Make sure you are familiar with the Basic Future Tenses and Future Perfect and Future Continuous lessons before proceeding with this lesson.
In addition to the basic future tenses (i.e. will, be going to etc.), we can use certain expressions to talk about the future. By using these forms, as well as the basic tenses, you will sound more natural in your speaking and writing.
The following alternative future expressions will be grouped according to their function (i.e. meaning).
FUTURE PLANS AND INTENTIONS
Normally, we would use 'be going to + inf' to talk about future plans and intentions.
I am going to join a gym and get into shape.
BE PLANNING TO + INF / BE AIMING TO + INF
We can use the following present continuous expressions to talk about future plans and intentions.
I am planning to join a gym and get into shape.
I am aiming to join the gym next week.
It is possible to use time phrases like 'next week, this year, on Tuesday etc.' with both of these expressions, but it is more common to have one with 'be aiming to + inf'.
To make the negative, we add 'not' after the 'be' verb.
I am not planning to join a gym.
BE THINKING OF + ING
We can also use 'be thinking of +ing' to talk about future plans and intentions. Remember to use a verb-ing after the preposition 'of'.
I am thinking of joining a gym and getting into shape.
We do not typically use this expression in the negative.
BE NOT ABOUT TO + INF
You can also use this expression to express a negative future plan and intention. Note that this expression can only be used in the negative. (the positive has a different meaning and will be explained later).
I've joined a gym and want to live more healthily. I am not about to eat any more unhealthy food.
We can use 'be not about to' with the verb 'start' to emphasise that you refuse to do something. This could be a response to someone asking you to do something that you feel very strongly against doing.
A: Those doughnuts look good! B: I've never eaten unhealthily and I am not about to start now.
NEAR FUTURE
To express the 'near future' (i.e. something that is going to happen soon) using normal tenses, we can use 'will' or 'be going to' (depending on whether there is evidence or not) with a time phrase like 'soon'.
I think it will rain soon. (using 'will' for predictions without evidence)
Look at the sky. It is going to rain soon. (using 'be going to' for predictions with evidence)
BE ABOUT TO + INF
An alternate but very common expression to use is 'be about to + inf' to express 'near future'.
Look at the sky. It is about to rain.
We can emphasise this expression by adding the adverb 'just'.
Sorry can't talk now. I'm just about to get in the lift. I'll call you back.
BE DUE TO + INF / BE SET TO + INF
We can use 'be set to + inf' and 'be due to + inf' to say that something is expected to happen in the near future. These can also sound more formal.
I've seen the weather forecast. It is set to rain today.
The President is due to arrive momentarily.
BE ON THE VERGE OF + ING/NOUN
This expression can often make you sound more sophisticated and dramatic. Note that we use a 'verb ing' or a 'noun' after the preposition 'of'.
I've had enough of my company's policies. I am on the verge of quitting my job.
Some variations of this expression also exist. We can change 'verge' for 'point' or 'brink'.
We are on the point of discovering a cure.
Our country's economy is on the brink of collapse.
When we use 'brink', we often describe negative sounding situations. This is also the most dramatic so be careful when you use it.
We cannot use a time phrase with this expression (verge/point/brink).
I am on the verge of quitting my job next week. (this is incorrect)
FUTURE CERTAINTY
Using normal normal tenses, we can use definitely or probably with 'will (not)' to talk about certainty in the future. Certainty refers how likely something will happen in the future.
I will definitely visit my friend this week. (place the adverb after 'will')
I probably won't visit my friend this week. (place the adverb before 'won't)
VERY HIGH CERTAINTY
BE CERTAIN TO + INF / BE SURE TO + INF
We can use 'be certain to + inf' and 'be sure to + inf' to say that something is very likely to happen in the future. We can use a time phrase like 'this week, on Monday, next month etc.' to clarify when.
I am certain to visit my friend this week.
He is sure to get the job he is applying for.
BE BOUND TO + INF
'be bound to + inf' also expresses very high certainty, but feels a little less certain than 'be certain to + inf' and 'be sure to + inf'.
I am bound to visit my friend this week.
HIGH CERTAINTY
BE LIKELY TO + INF
To express 'high' certainty (~60-75%), we can use 'be likely to +inf'.
I am likely to visit my friend this week.
We can modify this expression to make it 'very high' certainty by adding the adverb 'highly'. This can make it sound a little more formal.
The new CEO is highly likely to implement a new revenue plan.
To express high uncertainty, we can make this expression negative by using a negative prefix.
I am unlikely to visit my friend this week.
What is the difference between using 'not likely' and 'unlikely'?
Grammatically, they are both correct and everyone would understand what you are saying. In an exam setting, it would be preferable to use 'unlikely' as you are displaying higher level language skills (i.e. knowledge of prefixes) and you would be using fewer words in a writing text that has a maximum word count (e.g. Cambridge C1 Advanced writing task).
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