Future tense forms

1) simple future (will/shall)

(Note: we do not use shall very often, and we only use it with I and We)
Form: will (not) do
Use:
a) for future facts
e.g. Andy will be 18 next month
Saturday will be our 10th wedding anniversary
b) for decisions about the future made at the time of speaking
e.g. "We haven’t got any milk."
"Really? I'll go and buy some."
"My car isn't working."
"Okay, I'll give you a lift."
c) for predictions about the future when we do not have any evidence in the present
e.g. Life will be very different in 100 years from now. People will travel by helicopter
Germany will win the 2022 World Cup
d) for offers (with will and shall)
e.g. I’ll carry your bags for you if you like
Shall I do the washing up?
e) for requests
e.g. Will you help me with this maths homework?
Will you open the door for me?
f) for suggestions (with shall)
e.g. Shall we go to a club tonight?
Shall we have pizza for dinner?
g) for promises
e.g. I’ll give you your CD back tomorrow
I’ll finish the job before Friday
h) to show unwillingness (in negative form)
e.g. No, I won’t give you a lift to the bus station!
The boss says he won’t give us the day off next Tuesday
i) to make assumptions about the present
e.g. Brian left 20 minutes ago so he will be at home by now
- There’s someone at the front door
- Yes, that will be John – he said he would come round this evening

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j) with certain verbs/phrases (think, hope, expect, believe, be sure etc.)
e.g. I hope we'll meet again
Sally believes she will get the job
I'm sure you'll pass the exam
k) with certain adverbs (probably, possibly, perhaps, maybe)
e.g. I’ll probably be late this evening
Perhaps Mary will be interested in this exhibition
l) in Type 1 conditional sentences
e.g. If she studies hard, she will pass her exams
I won’t play golf if it rains this afternoon

2) present simple
We use present simple to talk about the future where it is shown in a timetable or
programme
e.g. We have to be at the airport early tomorrow as the plane leaves at 6.30 am
School finishes on 16th June this year.
What time does the film start this evening?
We also use present simple in future time clauses – after words/phrases like: if, when,
unless, by the time, after, as soon as etc
e.g. I’ll call you as soon as the meeting finishes
After we leave London, we’ll drive to Portsmouth

3) present continuous
We use present continuous to talk about things we have arranged or organised in the
future (the details are usually already known or decided)
e.g. I can’t meet you on Saturday as I am going away for the weekend
“Are you coming to the club tonight?”
“No, I’m having dinner with a colleague.”

4) be going to
We use the be going to form for the future in the following ways:
a) to talk about plans or intentions in the future
e.g. Next term, I’m going to try to improve my algebra
I’m going to travel to India when I finish college
Are you going to accept their job offer?
Note: this use is different from the Present Continuous for future, as the be going to
form suggests only a plan, whereas the Present Continuous form suggests that

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 something more definite has been arranged. Look:
I’m going to travel to India when I leave college (simply a plan for the future, so we use
be going to)
I’m travelling to India on Thursday (a more definite arrangement – the speaker probably
has the tickets for the journey, so we use the Present Continuous form)

b) to talk about things that have been decided before the time of speaking
e.g. I’ve bought some wood and I’m going to make a table for the kitchen
Why are you wearing those old clothes? Are you going to do some painting?
Note: when the speaker has not decided to do something before the time of speaking and
makes a decision about the future at the time he speaks, we must use will. Look:
e.g. “We haven’t got any milk.”
“Yes, I know. I’m going to buy some later.” (here we use be going to because the
decision has already been made)
e.g. “We haven’t got any milk.”
“Oh, really? I’ll buy some later.” (here we use will because the speaker makes the
decision at the time he speaks)

c) to make predictions about the future based on evidence in the present

e.g. The sky is black. It’s going to rain.
My stomach feels terrible. I think I’m going to be sick!
Note: this use is different from will for predictions. Look:
e.g. I thought Mary had been eating too much and put on weight, but someone told me
she is going to have a baby! (here we have evidence in the present that tells us
about the future so we use be going to)
e.g. People will have fewer babies in the future (here we have no evidence in the
present that tells us about the future so we make a simpler prediction using will)

Practice:
1. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense - use: shall/will or be going to
1. I promise (I send) ____________________ you a letter every day while I’m away in
France.
2. Have you heard the news? (John and Patricia get) ____________________ married.
3. “Would you like a drink?”
“O.K. (I have) ____________________ a beer.”
4. “The radio is broken.”
“Yes, I know. (I repair) ____________________ it this evening.”

