What are you planning to do tonight

About Words – Cambridge Dictionary blog

Commenting on developments in the English language

What are you doing tonight? – the future in English

The future in English is complicated. The problem is that there are so many different ways of talking about it, and the differences between those various ways are sometimes quite slight. This week and next, we’re looking at the range of tenses and structures that we use to talk about the period of time that is to come.

We’ll start with a really useful tense – the present continuous (be + v-ing), (Notice, by the way, that we’re not starting with ‘will’ – more of that later…):

We are having dinner with friends tonight.

I’m seeing the dentist tomorrow.

What are you doing this weekend?

I’m starting my course next month.

We use this tense for talking about the planned future – things that we have already arranged to do. We use it both in statements and questions, and we use it a lot. It may be useful to think of the present continuous as the ‘diary’ tense – the tense that you use to talk about meetings, appointments, etc. that need arranging – the sort of future events that you might write in your diary.

Now let’s move on to a structure that looks similar and, in fact, is used in a fairly similar way: be going to. Like the present continuous, this structure is used for talking about things that we intend to do in the future. The difference is that we usually use it for those things that we probably wouldn’t write in a diary – things that we intend to do but which do not need us to make arrangements:

I’m quite tired- I’m going to have an early night tonight.

I’m going to call Louisa tonight and see how she’s doing.

I think she’s going to speak to Dan about it.

What are you going to get for Sophie’s birthday?

(There is another use of ‘going to’ that I’ll come to in a moment.)

And so to will. It’s important to note that we generally don’t use ‘will’ to talk about our plans. We do often use it to talk about the future, but in two quite particular ways and neither has to do with plans or intentions. Here’s the first one:

I think he’ll (= he will) be pleased to see you.

I’m sure Sophie will do well in her exams – she’s really clever.

I never see anyone in that shop – I bet it will close soon.

‘Will’, then, is used for predicting events, for saying that, based on what we know, we think that something will happen in the future. Note how we often use phrases such as ‘I think’, ‘I’m sure’ and ‘I bet’ before ‘will’. These can make our comments on what will happen in the future a little less certain. Likewise, we often use ‘probably’ after it:

I’ll probably be home before midnight.

We also use ‘going to’ to predict events. There is a difference here, but it is quite slight. If we think that something will happen because of something that we can see at the time, we often use ‘going to’:

It’s going to rain, isn’t it? Look at those clouds.

You’re going to fall off that chair! Come on, sit up properly!

Returning to ‘will’, the other big future use of ‘will’ is for talking about things that we have just decided to do:

A: The train takes three hours.

B: Does it? In that case I think I’ll drive there.

A: I don’t have enough time to go shopping.

B: Don’t worry – I’ll do the shopping.

Note that the second of these is also an offer. ‘Will’ is used for suddenly making offers that we have not planned.

Well, I hope that helps with the future tenses. Next week we’ll be looking at the future continuous, among other tenses. (Did you see what I just did there?)

Difference between What are you up for tonight vs What are you up to tonight?

What are you up for tonight? (this one bluntly means «What do you want to do tonight?»)

be up for sth informal
› to want to do something: We’re going clubbing tonight if you’re up for it.

What are you up to tonight? (this one is about the 3rd definition below, the on related to «devising» and «scheming».

As far as or approaching a certain point. For example, The water was nearly up to the windowsill, or They allowed us up to two hours to finish the test, or This seed should yield up to 300 bushels per acre. [c. a.d. 950]

be up to. Be able to do or deal with, as in When I got home, she asked if I was up to a walk on the beach. This usage is often put negatively, that is, not be up to something, as in He’s not up to a long drive. [Late 1700s]

Occupied with, engaged in, as in What have you been up to lately? This usage can mean «devising» or «scheming,» as in We knew those two were up to something. It also appears in up to no good, meaning «occupied with or devising something harmful,» as in I’m sure those kids are up to no good. [First half of 1800s]

Dependent on, as in The success of this project is up to us. [c. 1900] Also see the following idioms beginning with up to.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

REVIEW OF FUTURE FORMS

future simple:

a) in predictions about the future usually with think, believe, be afraid, probably, etc. e.g. I believe life will change in the 21st century.

b) for on-the-spot decisions or offers.

e.g. It’s late. I’ll take a taxi home. I’ll lend you my car if you want.

c) for actions/events/situations which will definitely happen in the future and which we cannot control, e.g. Winter will set in early this year.

d) for promises, threats, warnings, requests, hopes, etc.

e.g. Stop talking or I’ll send you out of the class. (warning)

be going to:

a) for plans, intentions or ambitions, e.g. I’m going to buy a sports car.

b) in predictions when there is evidence that something will happen in the near future, e.g. Someone’s going to fall over that box if you don’t move it.

