Future Tenses

Future tenses
1. Future Simple
Will:
>Form
It is made up of the verb will/won’t + base infinitive (infinitive without to).
Because will is a modal verb it doesn’t change depending on the person doing the
action.
We can use contractions: e.g. I will = I’ll.
In the negative, we can also use will not for more emphasis.
Won’t is more common in speech.
In short answers we say: yes X will or no X won’t.
>Uses and examples
Instant or spontaneous decisions – I’m hungry. I think I’ll make a sandwich.
Future predictions based on a belief – I’m sure you’ll pass the test.
Promises – I won’t tell anyone your secret.
Offers – I’ll carry your bags for you.
Requests – Will you tell Henry I called?
Threats – If you do that again, I’ll tell Mum.
Future facts – I’ll be back later tonight.
Shall:
We can use shall instead of will for future time references with I and we. However, it
is slightly more formal.
E.g. We shall never forget this beautiful day.
It is also common to use shall in questions to make offers, suggestions or ask for
advice.
E.g. Shall I carry these bags for you?
Shall I open the window?
Be going to vs will:
It’s important to note that for predictions based on evidence and for future plans we
use be going to not will.
E.g. Look at those grey clouds. It’s definitely going to rain!
– What are you doing after work?
– I’m going to the gym.
2. Future continuous
>Generally, we use this tense to talk about things in progress at a
particular time in the future.
>Form
The structure of the future continuous is as follows: will/won’t + be + ing form
>Uses and examples
An action in progress at a specific time in the future (at 5pm, this time tomorrow,
in two weeks, in five years’ time etc.): This time tomorrow, I’ll be flying to Barbados.
An action we see as new or temporary: I’ll be working for my dad until I find a new
job.
Predictions or guesses about future events: He’ll be coming to the party, I guess.
Predictions about the present: She’ll be getting married right now, I imagine.
Polite enquiries: Will you be joining us for dinner?
3. Future perfect
The future perfect is used to talk about a completed action in the future.
>Form
The form of the future perfect is will/won’t + have + past participle.
Regular past participles end in -ed.
Irregular past participles don’t follow the common conjugation pattern.
>Uses and examples
An action that will be completed before a specific time in the future: Next
September, we’ll have been married for 50 years.
Use by or by the time to mean some time before: I’ll have finished this report by the
time you’re home.
Use in, in a day’s time, in two weeks’ time, in three months’ time etc. to mean at
the end of this period: In three years’ time, I’ll have completed my degree.
4. Future perfect continuous

We use the future perfect continuous to show that something will continue up until a
particular event in the future. We normally use it to emphasize how long something
will have been happening for.
>Form
The form of the future perfect continuous is will/won’t + have + been + ing (present
participle)
>Uses and examples
To show that something will continue up until a particular event in the future:
In October, I’ll have been working here for ten years.
To show something finished just before another time action (cause and effect):
When I arrive, I’ll have been working all day, so I’ll be tired.
With time expressions (by + then / tomorrow / next year etc., by the time, when):
By the time we arrive, we’ll have been travelling for fifteen hours.
Exercises:
Which is correct?
Ex: 1 'Did you phone Lucy?' 'Oh no, I forgot. I phone/I'll phone her now.' (I'll
phone is correct)
2 I can't meet you tomorrow. I'm playing/I'll play tennis.
3 'I meet/I'll meet you outside the hotel in half an hour, OK?' 'Yes, that's fine.'
4 'I need some money.' 'OK, I'm lending/l'll lend you some. How much do you
need?'
5 I'm having/I'll have a party next Saturday. I hope you can come.
6 'Remember to get a newspaper when you go out.' 'OK, I don't forget/I won't
forget.'
7 What time does your train leave/will your train leave tomorrow?
8 I asked Sue what happened, but she doesn't tell/won't tell me.
9 'Are you doing/Will you do anything tomorrow evening?' 'No, I'm free. Why?'
10 I don't want to go out alone. Do you come/Will you come with me?
Which form of the verb is better in these sentences? The verbs are underlined.
1 Diane isn't free on Saturday. She'll work/She's working. (She's working is correct)
2 I'll go/I'm going to a party tomorrow night. Would you like to come too?
3 I think Amy will get/is getting the job. She has a lot of experience.
4 I can't meet you this evening. A friend of mine will come/is coming to see me.
5 A: Have you decided where to go for your holidays?
B: Yes, we'll go/we're going to Italy.
6 Don't be afraid of the dog. lt won't hurt/lt isn't hurting you.
Put in will ('ll) or won't.

