Person I B Plan Meet Future Questions Tonight

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Talking about the future is something that is done very frequently. Whether we are talking about our dreams or simply telling someone what we will do tomorrow is all spoken in the future tense. As in the previous lesson, this isn't a grammar lesson. This lesson is to provide many different sentences using the future tense.

In the previous lesson, we concentrated on present tense using 'I am'

When we speak in the future tense, we can still use 'I am' but it is important what follows the two words that will make it future tense. Here are a couple of examples.

I'm going to see Bob tomorrow"
I'm going to meet John at the airport at 6 O'clock tonight"
I'm going to go home in an hour"
I'm going to go to the bus stop right after class"
I'm going to do that tomorrow"

When using 'going to' after 'I am' it is important that a future indicator is present. For example, if I say, 'I am going to meet John', this can also be present tense that we practiced previously. But if you add a future indicator like 'at 6 O'clock tonight' then it becomes future tense.

Other future tense indicators are:

'going to go'
'going to be'
'I will'
'I have to'

Let's practice using these words:

I'm going to be dead if I don't finish this project by tomorrow"
I'm going to go home next week"
I'll meet you there at five"
I can't go tonight because I have to work late"

Tomorrow's Plan - Questions and Answers

When asking questions about the future, you can ask questions like:

What are you going to do tonight?"
What are you doing next week?"
When do you plan on doing your homework?"
When are you going to eat dinner?"
What time do we have to leave for the airport?"
What should we do tonight?"
There are many different questions you can ask. By changing a few words, you can make numerous questions properly about the future.

When you are answering questions that relate to the future, remember to use the future tense. Here are some ways to answer the questions directly above:

What are you going to do tonight?"

I plan on meeting John after dinner. We're going to go to a night club."
I'm going to go to take my girlfriend out to dinner. And if we have time, we might try to see a movie."

What are you doing next week?"

Since I'm on vacation next week, I plan on going to Pusan to visit some friends down there."
Next week I have to go shopping for all the Christmas presents. I have to buy a present for my dad, mom, and my two sisters."

When do you plan on doing your homework?"

I think I'm going to do my homework after I watch the world cup. I don't think I'll be able to concentrate until after the game is over."
I'm so unmotivated to do my homework. But I'll eventually have to do it, so I'll get around to them probably after dinner."

What time do you have to leave for the airport?"

The flight comes in at 4:30, so I plan on leaving at about 3:30"
The security is pretty tight so I should get there early. I plan on arriving there 2 hours before my flight leaves."

What should we do tonight?"

After dinner, let's go grab a couple of beers. Then we can go shopping for a couple of hours, and afterwards, we can rent a video and watch it at my place."
I'm pretty busy tonight. I have to do the laundry, vacuum, and then make dinner, so I won't be able to meet you tonight."

Tomorrow's Plan - Example Conversation

Let's use this time to incorporate what we have learned so far.

Person A: Bob is in the hospital, did you get a chance to visit him?"
Person B: I'm going to see Bob tomorrow"
Person A: I thought you had to meet John tomorrow?"
Person B: I'm going to meet John at the airport at 6 O'clock tonight"

Person A: I'm going home now, do you want to head out together?"
Person B: No Thanks. I'm going to go home in about an hour"
Person A: Didn't you need to buy a present for you brother's birthday?"
Person B: I'm going to do that tomorrow"

Person A: I'm going to go to the bus stop right after class, so I won't have time to meet you"
Person B: That's OK. We can always get together tomorrow."

Person A: Why do you look so stressed?"
Person B: I'm going to be dead if I don't finish this project by tomorrow"
Person A: I thought you had 2 weeks to finish this project"
Person B: I don't have time to explain now. I'll talk to you later."

Person A: Since we are done with school, when are you going back home?"
Person B: I'm going to go home next week"
Person A: Me too. Do you want to meet at the train station on Sunday?"
Person B: Sure. I'll meet you there at five"

Practice asking questions:

What are you going to do tonight?"
What are you doing next week?"
When do you plan on doing your homework?"
When are you going to eat dinner?"
What time do we have to leave for the airport?"
What should we do tonight?"

Tomorrow's Plan - Interactive Practice

Click on Listen All and follow along. After becoming comfortable with the entire conversation, become Person A by clicking on the Person A button. You will hear only Person B through the audio file. There will be a silence for you to repeat the sentences of Person A. Do the same for Person B. The speed of the conversation is native speed. Use the pause button if the pause between each sentence is too fast for you. After practicing several times, you will be able to speak as fast as a native.