present continuous: for fixed arrangements in the near future. e.g. He’s flying to Turkey next month. He has already booked his flight.

present simple: for timetables/programmes. e.g. The ferry leaves at eight o’clock tomorrow morning.

future continuous:

a) for actions which will be in progress at a stated future time. e.g. This time next week he’ll be flying to Morocco.

b) for actions which will definitely happen in the future, as a result of a routine or arrangement, e.g. I’ll be seeing Jim at work later on today.

c) when we ask politely about someone’s plans for the near future, in order to see if our wishes fit in with their plans, e.g. ‘Will you be going to the dentist this afternoon?’ Yes, why?’ ‘Can you make an appointment for me to see him?

future perfect:for actions which will be finished before a stated future time. e.g. We will have returned home by Sunday afternoon.

future perfect continuous:to emphasise the duration of an action up to a certain time in the future. e.g. By the end of this week, she will have been working here for six years.

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.

B: I … (leave) at 7 o’clock to go to the airport.

A: Oh yes, I remember. You … (go) on holiday.

2 A: Excuse me, what time … (the bus/arrive)?

B: It … (arrive) at 11 o’clock.

3 A: It’s cold in here.

B: You’re right. I … (close) the windows.

4 A: Mum, my winter coat needs cleaning.

B: Okay, I … (take) it to the dry-cleaner’s tomorrow.

5 A: Is Jerry coming to the theatre with us next week?

B: I don’t know, but I … (see) him at football practice tomorrow. I … (ask) him then.

6 A: How is your project coming along? Is it done?

B: Not yet, but I … (finish) it by the time the holidays are over.

7 A: Have you been waiting in this queue long?

B: Yes. By 4 o’clock, I … (wait) for two hours.

8 A: What … (plan) to do this summer?

B: I … (spend) a few weeks with my cousins. I have already arranged it with them.

What are you planning to do tonight

1) Do you have any plans for tonight? – Well, I … to the cinema with Mark.
b) am going
2) Don’t let children … with the elders.
a) argue
3) The dress suits you wonderfully! – Yes, I think I … it.
a) Will buy
4) Do you know that Ann and Andrew … in a month? – Oh, really?
a) will get married
5) It would be wonderful … round the world.
c) to travel
6) When … the second term …?
b) does…start
7) We can get up at 6 o’clock. We are used … early.
c) to getting up
8) We … a test on Monday. I have to revise a lot of rules.
b) are having
9) Why are you buying so much wallpaper? – My husband and I … our flat.
a) are going to redecorate
10) Its no use … your application.
b) rewriting
11) … twice he didn’t want to try to enter that university again.
b) having failed
12) She turned her back upon him and appeared … too busy … the conversation.
c) to be, continuing
13) He … have forgotten about our meeting. He is very punctual.
b) can’t
14) A fool … ask more questions that a wise man … answer.
c) may, can
15) If only his father … alive! He could have helped him.
c) were
16) I wish you … your grandfather, John. He died when you … five.
b) knew, were
17) The office is closed. She … be there.
c) can’t
18) It’s too easy to give advice. But what … if you … me?
c) would you do, were
19) If I … a million dollars I … probably buy a yacht.
c) had, would
20) I wish you … more polite with my parents.
b) would be
21) Unfortunately I can’t be your dance partner. If only I … a bit taller.
a) were
22) The car broke down. But for that we … in time.
b) would have been
23) Nothing … about it at the meeting.
c) was said
24) Some famous buildings … and now look totally different.
c) have been restored
25) While our teacher … a lesson an inspector came in.
a) was giving
26) This ancient book … for over a hundred years.
b) has not been opened
27) After I … my driving test for the sixth time, I decided not to try again.
a) had failed
28) The police believe that the man they … for may be dressed as an old beggar.
a c) are looking
29) I could feel that Jean … because she gripped my arm hard.
a) was frightened
30) What sort of research … now and who … it?
b) is being done, is doing

Тест по английскому языку по теме: «Способы выражения будущих действий» (3)

Choose the right form of the verbs.

1. “Don’t cry, Johnny. I … you another ace-cream.”

3. “I hope it … a boy.”

4. “We … a party next Saturday.”

5. “The train … at 3:00.”

6. “Do you need a ride to the train station?” “Thanks, but Joel … me.”

7. “I … Mr. Johnson on Monday.”

8. “I promise I … it tomorrow.”

9. “Classes … next week.”

10. “I don’t want to cook tonight.” “OK, I … it.”

11. “Are you busy tomorrow evening?” “Yes, I … to the cinema.”

12. “Do you have any plans for your birthday?” “Yes, I … a party.”

14. “I have to leave early today. I … to the dentist’s.”

15. “What are your plans for the weekend?” “We … to the country.”

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