1 Can you wait for me? __I won’t__ be long.
2 Don't ask Amanda for advice. She ____________ know what to do.
3 I'm glad you're coming to see us next week. lt _________be good to see you again.
4 I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. lt _____________happen again.
5 You don't need to take an umbrella with you. I don't think it_________ rain.
6 I've got some incredible news! You ____________ believe it.
Complete the sentences using will ('ll). Choose from the following:
It/be she/come you/get you/like

People/live it/look we/meet you/pass
1 Don 't worry about your exam. I' m sure ____you’ll pass___
2 Why don't you try on this jacket? ______________ nice on you.
3 You must meet Daniel sometime. I think _________________ him.
4 lt's raining. Don't go out ______________ wet.
5 Do you think _________________ longer in the future?
6 Bye! I'm sure ___________________again before long.
7 I've invited Anna to the party, but I don't think _______________
8 lt takes me an hour to get to work at the moment, but when the new road is
finished, ___________________ much quicker.
Complete the sentences using will ('ll) or going to.

1 A: Why are you turning on the TV?
B: ___I’m going to watch___ the news. (I/watch)
2 A: Oh, I've just realized. I haven't got any money.
B: Haven't you? Well, don't worry ____________ you some (I/lend)
3 A: I've got a headache.
B: Have you? Wait a second and ______________ an aspirin for you. (I/get)
4 A: Why are you filling that bucket with water?
B: ___________________ the car. (I/wash)
5 A: I've decided to repaint this room.
B: Oh, have you? What colour ________________ it? (you/paint)
6 A: Where are you going? Are you going shopping?
B: Yes, __________________ some things for dinner. (I/buy)
7 A: I don't know how to use the washing machine.
B: lt's easy. ____________________ you. (I/show)
8 A: What would you like to eat?
B: _________________ a pizza, please. (I/have)
9 A: Did you call Lisa?
s: Oh, no. I completely forgot. ______________ her now. (I/call)
10 A: Has Dan decided what to do when he leaves school?
B: Yes. Everything is planned. _______________a holiday for a few weeks. (He/have)
Then _________________ a management training course. (he/do)
Put the verb into the correct form, will be (do)ing or will have (done).
1 Don’t phone between 7 and 8. ____We will be having___ dinner then. (we/have)
2 Phone me after 8 o’clock. ____________________ dinner by then. (we/finish)
3 Tomorrow afternoon we’re going to play tennis from 3 o'clock until 4.30. So at 4
o'clock, _________________________tennis. (we/play)
4 A: Can we meet tomorrow?
B: Yes, but not in the afternoon. _______________________ (I/work)
5 B has to go to a meeting which begins at 10 0 1clock. lt will Last about an hour.
A: Will you be free at 11.30?
B: Yes, __________________________by then. (the meeting/end)
6 Ben is on holiday and he is spending his money very quickly. If he continues like
this, _____________________all his money before the end of his holiday. (he/spend)
7 Do you think _________________________ the same job in ten years’ time?
(you/still/do)
8 Lisa is from New Zealand. She is travelling around Europe at the moment. So far
she has travelled about 11000 miles. By the end of the trip, _______________more
than 3,000 miles. (she/travel)
9 If you need to contact me, ________________at the Lion Hotel until Friday. (I/stay)

Future Tenses

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Future tenses

4. Future perfect continuous

Put in will ('ll) or won't.

It/be she/come you/get you/like

Complete the sentences using will ('ll) or going to.

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