Future tenses
There are several different ways in English that you can talk about the future. This page is an introduction to the most important ones:
Predictions/statements of fact
The auxiliary verb will is used in making predictions or simple statements of fact about the future.
- The sun will rise at 6.30 tomorrow.
- Lunch break today will be 10 minutes longer than usual.
- In the year 2050 all students will have their own computers in school.
- If you help me, I will help you.
- Do you think she will come soon?
- You won't pass your exams if you don't start working harder.
- I know my parents won't let me go to the party.
- Will it snow for Christmas?
- I know she's sick, but will she be back in school tomorrow?
Intentions
The auxiliary verb going to is used in talking about intentions. (An intention is a plan for the future that you have already thought about.)
- We're going to buy a new car next month.
- I'm going to work in a bank when I leave school.
- In the new year I'm going to stop eating so much junk.
- He's not going to go to the dance. He's got too much work.
- I'm not going to watch TV until my science project is finished.
- Are you going to play basketball after school?
- What are you going to have for lunch today?
Note: going to is often used in the past tense to talk about an unfulfilled intention. Examples: I was going to study for my grammar test, but I had no time. / He was going to call you, but he couldn't find his mobile phone. / My grandmother was going to visit us, but she fell and broke her arm.
Arrangements
The present continuous tense is used in talking about arrangements. (An arrangement is is a plan for the future that you have already thought about and discussed with someone else.)
- I'm meeting my mother at the airport tomorrow.
- Our grandparents are visiting us this Christmas.
- Sorry, I can't stay after school today; I'm playing tennis with Jun-Sik.
- My sister's going to the dentist tomorrow.
- I'm not returning home for the holidays, so I can come to your party after all!
- Are you doing anything on Sunday morning?
- Do you know if he is going to the dance with Maiko next week?
Scheduled events
The present simple tense is usually used to refer to future events that are scheduled (and outside of our control).
- Hurry up! The train departs in 10 minutes.
- I leave Frankfurt at 5 o'clock in the morning and arrive in New York at midnight the next day.
- She has an appointment with the headmaster after school today.
- There's no need to hurry. The train doesn't leave for another 30 minutes.
- When does the meeting begin?
- At this time next week I will be sitting in the plane on the way to New York.
- Don't call me after 10 o'clock. I'll be sleeping.
- If you want to see Miho tomorrow, you will have to go to the school. She will be taking a test all afternoon.
- I won't be working on my car this weekend. My mother-in-law will be here.
Future perfect
- I hope my mother will have finished cooking dinner by the time I get home.
- You can come at 6 o'clock. I will have done my homework by then.
- There's no point calling her at home. She will have left for work already.
- On June 25 2020 they will have been married for 60 years.
Future perfect continuous
- By the time I retire I will have been working here for 45 years!
- If she reaches her 60th birthday, she will have been smoking for half a century!
Use of Future Tenses in English
| will-future | going to-future | Simple Present | Present Progressive | Future Progressive | Future Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| future action is fixed (e.g. timetable) | planned action in the near future | action will definitely happen (it usually happens) | sth. will already have happened before a certain time in the future |
There is often very little difference between the future tenses. It often depends where you live (in Britain or the USA) and when you use the sentence (in spoken or written communication).
In newsapapers we often use the will-future, when the going to-future is used in oral communication.
newspaper:
The headmaster will close the old gym.
The headmaster will close the old gym.
oral:
The headmaster is going to close the old gym.
The headmaster is going to close the old gym.
We can substitute the going to-future with the Present Progressive when using an expression of time.
She is going to see Frank at the airport at 8.30. = She is seeing Frank at the airport at 8.30.
Signal words
There are no unambiguous signal words for the future tenses. That's why watch the actions carefully and then define the tense.
Form
| will-future | going to-future | Simple Present | Present Progressive | Future Progressive | Future Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| will + infinitive | to be (am, are, is) + going to + infinitive | infinitive 3rd person singular (he, she, it) infinitive+ -s | to be (am, are, is) + infinitive + -ing | will + be + infinitive + -ing | will + have + past participle |
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