Other ways to talk about the future Flashcards
Meaning similar to BE ABOUT TO, like be on the verge of, brink of, point of (+ING or noun) to say a thing can happen soon.
People are on the verge of starvation as the drought continues.
Scientists are on the brink of making advances in the fight against AIDS.
Tired, she was on the point of collapse.
Be due to (+infinitive) sth is expected to happen.
Be sure or bound to (+infinitive) sth is certain to happen.
Be set to (+infinitive) sth is ready to happen.
CEO is due to retire next year, but with the announcement of losses, she is sure to be asked to leave sooner.
Will there be somewhere to get a coffee at the station? Yes, there’s bound to be.
Her new film is set to be a great success.
Some verbs + to Infinitive to say intentions:
agree, mean, promise, resolve, undertake.
We guarantee to refund your money if you are dissatisfied with the computer.
Present Simple or Continuous +infinitive to say about intentions:
Aim, expect, hope, intend, plan, propose, want.
I aim to get to Bangkok by the end of June. (or I’m aiming to get to Bangkok….).
BE looking to (+infinitive) to mean a plan in course.
We’re looking to create 3.000 jobs over the next year.
Verbs previous tags used in the past mean future seeing from the past.
Natan had resolved to be fluent in Spanish before he left university.
It was his 64th birthday in 2006 and he was due to retire the following year.
Some people use Shall or Shan’t instead of will or won’t with I and We, but it is not so common.
I’m just going to buy a newspaper. I shan’t be long. (more commonly I won’t be long).
