Future Tenses

FUTURE TENSE
1. FUTURE SIMPLE: Will + infinitive

The simple future refers to a time later than now, and expresses facts or certainty.
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I will / shall* survive I won't survive Will I survive?
You will survive You won't survive Will you survive?
He will survive He won't survive Will he survive?
She will survive She won't survive Will she survive?
It will survive It won't survive Will it survive?
We will/shall survive We won't survive Will we survive?
You will survive You won't survive Will you survive?
They will survive They won't survive Will they survive?
NOTE: In modern English will is preferred to shall.

Shall is mainly used with I and we to make an offer or suggestion:
Shall I open the window?
With the other persons (you, he, she, they) shall is only used in
literary or poetic situations, e.g.
"With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, She shall have
music wherever she goes."
Uses Examples
To refer to events that will I will certainly remember you to my
certainly happen in the future family
Instant decisions Ok, I'll see you on Friday
The prices of petrol will rise by the
Predictions based on what end of the year
we think or imagine
Tomorrow will be sunny and hot
Don't worry, I have time, I' ll go and
Promises and offers
buy some food for you
2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE EVENTS

Form: subject + present simple of to be + gerund (-ing): She is
meeting
Use: The present continuous is used to talk about arrangements for

events at a time later than now.
There is a suggestion that more than one person is aware of the
event, and that some preparation has already happened. e.g.
a. I'm meeting Jim at the airport = and both Jim and I have
discussed this.
b. I am leaving tomorrow. = and I've already bought my train
ticket.
c. We're having a staff meeting next Monday = and all members
of staff have been told about it.
NOTE: BE CAREFUL! The simple present is used when a future
event is part of a programme or timetable. Notice the difference
between:
a. We're having a staff meeting next Monday.
b. We have a staff meeting next Monday.(= we have a meeting
every Monday, it's on the time-table.)
3. FUTURE WITH “GOING TO”

The use of 'going to' to refer to future events suggests a very strong
association with the present. The time is not important - it is later
than now, but the attitude.
I'm going to travel I'm not going to travel Am I going to travel ?
You're going to travel You aren't going to Are you going to travel?
He's going to travel travel Is he going to travel?
She's going to travel He isn't going to travel Is she going to travel?
It's going to travel She isn't going to travel Is it going to travel?
We're going to travel It isn't going to travel Are we going to travel?
You're going to travel We aren't going to Are you going to travel?
They're going to travel travel Are they going to travel?
You aren't going to
travel
They aren't going to
travel
Note: In everyday speech, 'going to' is often shortened to 'gonna',

especially in American English.
Uses Examples
Future plans and intentions (= I'm going to buy a new

the plan is in mind now) mobile phone next week
Predictions based on what we Look at that car! it is going to

can see at that moment crash into the lamp post
4. FUTURE CONTINUOUS
The future continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that
will be in progress at a time later than now
Form: The future continuous is made up of two elements: the simple

future of the verb 'to be' + the present participle (base+ing)
I will be staying I won't be Will I be
staying staying?
You will be staying You won't be Will you be
staying staying?
He, she, it will be He won't be Will she be
staying staying staying?
We will be staying We won't be Will we be
staying staying?
You will be staying You won't be Will you be
staying staying?
They will be They won't be Will they be
staying staying staying?
Use:
To project ourselves into the future and see something happening:
This time next week I will be sun-bathing in Bali.
To refer to actions/events that will happen in the future: I'll be
seeing Jim at the conference next week.
In the interrogative form, especially with 'you', to distinguish
between a simple request for information and an invitation: Will you
be coming to the party tonight? (= request for information) Will you
come to the party? (= invitation)
5. FUTURE PERFECT
The future perfect refers to a completed action in the future.
Form: The future perfect is composed of two elements: the

simple future of the verb to have (will have) + the past
participle of the main verb:
I'll have arrived I won't have arrived Will I have arrived?
You'll have You won't have Will you have

arrived arrived arrived?
He'll have She won't have Will it have

We'll have We won't have Will we have

You'll have You won't have Will you have

They'll have They won't have Will they have

Use: When we use this tense we are projecting ourselves forward into
the future and looking back at an action that will be completed some
time later than now.
It is often used with a time expression using by + a point in future
time.
a. I'll have been here for six months on June 23rd.
b. By the time you read this I'll have left.
c. You will have finished your work by this time next week.
1. Exercise: Simple Present/Simple Future /Present Continuous /

Future Continuous. Using the words in parentheses, complete the text
below with the appropriate tenses, then click the "Check" button to
check your answers.
Right now, I am watching TV. Tomorrow at this time, I

(watch)___________________ TV as well.
Tomorrow after school, I (go) _____________ to the beach. I am going
on a dream vacation to Tahiti. While you (do)____________ paperwork
and (talk) _________ to annoying customers on the phone, I
(lie)_________ on a sunny, tropical beach. Are you jealous?
We (hide)_______ when Tony (arrive)___________ at his surprise party.
As soon as he opens the door, we (jump) ________ out and (scream)
______________ "Surprise!"
We work out at the fitness centre every day after work. If you
(come)__________ over while we (work__________ out, we will not be
able to let you into the house. Just to be safe, we (leave)___________ a
key under the welcome mat so you will not have to wait outside.
While you (study) ______________ at home, Magda (be) ___________ in
class.
When I (get) ____________ to the party, Sally and Doug (dance)
_____________ John (make) _____________ drinks, Sue and Frank
(discuss)____________ something controversial, and Mary
(complain)_________ about something unimportant. They are always
doing the same things. They are so predictable.

Future Tenses

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FUTURE TENSE

1. FUTURE SIMPLE: Will + infinitive

NOTE: In modern English will is preferred to shall.

2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE EVENTS

Use: The present continuous is used to talk about arrangements for

3. FUTURE WITH “GOING TO”

Note: In everyday speech, 'going to' is often shortened to 'gonna',

Future plans and intentions (= I'm going to buy a new

Predictions based on what we Look at that car! it is going to

Form: The future continuous is made up of two elements: the simple

Form: The future perfect is composed of two elements: the

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I'll have arrived I won't have arrived Will I have arrived?

You'll have You won't have Will you have

He'll have She won't have Will it have

We'll have We won't have Will we have

You'll have You won't have Will you have

They'll have They won't have Will they have

1. Exercise: Simple Present/Simple Future /Present Continuous /

Right now, I am watching TV. Tomorrow at this time, I

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