Formas de futuro

Formas y usos

• will

  Predicción basada en tu opinión, decisión en el momento, promesas y ofrecimientos.

  • I think it will rain later.
  • I'm cold, so I'll close the window.
• be going to

  Plan ya decidido, o predicción por lo que ves ahora.

  • We're going to paint the kitchen next month.
  • Look at those dark clouds; it's going to rain.
• presente continuo

  Cita o plan con fecha, hora o persona ya acordados.

  • I'm meeting Sarah for lunch tomorrow.
• presente simple

  Horarios y programas: trenes, clases, películas.

  • The train leaves at 7.15 tomorrow morning.
• will be + -ing

  Acción en curso en un momento del futuro.

  • This time tomorrow I'll be lying on a beach.
• will have + participio

  Acción terminada antes de un momento del futuro. Suele ir con by.

  • By the end of the year, I'll have saved enough money for a car.
• be about to

  Va a pasar ya, enseguida.

  • Hurry up; the film is about to start.
• be due to

  Previsto por horario o por plan.

  • The plane is due to land at six.
• be likely to / be bound to

  Likely = probable. Bound = seguro, casi sin duda.

  • It is likely to rain this afternoon.
  • She is bound to pass; she's worked so hard.
• después de when, if, as soon as…

  Detrás de when, as soon as, until, before, after e if, presente con sentido de futuro.

  • I'll call you when I arrive.
• futuro en el pasado

  Was going to = plan o predicción vistos desde el pasado; a menudo, un plan que no se cumplió. Would = futuro visto desde el pasado.

  • I was going to call you, but I forgot.
  • She knew he would be late.

Dónde aparece en el examen

En la parte 2 el hueco suele ser will, be, going, about, have (will have finished) o by. En la parte 4 son clásicos estos cambios: will probably → is likely to; we plan to → we are going to; is going to start very soon → is about to start. En la parte 1 a veces eliges entre due, likely, bound y sure. Las cuatro van con to, así que decide el sentido: due = previsto por horario, likely = probable, bound y sure = seguro. Solo likely admite it is… that.

Trampas típicas

• Si ves by + un momento del futuro, piensa en will have + participio.
• Be likely to lleva to y la persona va de sujeto: he is likely to win. También existe it is likely that + oración.
• Probably va después de will y antes de won't: he will probably come, he probably won't come.
• Be about to no lleva una hora o una fecha concreta: no digas about to leave tomorrow.
• En una frase con when o if de futuro, will va solo en la otra mitad.

Errores típicos

• when + presente

  Sin will detrás de when.

  • ✗ Mal: I'll phone you when I will arrive.
  • ✓ Bien: I'll phone you when I arrive.
• planes con continuo

  Plan ya acordado.

  • ✗ Mal: What do you do this weekend?
  • ✓ Bien: What are you doing this weekend?
• likely + to

  Detrás va infinitivo con to.

  • ✗ Mal: It is likely raining later.
  • ✓ Bien: It is likely to rain later.