Curso de Inglés Avanzado Lección 7

1. The Future Perfect is used to say that something will have been done before a point of time in the future.
- "The painters say they’ll have finished the flat by Friday."

(WILL + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE)

Use the continuous form to emphasise the continuity of a future achievement:
- "I’ll have been teaching for sixteen years this summer."

- "We’ll finish work when you arrive." (We will finish work then)
- "We’ll have finished work by the time you arrive." (We will finish work before then)

These phrases are often used with the future perfect:

- By... 2 o’clock / Friday / next week / this time next year / the end of the day
- By the time… I get home / I’m 60 / the plane takes off
- By this time… tomorrow / next week / next month / next year
- By the end of the… week / month / year

2. The Future Continuous can be used to say that something will be in progress (happening, going on) at a particular moment in the future.
- "I’ll be having dinner at 9.30 this evening."

(WILL + BE + ……..ING)
- "This time tomorrow I’ll be lying on the beach and drinking a cold beer."

- "We’re having a meeting at 1 o’clock." (The meeting will start at that time)
- "We’ll be having a meeting at 1 o’clock." (The meeting will be in progress at that time.)

The Future Continuous can be use to ask polite questions about people’s plans. When you use it you are asking "What have you already decided?"

- "Will you be eating with us this evening?"
- "Will you be using your car this weekend?"
- "Will you be passing our flat on the way to the concert? If you are, maybe you could give us a lift?"

Complete the dialogues with the Present Continuous, Future Continuous or Future Perfect form.

1)
Terry: What are you going to be doing this time next year?
Pete: I (teach) for a big, successful English language academy in Tokyo.
Terry: I didn't know you were thinking of leaving Spain.
Pete: I got a great job offer with an excellent salary. Besides, by the time I move, I (live) in Madrid for more than six years. I think it's time for a change.

2)
Pete: Steph’s been in the kitchen all day long.
Terry: I don’t think she’s having a very enjoyable birthday.
Pete: She (cook) for more than six and a half hours by the time all the guests arrive for dinner this evening. I hope she (finish) everything by then.
Terry: Maybe we should offer to help her?, Y’know give her a hand with the food?
Pete: Nah. We’d only get in the way. Besides, the football (start) in a minute.

3)
Steph: Did you hear that Andy (go) on holiday to Asia this August?
Terry: I can't believe how often she goes abroad. Where exactly does she want to go?
Steph: She (visit) Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.
Terry: At this rate, she (visit) every country in the world by the time she retires.

4)
Steph: Hurry up Terry! Do you realise how late we are? By the time we get to the restaurant, everyone (finish, already) eating.
Terry: Don’t blame me, Steph. It's your fault for taking so long to dry your bloody hair!
Steph: I couldn't get it to look right.
Terry: What difference does it make? By the time we get there, everyone (left) anyway!

5)
Pete: It's 7:30, and I have been working on my report for nearly two and a half hours.
Terry: Do you think you (finish) by 9:00? There's a darts match on at the pub tonight.
Pete: I (probably, do) the report by 9:00, but I (work) on it for more than three and a half hours, and I don't think I am going to feel like going to a darts match.

Listen to the dialogues to check your answers.

Check your answers

Here are some more ways of talking about the future.

• Modal verbs
"I’m not working next Monday, so we may/might/could well go away for a long weekend."

• To be about to do something
"I signed the contract last week, and they’re about to start work on our new flat."

• To be on the point of doing something
"He’s on the point of signing a new contract with Real Madrid."

• To be on the verge of doing something
"I’m on the verge of selling my Ford and buying a Toyota."

• To be likely / unlikely to
"There are one or two points that are likely to prevent us from signing a deal with that company."
"She’s unlikely to win an Oscar for her performance."

• To be bound to
"He’s bound to get first prize. His work is amazing."

Used in formal speech or writing:

• Is/are to
"The President is to visit Afghanistan this week."

• To be due to
"The bus to Paris is due to leave at 2:15."

• Set to
"Microsoft is set to release their new operating system at the end of the year."

We can also use some verbs followed by the infinitive (with to) to talk about the future:

• plan
• aim
• intend
• arrange
• expect
• hope
• prepare

Listen and repeat.

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