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[38] I talked to Bob yesterday. He is tired of taking the bus to work. He is going to
buy a car. That‟s what he told me. In sentence [38] the speaker intends to do an action in the future because in
the past she has made a plan or decision to do it. Only be going to is used. The speaker knows Bob‟s intention to buy a car. Bob made the decision in the past and
he intends to act on this decision in the future. 3 To express willingness, only will is used:
[39] A: The phone is ringing
B: I will get it.
The conversation shows willingness. “I am willing, I am happy to get the phone.” He has made no prior plan. He is not making a prediction. He is willing to answer
the phone. a The Present Progressive and the Simple Present Tense to Express Future Time
1 Present Progressive Tense
[40] Sam has already made his plans. He is leaving at noon tomorrow.
The present progressive may be used to express future time when the idea of the sentence concerns a planned event or definite intention. A future meaning for
the present progressive tense is indicated either by future time words in the sentence or by the context. Verbs such as come, go, stay, arrive, leave are
frequently used in the present progressive to express future time. Such verbs express definite plans. Verbs expressing planned means of transportation in the
future are frequently used in the present progressive, for example: fly, walk, ride, drive, take a bus or taxi, and many others.
29 Sometimes it is used when the speaker wants to make a very strong statement
about a future activity 2 Simple Present
[41] The museum opens at ten tomorrow morning.
The simple present can be used to express future time in sentences that concern events that are on a definite schedule or timetable. Only a few words are
used in this way such as open, close, begin, end, start, finish, arrive, leave, come, return.
j. Future Progressive Tense
The future progressive expresses an activity that will be in progress at a time in the future.
[42] I will begin to study at seven. You will come at eight. I will be studying
when you come. The form of future progressive tense is S + willshall + be + the -ing form while
the progressive form of be going to is be going to + be + -ing. Sometimes there is
little or no difference between the future progressive and the simple future, especially when the future event will occur at an indefinite time in the future as in
the following examples:
[43]
Don‟t get impatient. She will be coming soon.
[44]
Don‟t get impatient. She will come soon.
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B. Theoretical Framework
