Talk about the future

Unit 13

I CAN name future-time expressions
I CAN say what I want to do tomorrow

Speaking

7 cards

To say what you want to do tomorrow, English has two common structures. Use I want to + verb for things you would like to do. Use I'm going to + verb for plans you have already made. Both are correct and very common at A2 level.

Here are the most useful phrases. I want to + verb means you have a wish or an idea. I'm going to + verb means you have a real plan. What do you want to do tomorrow? is a friendly question about wishes. What are you going to do tomorrow? is the same question about plans. I'd like to + verb is a polite way to say what you want.

Common verbs to use with these phrases: go (to a place), see (a person or film), watch (a film or TV), eat (food), visit (a person or place), meet (a friend), play (a game or sport), study (a subject), read (a book), walk (in a place).

English
I want to + verb
I'm going to + verb
What do you want to do tomorrow?
What are you going to do?
I'd like to + verb

Look at the order of words. The verb comes BEFORE the time expression: 'I want to go to the park tomorrow.' NOT 'I want to go tomorrow to the park.' The time expression usually goes at the END. You can also put a time at the start: 'Tomorrow, I want to go to the park.' Both orders are correct.

Listen for the stress. In 'I want to', we often say 'wanna' in fast speech, but in careful speech we say 'want to'. 'Going to' often sounds like 'gonna' in fast speech. In this lesson, we use the full, clear forms.

Try to make four or five sentences about your own plans. Use a different verb and a different time expression each time. This will help you remember them. For example: 'I want to eat pizza tomorrow.' / 'I'm going to study English tonight.' / 'What do you want to do this weekend?' / 'I want to visit my grandmother next week.'

Generating translation…

Emma and Tom are friends. They are chatting about their plans for tomorrow and tonight.

E
Emma Hi Tom! What are you going to do tomorrow?
T
Tom Hi Emma! I want to go to the cinema in the evening. What about you?
E
Emma I'm going to study in the morning, but I want to see my friend in the afternoon.
T
Tom Sounds fun! What do you want to do tonight?
E
Emma I want to watch a film at home. I'm tired today.

I want to go to the cinema tomorrow.

This is the most common way to say what you want to do. Notice the order: I want to + verb + time expression.

Required

Read this sentence aloud. Speak clearly and at a natural speed.

I want to visit my friend tomorrow.

Required

Read this question aloud. Remember: your voice should go up at the end.

What do you want to do this weekend?

Required

You are talking to a new classmate. Use 'I want to' or 'I'm going to' to share your plans for tomorrow and the weekend. Ask the classmate a question too.

Required

I CAN name future-time expressions
I CAN say what I want to do tomorrow

Vocabulary

6 cards

To talk about the future in English, we use future time expressions. These are short words and phrases that tell us when something will happen. They are very common in everyday English — you will hear them at work, with friends, and in shops.

Look at these common future time expressions. Tomorrow is the day after today. Tonight is the evening of today. This weekend means Saturday and Sunday of this week. Next week is the week after this one. Soon means in a short time — perhaps today or tomorrow. Later means after now, in some time. Tomorrow morning is the morning of the next day. Next month is the month after this one.

We use these expressions with be going to for plans. The time expression tells us when, and the verb phrase tells us what. Look at the basic shape: subject + be going to + verb + time expression. For example: 'I am going to travel tomorrow morning.'

Sometimes the meaning is similar. Tomorrow morning is more specific than tomorrow. This weekend is more specific than soon. Choose the word that is best for your plan. Remember the small words: we use this with days, weekends, weeks, months, and years that are very close (this weekend, this week). We use next with the one AFTER this one (next week, next month). We use tomorrow only for the next day. We use tonight only for the evening of today.

Read the example sentences below. Notice that the time expression is usually at the END of the sentence. This is the most common position in English. You can also put it at the start: 'Tomorrow, I am going to visit my cousin.' Both orders are correct.

Word / Phrase	Part of speech	Example sentence
tomorrow	noun	I am going to visit my cousin tomorrow.
tonight	noun	Are you free tonight?
this weekend	phrase	We are going to the park this weekend.
next week	phrase	She is going to start her new job next week.
soon	adverb	I am going to call you soon.
later	adverb	I am going to do my homework later.
tomorrow morning	phrase	We are going to travel tomorrow morning.
next month	phrase	They are going to move house next month.

Generating translation…

Meet these eight future time expressions. You will use them to talk about tomorrow, tonight, and the coming days and weeks.

later ˈleɪtə
At a time after the present moment or after the time being referred to.
next month nekst mʌnθ
The month following the current month.
next week nɛkst wiːk
The week following the current week; the coming week.
soon suːn
in or within a short time ; before long ; quickly : at the same time or a very short time after: If you do som
this weekend ðɪs ˌwiːkˈend
The weekend of the current week, referring to Saturday and Sunday (or Friday and Saturday in some countries) t
tomorrow təˈmɒr.əʊ
on the day after today:
tomorrow morning təˈmɒrəʊ ˈmɔːnɪŋ
The morning of the next day; the period from midnight to noon on the day after today.
tonight təˈnaɪt
During the night of the current day; this evening or night.