Expressing Future Time

There are several ways of expressing future time in English.

Use of will / shall
Will / shall + the base form of the verb is used to make a predication of an event.
You’ll be in the office by now.
It will rain in the morning.
Adverbials such as tomorrow, next week next month, next year can be used with
will / shall

Use of Be + going to
One of the ways to expresses future time is to use is / am / are + going to + the first
form of the verb. It is used to express the intention or plan that will be fulfilled in
the immediate future.
Ex. They are going to see a movie in the evening.
Use of the present Continuous tense and the simple present tense
The present continuous tense can be used to express future with reference to a
definite plan, arrangement or programmed.
Ex. The company is holding a meeting on Sunday.
The simple present tense is used for future reference when we are talking about
time tables, schedules etc.
Ex. The bus leaves Delhi at 6 pm.
The class starts at 8.30 pm.

Exercise (Elementary)
Complete the sentences. Use going to + one of these verb:-
Do , walk, wash, give, lie down, watch, wear, eat, stay.
1. My hands are dirty. I __________ them.
2. I don’t want to go home by car. I __________
3. I am hungry. I __________ this toast.
4. What __________ Ravi __________ when he leaves school?
5. Monica says she is feeling very tired. She __________ __________ for an hour.
6. Pankaj is going to America next week. He __________ with some friends.
7. What __________ to the party tonight?
8. It’s John’s birthday next week. We __________ him a present.
9. There is a good film on TV this evening.. __________ you __________ it?

Exercise (Elementary) Put in will or Won’t :-

1. Don’t drink coffee before you go to bed. You __________ sleep.

2. I am not ready yet. I __________ be ready in five minutes.
3. I’m leaving for Mumbai tomorrow so I __________ be at home tomarrow.
4. It __________ rain, so you don’t need to take an umbrella.
5. Go to bed early and you __________ feel better in the morning.
6. It’s John’s birthday next Monday. He __________ be 25.
7. I’m sorry I was late this morning. It __________ happen again.
8. Your bag is very heavy. I __________ carry it.
9. You can phone me this evening. I __________be at home.

Expressing Future Time - 2

Will + be + v – ing
Will & progressive form ( be +v – ing) can also be used to refer to future actions /
events .We use will + be + v + – ing to say that we will be in the middle of doing
something at a certain time in the future.
Ex. He will be traveling tomorrow morning.
We also use will be + v- ing like the present continuous for planned action.
I’ll be going to Mumbai on Sunday.
2. Will + have + v – en (Past Participle)
We use will + have + v – en to indicate that something will already have happened
before a certain time in the future. I will have completed this book by the end of the
years.
The match will have ended by 9 o’clock.

Exercise (Intermediate)
With the help of the words within slashes write what you think is going to happen
in the following situations:-

Ex. 1. We have a very strong cricket team.

We / win / the match, (we’re going to win the match)
2. The winter has been very mild.
It / very / hot/ this year.
3. We are about 50 kms away from Delhi.
We / reach / Delhi / in half an hour.
4. Hari has not been working hard.
He / fail / in the examination.
5. This film has a very powerful story and excellent music.
It / be / a hit
6. I got up late in the morning today.
I / be / late / for school.
7. It is very cold and you are only wearing a shirt.
You / fall / sick
8. There are black clouds in the sky.
It / rain / soon

Exercise – (Intermediate)
Rewrite the following sentences using will + have + v – en for the verbs in
brackets:-

1. We construct the house by the end of the month.

We will have constructed the house by the end of the month.
2. By the end of next week, they (complete) their training.
3. He (take) the examination by the end of May.
4. By the end of this decade, India. (Become) a great nation.
5. He (take) the examination by the end of May.
6. He (spend) all his money before the end of holidays.
7. Next year, they (be) in India for five years.
8. By next April, he (write) his next book.

Exercise (Advanced)
Complete the following sentences
1. By next year ____________________________
2. By the time I reach home_______________________
3. By the time I finish this book ___________________________
_
4. By Monday evening ____________________________
5. By the next morning ____________________________
6. By 8 o’clock ____________________________
7. Before you reach the station, ____________________________
8. Before Ravi reaches the school ________________________