英语里没有单一的"将来时"。有的是一组形式,选对了,才能传达出词语本身说不出来的信息。
五种必须掌握的形式
will + 动词 —— 当场做出的决定;提出帮助、许下承诺、没有事实依据的预测
I'll get it. · It will probably rain.
going to + 动词 —— 事先定好的计划,或根据眼前迹象作出的预测
We're going to move in June.(已经决定好了)
Look at those clouds — it's going to pour.(眼前就能看出来)
现在进行时 —— 已经确定好的安排,通常涉及另一个人
I'm meeting the client at four.(已经记在日程表上)
一般现在时 —— 时刻表、日程安排
The train leaves at 6:40. · The conference starts on Monday.
将来进行时(will be + -ing) —— 未来某个时刻正在进行的动作
This time tomorrow I'll be flying to Oslo.
将来完成时(will have + 过去分词) —— 在未来某个时间点之前完成
By December we'll have completed the migration.
另外三种意思精确的形式
be about to —— 马上就要发生,就在接下来几分钟内。
Don't call now — they're about to start.
be due to —— 由外部安排好的时间,通常暗示可能会变动。
The report is due to be published in May.
be to + 动词 —— 正式的指令或安排,常见于公告和新闻。
All staff are to report to reception. · The Prime Minister is to visit Berlin.
将来完成进行时 —— 到某个时间点为止,某件事已经持续了多久。
By June I'll have been working here for ten years.
从过去看未来
当你站在过去的某个时间点向前看时,每种形式都要往回退一步:
- I was going to call you, but I ran out of time.(没有实现的计划)
- She said she would be late.(will → would)
- We were about to leave when the phone rang.
其中 was going to 特别好用——这是描述"本来打算做、但最终没有做成"的标准方式。
真正传达意思的区别
will 和 going to —— 决定是什么时候做出的?
The phone's ringing. — I'll answer it.(此刻才决定)
Why are you holding the phone? — I'm going to call Ana.(之前已经决定了)
going to 和现在进行时 —— 打算 与 已定安排的区别。
I'm going to see the dentist.(打算去)
I'm seeing the dentist at nine.(已经预约好了)
将来进行时用来显得委婉。 这是商务语域里的一个细节:
Will you be joining us? 比 Will you join us? 更委婉——问的是对方的计划,而不是索取一个承诺。
怎么表达确定程度的高低
副词要放在 will 之后、won't 之前——这是一个很小的位置规则,却很容易出错。
| 确定程度 | 例句 |
|---|---|
| 很高 | It will definitely be ready. |
| 大概率 | It'll probably be ready. |
| 不太可能 | It probably won't be ready.(不是「won't probably」) |
| 谨慎 | It may well be delayed. |
这些表示时间的连词后面不用将来时
when, as soon as, before, after, until, once 后面要用现在时,哪怕说的是未来的事。
❌ I'll call you when I will arrive. ✅ I'll call you when I arrive.
根据信号来选择,而不是根据时间本身——上面任何一种形式都可以用来描述下周二会发生的事。真正的区别在别处:你是在当场宣布一个决定、告知一个已经定好的安排、引用一份时刻表,还是想让请求显得委婉一些。
确认行程
A: Are you coming to the Berlin office next week?
B: I'm flying out Tuesday — the flight leaves at seven. I was going to come Monday, but it got too expensive.
A: Will you be seeing the client while you're there?
B: Probably. By Friday I'll have met most of the team.
已定的安排、时刻表、没有实现的计划、委婉的提问,还有将来完成时——一次出行里用到了五种不同的形式。
自测一下
下面的测验考察的是这些形式之间的区别,而不是形式本身。