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 5. I think the economy (improve) ____________________ next year.
6. “(you help) ____________________ me with this exercise?”
“Yes, if you like.”
7. Look at that man up on the roof! (he jump) ____________________!
8. “(you buy) ____________________ that car you told me about?”
“I’m still not sure if I should.”
9. “Have you got any cigarettes?
“Mm… no… Wait and (I buy) ____________________ some.
10. What (you do) ____________________ when you leave school?
11. I hope (I see) ____________________ you at the bazaar on Saturday.
12. (I help) ____________________ you with these heavy shopping bags?
13. I’m sure (Mark be) ____________________ promoted next year.
14. They say that within the next century (there be) ____________________ a human
colony on the moon.
15. (I phone) ____________________ you as soon as I arrive in Lisbon.
16. “Sheila looks rather fat these days.”
“That’s because (she have) ____________________ a baby!”
17. (I probably be) ____________________ late this evening.
18. No, (I not do) ____________________ your homework for you! Ask someone else!
19. I’ve decided (I not take) ____________________ the new job after all.
20. “(we go) ____________________ for a walk after dinner?”
“That’s a good idea.”

2. Will or present continuous

Put the verbs in brackets into the present continuous or the future simple using the present
continuous where possible. (The be going to form could be used here instead of the present
continuous, but for the sake of simplicity students are advised to use only the two tenses
first mentioned.)

1. I am sure that (I recognise) _______________ him.

2. (I see) _______________ her tomorrow.
3. (he play) _______________ in a tennis match on Friday.
4. (she come) _______________ back on Monday.
5. (I go) _______________ again next year.
6. (we know) _______________ tonight.
7. You pay and (I owe) _______________ you the money.
8. (I believe) _______________ it when I see it.
9. (I have) _______________ my car repainted next week.

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10. I hope that (you have) _______________ a good time tomorrow.
11. (his speech be) _______________ broadcast tonight.
12. (the window-cleaner come) _______________ at eight tomorrow.
13. (Tom catch) _______________ the 7.40 train.
14. “Where (you meet) _______________ them?“
“(I meet) _______________ them at midnight in the middle of the wood.”
15. What horse (you ride) _______________ tomorrow?
16. Look! I've broken the teapot. What (Mrs Pitt say) _______________?
(she not mind) _______________; she never liked that one.
17. I've left the light on. (it matter) _______________?
18. (he not forget) _______________ to come.
19. (he leave) _______________ in a few days.
20. (I remember) _______________ it.
21. If you drop that bottle (it break) _______________.
22. (I never forgive) _______________ him.
23. I'm sure that (you like) _______________ him.
24. (they lay) _______________ the foundations next week.
25. (you see) _______________ a signpost at the end of the road.
26. “He has cut my hair too short. “
“Don't worry; (it grow) _______________ again very quickly.”
27. (you understand) _______________ when you are older.
28. (the cat scratch) _______________ you if you pull its tail.
29. (I be) _______________ back at 8.30.
30. If he doesn't work hard (he not pass) _______________ his exam.
31. (she go) _______________ on a cruise next summer.
32. (I move) _______________ to a new flat next week.
33. “I am sorry that the child saw the accident.”
“I don't think it matters. (he forget) _______________ all about it soon.”
34. (I wait) _______________ here till he comes back.
35. (he not write) _______________ to you unless you write to him.
36. (there be) _______________ a big meeting here tomorrow.

3. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense - use: Present Simple/Present
Continuous/Future Simple
1. “Did you remember to buy a newspaper?”
“Oh, no. I forgot! I (go) ____________________ and buy one now.”
2. (you open) ____________________ the door for me, please?

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 3. What time (you meet) ____________________ Anne tonight?
4. I (phone) ____________________ you when I (get) ____________________
home tonight.
5. The ferry (leave) ____________________ Dover at 6.30 and (arrive)
____________________ in Calais at 8.45.
6. I (wait) ____________________ until the doctor (phone)
____________________ before I (contact) ____________________ you.
7. “What (you do) ____________________ this evening?”
“I don’t know... I think I (go) ____________________ to bed early.”
8. I (give) ____________________ you the money back as soon as I can.
9. I (tell) ____________________ her about the party if I (see) ____________________
her.
10. I (meet) ____________________ Jane after work tonight and we (go)
____________________ to the cinema.

