# My future

# Future Tenses

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In this section, you will learn how to form and use the Future Tenses in English: WILL-future and BE GOING TO.

The WILL future is quite similar to the Spanish "futuro simple" (La inaguración será el viernes a las 2). The BE GOING TO future, on the contrary, is used to talk about our future personal plans, intentions or decisions (Este año voy a estudiar francés)

Read carefully about them in the following sections:

## WILL

AFF: SUBJ + WILL (‘ll) + VERB (inf) - He will come (He’ll)

NEG: SUBJ + WON’T + VERB (inf) - He won’t come

QUESTIONS: (wh-) WILL + SUBJ + VERB (inf) ? - When will he come ?

Life in the Future In the future, life will be quite different from what it is today. Here are some simple predictions: People will travel to space for holidays. Just like going to the beach or the mountains, space will be a new destination for adventure. Cars will fly in the sky. Roads will be much less crowded because cars will take to the skies, making travel faster and more exciting. Robots will do most of the housework. Cleaning, cooking, and even gardening will be tasks for robots, giving people more time to relax and enjoy. We will talk to animals. Scientists will invent a special device that translates animal sounds into human language, so we can understand what our pets are saying. Food will come in pills. Instead of cooking big meals, we'll take small pills that give us all the nutrition we need. It will save a lot of time. Books will read themselves out loud. When you open a book, it will read the story to you. Perfect for bedtime stories or learning new things. Schools will be in virtual reality. Students will wear special glasses to enter a virtual classroom, making learning more interactive and fun. Remember, these are just predictions. The future might be different, but it's exciting to imagine what it will be like. Let's keep learning English to be ready for whatever comes!

These are the main uses of WILL future in English (usos del futuro con "will" en inglés).

1. FACTS that will be TRUE in the future

Con WILL expresamos la certeza de que algo tendrá lugar, sin lugar a dudas, en el futuro.

We won't work next Monday - El próximo lunes no trabajaremos
The winner will get a 100€ prize - El ganador recibirá un premio de 100 euros
The new library will open on Thursday - La nueva biblioteca abrirá el jueves

2. SPONTANEOUS decisions, NOT PLANNED before speaking

Decisiones futuras que tomamos espontáneamente, según las circunstacias, en el momento de hablar.

-I've got a problem. -Tengo un problema
-Don't worry. I'll help you. - No te preocupes, yo te ayudaré

-Did you know it's Tom's birthday today ? -¿Sabías que es el cumpleaños de Tom?
-Oh, really ? No, I didn't. I'll buy him a present. -Ni idea. Pues le compraré un regalo.

-There aren't any buses at this time. -No hay autobuses a esta hora
-Well, in that case we'll get a taxi. -Bueno, entonces cogeremos un taxi

-What do you want to drink ? -¿Qué quieres tomar?
-Err... I don't know... I think I'll have a coke. -Mm, no sé, creo que tomaré cocacola.

3. General PREDICTIONS based on OPINIONS, not facts. Usually with expressions such as: I think, I’m sure, probably...

Predicciones genéricas sobre el futuro, normalmente basadas en nuestra experiencia u opinión personal. Por eso se suelen utilizar expresiones como “Creo que…”, “Pienso que…”, "Estoy seguro de que...", "probablemente", ...

I think our team will win. - Creo que nuestro equipo ganará.
I don't think cars will use batteries in the future. - No creo que los coches usen baterías en el futuro
The English exam will be very difficult. - El examen de inglés será muy difícil
Prices will probably rise again next year. - Los precios probablemente suban otra vez el año que viene.

4. PROMISES

Hacer promesas

I won't tell anyone what happened, I swear - No se lo diré a nadie, te lo juro.
I promise I'll arrive earlier next time. - Te prometo que llegaré antes la próxima vez.

5. THE WEATHER FORECAST

La predicción del tiempo (TV, radio, prensa...)

It will rain in the South and it will be cloudy and windy in the North.
Lloverá en el sur y habrá nubes y viento en el norte.

## BE GOING TO

AFF: SUBJ + AM/IS/ARE (be) + GOING TO + VERB (inf) - He is going to drive

NEG: SUBJ + AM NOT/ISN'T/AREN'T (be) + GOING TO + VERB (inf) - We aren't going to drive

QUESTIONS: (wh-) AM/IS/ARE (be) + SUBJ + GOING TO + VERB (inf) ? - What are they going to do ?

My plans for the future My name is Mike and I want to share my plans for the future. I'm really excited about what's coming up! First, I am going to travel to Paris next month. I've always dreamed of seeing the Eiffel Tower and walking along the River Seine. It will be my first trip to France, and I can't wait! After my trip, I am going to start learning to play the guitar. My friend Sarah plays beautifully, and she has agreed to teach me. I've always loved music, and I think playing an instrument will be a lot of fun. In the autumn, I am going to join a cooking class. I enjoy cooking, but I want to learn more recipes and techniques. I hope to make dishes from different countries. I'm especially interested in Italian and Japanese cuisine. Next year, I am going to look for a new job. I've been in my current job for three years, and I feel ready for a new challenge. I'm not sure what I want to do yet, but I'm going to start looking for opportunities in different fields. Finally, I am going to spend more time with my family and friends. We're all so busy, but it's important to stay connected. I'm planning to organise regular get-togethers, maybe a picnic in the park or a movie night at home. So, those are my plans for the future. What about you? What are you going to do in the future?

These are the main uses of BE GOING TO in English (usos del futuro con "be going to" en inglés).

1. FUTURE INTENTIONS OR DECISIONS, PLANNED before speaking

Decisiones futuras que ya teníamos tomadas antes de hablar de ellas.

-What are you going to do next summer ?. -¿Qué vas a hacer el verano que viene?. (qué has pensado, qué intención tienes)
-I'm going to travel to Italy. -Voy a ir a Italia. (esa es mi intención)

I'm going to buy a present for Mary. It's her birthday tomorrow. - Hoy es el cumpleaños de Mary. Voy a comprarle un regalo. (ya lo sabía)
I'm going to buy some food. Do you want something in special ?. - Voy a comprar comida. ¿Quieres algo en especial?. (ya pensaba ir).

2. PREDICTIONS based on REAL FACTS/EVIDENCE.

Predicciones futuras basadas en evidencias reales, no en una opinión personal o general.

Look at those black clouds. It's going to rain. - Mira qué nubes tan negras. Va a llover.
Can you see that old ship on the heavy sea ? It's going to sink. - Mira ese barco en las olas. Va a hundirse.
My father's loosing a lot of hair. He's going to be bald in a year or two. - Mi padre está perdiendo mucho pelo. Se va a quedar calvo.

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