Английская грамматика: Future forms (for upper-level students)

Look at these newspaper headlines:

You may know by now that normally headlines in English are often incomplete (auxiliary verbs and articles are dropped, simple tenses are used instead of continuous or perfect forms, etc). In the above examples the verb “to be” is dropped in all three headlines and all of them refer to the future. So practically:

•  The EU is to press for Mid-East role = EU is going to press for Mid-East role.
• A rector is to be closed = A rector is going to be closed.
• A new head set is to take charge = A new head set is going to take charge.

But it doesn’t mean that we can use ‘be to’ interchangeably (взаємозаміно). Statements such as I'm going to faint or It's going to rain cannot be expressed with ‘be to’. ‘BE TO’ has restricted uses:

1.Formal arrangements/public duties:

Just the job for Shilts

Peter Shilton is to continue his career with the England football team after all. The Derby keeper, who announced his international retirement after the World.
Cup, is to carry on in a new role as goalkeeping coach. Shilton will replace the existing goalkeeping coach Mike Kelly, but the move has not yet been made official.

Be due to + infinitive can be used to express actions that should happen by a certain time. Often used with timetables. 

• The plane is due to arrive in half an hour.

• Clare’s due to have her operation in three week’s time.

Due may be used without infinitive as well. For example: be due at.

If something is due at a particular time, it is expected to happen, be done, or arrive at that time.

The results are due at the end of the month.
The train is due at 7.

 

"Jealousy"

I want you to imagine that you are about to visit a small village. It doesn't matter which country it's in because all villages are the same whichever part of the world they are in. There were only about 300 inhabitants in total in this particular village and everyone knew everybody's business. A typical street conversation would run like this: "I hear Joan's going to have a baby next year. I expect it'll be a boy this time I wouldn't be surprised. She's having a nurse come next week to help her with her 5 girls and maybe a boy will make life easier for her!" In this village people usually help each other whenever they can. If someone is going to the "big" town — that is where there are more than a thousand people living in it — invariably they will say to their neighbours: "I'll get you some vegetables, if you like". But it's not all sweetness and light here because there is a longstanding feud going on between two families. I'll let the local gossip, Mary tell you the background. "It must be ten years ago when it all started. I doubt it'll ever stop", she laughed when she said that. "But then I've been told I am to tell you the beginning of it all and also you are to listen, remember. There are two women who are always arguing about something. One of them lives in that huge house over there. Don't look now because she'll open her front door in a minute. She's going to catch the 9.15 bus that goes in ten minutes from that stop there. Now, she's a fine lady, she is. She's due to become a councilor next month after the elections and she'll probably make a good job of it. Now hold on a second the other lady is leaving her house in a minute. Yes, what did I say? She's going to catch the bus too but she'll get on at the next stop to avoid meeting the councilor lady. Now the second lady runs a small restaurant, as a matter of fact I'm taking lunch there later today." I asked Mary why these two women didn't get on. She looked me straight in the eye and said: "Jealousy. One runs a successful restaurant and the councilor lady runs a small guesthouse. Both of them are going to make a lot of money this year because of the festival but the guesthouse lady will make more and she always has done and that's the cause of the trouble."

Now what I haven't told you", continued Mary, "and I'm just about to reveal it, is that there are two other people in the story. Namely the son of one of the ladies and the daughter of the other. And yes, they are getting married next year and the whole village will be invited. It's going to be a big affair" I interrupted Mary at this point and asked her what had happened to the feud. "Oh that doesn't matter much now" continued Mary "they'll be too busy making arrangements for the wedding. They're due to meet a catering firm this morning". "So what's all this about separate bus stops?" I asked. "Oh, that's just for the tourists who are coming here next month." I tried to understand but had one more question: "And what about jealousy?" — "Now, you're not to worry about her. There are plenty of villages round here and she'll soon find another one to visit and cause trouble in" I thanked Mary and walked away, totally confused thinking to myself; "I shall never understand village life."