将来时的六种表示法

一般将来时的六种表示法

一、will/shall

will/shall通常用来表示将来时间。Will用于第一、二、三人称主语，shall用于第一人称主语，都可以表示将来时，但是这种意义通常夹杂着情态意义，即带有说话人的主观态度和看法，比如表示“预见”：

You will feel better if you after taking this medicine.

He won’t be here in time unless he comes by air.

We shall know the result next week.

I am sure that I shall not lose my way in the woods.

有时候表示将来，也含有“意愿”或“意图”

I will do it if you like it.

As the railway is not yet open to traffic, we shall go by boat.

I promised to pay him back in time, but he won’t lend it to me.

二、be going to

这一结构的主要意义，一是表示“意图”，即打算在将来做什么。

Are you going to post that letter by air mail？

How long is he going to stay here? 由于没有语境的限制，也可以换成will。

We’re going to call a meeting to discuss it.

意图的体现者通常是句子的主语，但也有可能不是。如：

He’s not going to cheat me again.(=I won’t let him cheat me again.)

二是表示“预见”，即现在已有的迹象表明将要或即将发生某种情况。如：

I feel dizzy. I think I am going to faint.

Good heavens! I must hurry. I’m going to be late.

Look at that black clouds——there is going to be a storm.

表“意图”的用法有时候可以与“will+do”互换使用，但是也要注意区分。Be going to do表示的是说话之前就已经决定了，而“will+do”则是说话时临时想到的。

A: What a terrible box!

B: I will help you to carry it.(这里不能换为am going to)

A: why are you taking your stuffs out of the box?

B: I am going to carry this box to other place but it is too heavy. So I have to take something out. (这里不能用will)

三、be+-ing(现在进行体)

一是表示与他人约定或安排于最近要进行什么事，通常带有将来时间状语。

I am meeting Mary tonight. She is taking me to the movies.

He is having dinner with Ann on Friday.

Alex is getting married next month.

二是一些表示位置转移的动词，如come，go，start，arrive，stay，leave等，常常用现在进行时代替be going to do,表示主语单方面所决定的未来行为。如：

I’m leaving tomorrow. 明天我要离开。

Are you staying here till next week?

A: Summer holiday is coming. Where are you going?

B: I am going to Australia.

四、be to

这一结构的主要用法，一是表示按计划、安排即将发生的动作。这种用法比较正式，常见于报纸和广播，用于宣传官方的计划或决定。例如：

I am to have tea with Betty this afternoon.

There is to be an investigation.

Where are we to stay tonight?

二是表示命令、禁止或可能性等。如：

You are to stand here. Do you understand?

Tell her she’s not to be back late.

The dictionary is not to be had here.

五、一般现在时

一般现在时表示将来时间，常见于条件状语或时间状语从句中。

If he comes, I will let you know.

I’ll give it to you after I finish it.

Will 表意愿、意志的时候也可以放在条件状语从句中。如：

If you will listen to me, I’ll be able to help you.

I will tell you if you will not tell anyone.

在主语中用一般现在时表示将来时间通常是表示有标记的极其明确的将来或描述的不能更改的将来事件或预定活动，如时间表、日程表、形式里所规定的将来活动。

Tomorrow is Saturday.

The summer holiday starts on June 28.

The plane takes off at 20:30 tonight.

注意：表示将来时间，一般现在时和现在进行时都有表示位移的动词连用，而且都有计划、安排的含义。但是现在时所暗含的计划比较客观，因而具有不可变更性，而且用现在时表示将来在口气上也比较正式。I’m leaving tomorrow.（个人的主观意愿）

The plane takes off at 20:30 tonight.（时间表上的规定）

六、be about to

即将发生的动作，指眼皮底下就要发生的事情，一般是不跟时间状语的。

Look, the train is about to leave!