structures such as: present perfect continuous (I’ll have arrived by 3:00 a.m.), simple present (She arrives at 3:00 a.m.), future continuous (I’ll be arriving at 3:00 a.m.) among others.
The following are also very useful ways to express future, for example:
We use these words when we want to express levels of certainty in the future that is why it is very important to learn how and when to use them.
Be bound to we use this expression when we are very sure that something is going to happen.
She's bound to feel nervous before his driving test.
We use the expression be likely to or be unlikely to when we are almost sure that something is going to happen. It means that it will probably happen or that it is expected to happen, for example:
The government's likely to call an election soon.
Carlos is unlikely to be invited to the party.
However, we use be about to to talk about things which are going to happen very soon:
I’m about to leave. Can I phone you back at night?
It is often used with just:
We’re just about to set off for a walk. Do you want to go with us?
On the other hand, the expression be due to is used to talk about things that are expected or planned to happen at a certain time. We regularly use it with a time expression:
Are you due to hand in homework today?
The train is due to arrive at Central Station at 12:12.
I. CONSOLIDATION.
TRY THIS QUIZ. I. Read the explanations above once again and answer the following. Choose the best answer.
II. EXERCISE I.
Flight Information
Get real time updates on your flight status
Check the following timetables at Delhi Airport. Live Flight Information Stay updated on Arrival and Departure timings and decide if the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
III. PRACTICE I.
IV. BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Cambridge Dictionary Online. (2022). Be expressions. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es-LA/grammar/british-grammar/be-expressions-be-able-to-be-due-to
Cambridge University Press. (2015). Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Fourth Edition.
Swan, M & Walter, C. (2016). Oxford English Grammar Course. Intermediate. Oxford University Press.
Development of the topic: Other Future Forms. Written by Ana María Martínez Gutiérrez. (2022). Lic. en Enseñanza de Inglés. FES Acatlán. UNAM.
O’Donell, F. y Broadhead, A. (2014). Objective Advanced. Students’s Book. Italy: Cambridge University Press.
V. CREDITS
Timetable pictures taken from: Delhi Airport. Live Flight Information Stay updated on Arrival and Departure timings. Site last updated on May 04 2022
https://www.newdelhiairport.in/flight-information
Reading Task: READING Delhi Airport. Live Flight Information. Written by Ana María Martínez Gutiérrez. (2022). Lic. en Enseñanza de Inglés. FES Acatlán. UNAM.
Development of the topic and practice exercise for: Other Future Forms. Written by Ana María Martínez Gutiérrez. (2022). Lic. en Enseñanza de Inglés. FES Acatlán. UNAM.
Audio version performed by Matt_Compra propia de licencia de uso de voces en Voicemaker, exenta de derechos de autor. https://voicemaker.in/ _Connie Reyes Cruz_2022_
Practice exercises written by Ana María Martínez Gutiérrez. (2022). Lic. en Enseñanza de Inglés. FES Acatlán. UNAM.