Present Continuous (Future Meaning)

Exercise 81

The Present Continuostense is used to talk about things that people have arranged or planned to do in the future.

Charles Dearborn is the managing director of Ramplus Computers, an international company with its main offices in London. Mr. Dearborn has a busy life. Describe his schedule for next week. For the times of arrival and departure usethe Present Indefinite form. To describe the other arrangements usethe Present Continuousform of these verbs:speak, visit, open, meet, have, go.

Example:

• On Monday he leavesLondon at 9.30 andarrivesin Madrid at 12.40.

(timetable)

• He is speakingat an international conference.

(fixed arrangement in the near future)

Monday	London 9.30 Madrid 12.40 International conference
Tuesday	Madrid 7.40 Athens 13.55 Ramplus offices
Wednesday	Athens 8.15 Milan 12.35 New Ramplus factory
Thursday	Milan 10.10 Strasbourg 11.15 President of the Computer Market Ltd.
Friday	Strasbourg 10.45 The Hague 11.40 Discussions with the Dutch Minister
Saturday	The Hague 9.30 Stockholm 12.25 Computer show

Activity

Imagine you are the head of a big international company. You have just met your partner at a party, and you are telling him/her about a three-day business trip you are making next week. Think of some interesting places and important things to do and tell your partner about them.

Present Indefinite (Future Meaning)

Exercise 82

The Present Indefiniteis used to talk about future events, which are part of a fixed programme or a fixed timetable. Complete the sentences usingthe Present Indefiniteof the verbs in brackets.

Example:

• Our boat _____ (leave) Dover at 2.00 on Friday and _____ (arrive) in Calais at 6.00.

• Our boat leavesDover at 2.00 on Friday andarrivesin Calais at 6.00.

1. The conference _____(start) on June 3rd, and _____ (finish) on June 10th.

2. We've got plenty of time. Our plane _____ (not / take off) until 9 o'clock.

3. Tonight's concert _____ (begin) at 8.00 and it _____ (not / end) until 11.00.

4. When _____ (the next train / leave) for Bristol?

5. Next summer the school holidays _____ (begin) on July 25th and _____ (end) on September 10th.

6. National No-Smoking Week _____ (start) on October 24th.

7. Their plane _____(depart) at two o'clock in the morning.

8. "What time _____ (the tennis / start) tomorrow evening?" "At 6.15."

9. The evening show _____ (be over) about 11p.m.

10. The programme says Rock music Festival _____ (open) on Saturday

next week.

Present Indefinite after Time Words when, if, after, before, until , etc. (Future Meaning)

Exercise 83

Put one verb in each sentence into the Present Indefiniteand the other verb into thewill / won't form.

Example:

• If I _____ (fail) the exam, I _____ (take) it again.

• If I failthe exam, I'll takeit again.

1. I _____ (buy) a new car as soon as I _____ (have) enough money.

2. If the weather _____ (be) nice tomorrow, we _____ (go) sailing.

3. I _____ (look after) your cat while you _____ (be) on holiday.

4. He _____ (not / do) anything until he _____ (hear) from us.

5. The door _____ (not / open) unless you _____ (push) it hard.

6. We _____ (play) tennis this evening as long as it _____ (not / rain).

7. I _____ (lend) you the money provided you _____ (pay) me back tomorrow.

8. They _____ (go out) until it _____ (stop) snowing.

9. My father _____ (buy) a newspaper when he _____ (go out).

10. When you ____ (see) Dennis, _____ (tell) him he still owes me some

money.

11. I _____ (bring) a compass in case we _____ (get lost).

12. I _____ (let) you know) when she _____ (get) there.

13. After you _____ (go) another 50 metres, you _____ (see) a path to your

left.

Exercise 84

Expand these notes to make a sentence beginning with the word(s) given. You will need to decide the order in which to place them. Use the Present Indefinitein the first clause and will or won't in the second.

Example:

• he / need complete test / another two months he / come out / hospital

• After he comes out of hospital, he will need complete rest for another

two months.

1. I decide / buy / the house	I / have / look at / an expert
Before …
2. we / not let her / walk / school alone	she / a little older
Until …
3. he / take / work more seriously	he / fail / his exams
Unless …
4. one pen / run out	I / take two into / exam room
In case …
5. I / meet you outside / cinema / 8.00	I / not / see you after school
If …
6. traffic / not too bad	I / pick you up / work
Provided …
7. you / give us / a discount	we / place a bulk order
If …
8. we / not / begin	Everyone / arrive
Until …
9. I / call you	I / get / there
As soon as …
10. I / get in touch	I / return/ from the Middle East
When …
11. they / shut down / the plant	a lot of people / lose / their jobs
If …
12. he/not / be able to / make a decision	he / see / the president
Until …

Exercise 85

Correct the mistakes in the following sentences.

1. Is Ivan will go to work tomorrow?

2. When you will call me?

3. Will Tom to meet us for dinner tomorrow?

4. If it will be cold tomorrow morning, my car won't start.

5. What time you are going to come tomorrow?

6. My sister is going to meet me at the airport. My brother won't to be there.

7. Fiona will call us tonight when she will arrive home safely.

8. Mr. Wong will sells his business and retires next year.

9. Do you will be in Venezuela next year?

10. I'm going to return home in a couple of month.

11. When I'll see you tomorrow, I'll return your book to you.

12. I'll see my parents when I will return home for a visit next July.

13. The train is arriving at 6 a.m., strictly to schedule.

14. "What will you do on Monday?" "I'm visiting a dentist."

15. This is an important letter. I'm going to send this letter by express mail.

CONVERSATIONS

Exercise 86

There are many ways of talking about future time. It depends what we want to express. Identify the tense forms of the verbs in bold. Fill in the chart matching the verb in bold with the correct tense column.