11. School (finish) ____________________ on 23rd December.

12. I (be) ____________________ at the office until late tonight so I
(not be able to) ____________________ see you.

4) future continuous
Form: will + be + present participle (e.g. going/doing)
Use:
a) to talk about an action that will be in progress at a certain time in the future
e.g. At 10 o’clock tomorrow morning, I’ll be taking my driving test!
This time next week, we’ll be lying on the beach in Bermuda
b) to talk about an action that will happen in the future either because it is planned or
because it always happens
e.g. I’ll be coming to your party on Friday
Will you be having lunch with Jim as usual tomorrow?
c) For predictions about the future
e.g. Children will be doing lessons at home in 50 years from now
Do you think we’ll be living on the moon in the future?
d) to make assumptions about the present
e.g. Don’t phone them now – they’ll be sleeping
I expect Jane will be sitting in the garden right now

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 Practice:
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense: Future simple /Future continuous
1. This time next week, I _________________________ (do) my English examination.
2. ‘Can I call and see you tomorrow?’
‘You’d better not. I _________________________ (revise).’
3. ‘Can you let me know about the party?’
‘OK, I _________________________ (call) you.
4. ‘Which one do you want, Johnny?”
‘I _________________________ (have) the blue one’.
5. I _________________________ (see) Francis tomorrow. Do you want me to give her a
message?’
6. At 6 o’clock tomorrow, I _________________________ (exercise) at the gym.
7. ____________ you ____________ me a favour? (do)
8. He _________________________ (have) his afternoon nap now. He always has a nap
at this time.
9. ‘Bye! I_________________________ (see) you tomorrow!’
10. The phone is ringing. ‘That _________________________ (be) Bob; he said he’d
phone’.

5) future perfect simple

Form: will + have + past participle (e.g. seen/eaten)
Use:
a) to talk about an action that will be finished before a certain time in the future. We often
use it with the word by

e.g. We’ll have completed the job by Friday

Will you have eaten if I phone you at 7 o’clock
By 2005, she’ll have been married for ten years
b) to make assumptions about the present or recent past
e.g. Tom will have arrived in New York by now
We can go and visit them now – they will have finished dinner

6) future perfect continuous

Form: will + have + been + present participle (e.g. doing/watching)
Use:
a) to talk about actions that will still be in progress by a certain time in the future. We use
this tense to emphasise the duration of the action. We often use it with the word for

e.g. By next Monday, Mary will have been going out with Neil for one whole month!

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 They will have been living here for twenty years by this time next year.
b) to make assumptions about the present or recent past
e.g. I saw Jim at the garage just now – he will have been having his oil changed
We’d better hurry – they will have been waiting for us for nearly an hour!

Practice:
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense: future simple, future continuous, future
perfect, future perfect continuous

1. At 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, I (have) _________________________ lunch with a

client from overseas.

2. By next February, Mary (work) _________________________ here for six months.

3. l (probably be) _________________________ late home this evening.

4. (you finish) _________________________ by 5 o'clock?

5. Just think. This time next week, we (travel) _________________________ to India.

6. I (meet) _________________________ Frank for lunch as usual tomorrow.

7. Don’t come round to see me at 7 o'clock as I (not finish) _________________________

dinner by then.

8. Where on earth is the bus? In another 15 minutes, we (wait)

_________________________ for nearly an hour.

9. The manager (read) _________________________ my report by Friday so he

(probably want) _________________________ to speak to me about it on Monday.

10. On September 20th, we (be marry) _________________________ for 12 years.

11. Don't phone me after 11.30 pm as I (sleep) _________________________ then.

12. He says he (call) _________________________ me as soon as he has any news.

13. I promise a mistake like this (not happen) _________________________ again.

14. (you go) _________________________ to the gym as usual tomorrow morning?

15. I (study) _________________________ geography for two hours by 6 p.m.

16. I’m sure I (pass) _________________________ all my exams as I have studied very

hard this year.

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17. I’m exhausted! By midday we (work) _________________________ in this garden for

five hours!

18. Don’t phone me at home before 7.30 as I (not get) _________________________

home by then - I (still work) _________________________ at the factory.

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