Future in English - How to Talk about the Future

Summary

In this Oxford Online English lesson, Martin teaches various ways to discuss the future in English. He covers the use of present continuous tense for near-future plans, present simple for scheduled events, and 'will' or 'going to' for predictions. Martin also introduces phrases to express uncertainty, such as 'may', 'might', and 'could', and provides examples to help learners practice these structures in different contexts.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Learn to discuss future plans and predictions in English with clarity and naturalness.
• 📅 Use the present continuous tense to talk about future plans when you know the details.
• 🌟 Phrases like 'What are you doing this weekend?' are common for discussing immediate future activities.
• 🏖️ For vacations or events further in the future, use 'going' or 'planning to' to express intent.
• 🤔 If plans are uncertain, use modal verbs like 'may', 'might', 'could', or phrases like 'it's possible that'.
• 🕒 The present simple tense is appropriate for discussing future timetables or schedules.
• ⚽️ To make predictions about future events, use 'will' or 'won't', or 'going to' for events expected to happen soon.
• 🏃‍♂️ Phrases like 'unlikely to', 'sure to', and 'bound to' can express varying degrees of certainty in predictions.
• 📝 Practice forming sentences about future plans, schedules, and predictions to improve fluency.
• 🔗 For additional practice, access the full lesson and quiz on the Oxford Online English website.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the lesson presented in the transcript?

The main focus of the lesson is to teach students how to talk about the future in English using various phrases and tenses.

What is an example of a simple question about the future presented in the transcript?

An example of a simple question about the future is 'What are you doing this weekend?'

What tense is commonly used to talk about future plans in the present continuous form?

The present continuous tense is commonly used to talk about future plans, especially when the speaker knows where or when something will happen.

How can you form questions about future plans using the present continuous tense?

You can form questions about future plans using the present continuous tense by starting with 'What are you doing' followed by a time expression, such as 'this weekend?', 'tomorrow?', or 'next Wednesday evening?'

What are some examples of activities one might have planned for the near future as mentioned in the transcript?

Examples of activities planned for the near future include meeting friends for lunch, going to the theatre, going away for the weekend to Berlin, and taking a boat trip on the Nile.

What is the difference between using 'will' and 'going to' for predictions according to the transcript?

According to the transcript, there is no strict difference between using 'will' and 'going to' for predictions; both can be used freely, and no one will notice the difference.

How can you express uncertainty about future events in English as discussed in the transcript?

You can express uncertainty about future events in English by using modal verbs like 'may', 'might', 'could', or by using phrases such as 'it's possible that…'.

What are some phrases used in the transcript to talk about plans when you don't know all the details?

Some phrases used to talk about plans when details are uncertain include 'I'm planning to...', 'I'd like to...', 'My dream is to...', and 'It's possible that...'.

How can you use the present simple tense to talk about future events as mentioned in the transcript?

You can use the present simple tense to talk about future events that are scheduled or timetabled, such as 'The bus gets there around 7.30.' or 'The last bus leaves at 10.15.'

What are some ways to make predictions about the future as discussed in the transcript?

Ways to make predictions about the future include using 'will' or 'won't', 'going to', adverbs like 'definitely', 'unlikely', 'sure to', and 'bound to', as well as phrases like 'It’s not likely that...', 'He’s sure to...', and 'It’s bound to...'.

What is suggested for practice at the end of the transcript to reinforce learning about talking about the future?

It is suggested to make four predictions about the future, say them aloud, and write them down for extra practice.