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Future Tenses

The document summarizes different ways to talk about the future in English using verb tenses like will + infinitive, be going to + infinitive, present continuous, and future perfect. It provides examples of when each tense is used, such as will + infinitive for predictions and promises, and be going to for decisions made before speaking. It also notes some differences in meaning between constructions like "I'll go" versus "I'm going to go."

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57 views3 pages

Future Tenses

The document summarizes different ways to talk about the future in English using verb tenses like will + infinitive, be going to + infinitive, present continuous, and future perfect. It provides examples of when each tense is used, such as will + infinitive for predictions and promises, and be going to for decisions made before speaking. It also notes some differences in meaning between constructions like "I'll go" versus "I'm going to go."

Uploaded by

sabina jui
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Future Tenses

Will + infinitive Be going to + infinitive

A decision at the moment of


A decision before the moment of speaking:
speaking:
Julie: There's no milk.
Julie: There's no milk.
John: I know. I'm going to go and get some when this TV
John: Really? In that case, I'll go and
programme finishes.
get some.

A prediction based on something we can see (or hear)


A prediction based on opinion:
now:
I think the Conservatives will win
The Conservatives are going to win the election. They
the next election.
already have most of the votes.

A future fact:

The sun will rise tomorrow.

For promises / requests / refusals /


offers:

I'll help you tomorrow, if you like.

More examples:

 (The phone rings)


Julie: I'll get it!
('I'm going to get it' is very strange, because it makes us think that Julie knew the phone
was going to ring before it did).

 I'm going to go on holiday next week.


('I'll go on holiday next week' makes it sound like you've only just decided at that minute. Of
course, this is possible, but normally we plan our holidays more in advance!).
Other points about the future:

We use the present continuous tense for definite future arrangements. Often, it doesn't really
matter if we choose 'be going to' or the present continuous. In the following example, there is
really very little difference in meaning:

 I'm going to the cinema tonight.


 I'm going to go to the cinema tonight.

We use the present simple tense in two cases. First, we use it for a timetabled event in the future,
like public transport or the start of a class:

 My train leaves at six tonight.


 His class starts at 9am tomorrow.

Second, we use it after certain words, when the sentence has a future meaning. These words are:
before / after / as soon as / until / when:

 I'll call you when I get home.


 She's going to study after she finishes dinner.
 Please drink some water as soon as you complete the race.

The future continuous (will be + ‘ing’ form) and the future perfect (will have + past participle)
tenses are used to talk about events in the future.

Future continuous

 Don’t ring at 8 o’clock. I’ll be watching Who Wants to be a Millionaire.


 This time tomorrow we’ll be sitting on the beach. I can’t wait!

We use the future continuous to talk about something that will be in progress at or around a time
in the future.

 Don’t phone grandma now, she’ll be having dinner.


 The kids are very quiet. They’ll be doing something wrong, I know it!

These sentences are not about the future but we can use the future continuous to talk about what
we assume is happening at the moment.

Future Perfect

 Do you think you will have finished it by next Thursday?


 In 5 years time I’ll have finished university and I’ll be able to earn some money at last.
We use the future perfect to say that something will be finished by a particular time in the future.

We often use the future perfect with ‘by’ or ‘in’

 I think astronauts will have landed on Mars by the year 2020.


 I’ll have finished in an hour and then you can use the computer.

‘By’ means ‘not later than a particular time’ and ‘in’ means 'within a period of time’. We don’t
know exactly when something will finish.

 I promise I’ll have done all the work by next Saturday.

We don’t know exactly when he will finish the work – maybe Thursday, maybe Friday – but
definitely before Saturday.

will-future going to-future Simple Present Present Future Future Perfect


Progressive Progressive
will + infinitive to be (am, are, infinitive to be (am, are, will + be + will + have +
is) + going to + 3rd person is) + infinitive + infinitive + -ing past participle
infinitive singular (he, -ing
she, it)
infinitive + -s
The sun will We are going The train I am going to a They will be She will have
shine to fly to Leeds leaves at 6.45. party tonight. playing written the
tomorrow. in summer. football on letter by
Sunday tomorrow.
afternoon.

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