The Future: Other Ways to Refer to the Future, The Future in the Past

Other Ways to Refer to the Future

• We sometimes use expressions like be (just) about to (+ infinitive), be on the point of (+ noun / –ing), and be on the verge of (+ noun / –ing) to talk about things that are going to happen in the very future.
  • I’m just about to have dinner– can you call back in about an hour? (= I’m going to have dinner now.)
  • We are on the verge of a health catastrophe.
• We sometimes use be to + infinitive to talk about official plans, particularly in news reports.
  • The Prime Minister is to give a press conference at 3 this afternoon.
• News headlines usually use the infinitive to refer to future in order to save space.
  • Car Company to Cut 200 Jobs (= A car company is going to cut 200 jobs.)
• We can use be bound to (+ infinitive) to refer to events that are certain to happen.
  • I don’t know why Jackie is so worried about her exam – she’s bound to pass easily.
• We use be due to (+ infinitive) to refer to events which are expected to happen at a particular time.
  • The next train from London is due to arrive at 5: 30.
• [Due to + noun does not refer to the future. It is used in a formal style to mean because of. E.g. Flight LN603 to Athens has been cancelled due to bad weather.]
• We use be set to (+ infinitive) if everything is ready or prepared for something to happen.
  • Is everybody set to leave? OK, so let’s go.
• We often use be set to (+ infinitive) to describe trends that we expect will continue.
  • The situation is set to get even worse in the future. (Current trends suggest this is likely to happen.)

The Future in the Past

• Use was / were going to + infinitive to refer to planned events in the past. Often these are events which in fact didn’t happen.
  • We were going to have a picnic but it started raining, so we decided to stay at home.
• We sometimes use was / were with (just) about to, on the point of, and on the verge of to talk about events or situations which nearly happened or happened soon afterwards (but often in fact didn’t).
  • Dhan and Shristi were just about to leave without me when I got there.
• We can use was / were with due to and set to to refer to past events which were expected or ready to happen.
  • The meeting was due to start at 2 but in the end it didn’t start until 3.
  • Smith was set to make his debut in yesterday’s match but he injured himself during training.
• We sometimes use was / were bound to to refer to past events or situations which we think were predictable or obvious.
  • I don’t know why you’re surprised – it was bound to happen.

Source: Active Grammar, Level 3, Mark Lloyd and Jeremy Day, CUP, 2011 (With Ramrowriter’s adaptation where necessary)