Future Simple Tense

Basic form:
Affirmative: Subject + will + VerbI (present form)
Interrogative: Will + Subject + Verb I?
Negative: Subject + will + Verb I.
Examples:
 I will clean up my room. I promise!
 The telephone is ringing. I will pick it up!
 I think it will rain.
 Will you come to the party?
 They won’t arrive on time.

Shall is a modal verb that has a similar meaning to will. It's mainly used in the British
English for the first person.
You may use shall in the context of:
 a voluntary offer of help ("Shall I do the washing up?")
 an unavoidable and undesired course of action (Oh dear, the car won't start. I
suppose I shall have to take the bus.")
 asking opinions ("Shall I wear this dress?"),
 a formal commitment ("We shall cut taxes to stimulate the economy")
 as a threat or warning ("If you don't stop pinching Mary I shall tell your
mother")
 even in a prediction ("I wonder what I shall be when I grow up?)
You should never use it in a deduction, though.
 That will be my mother calling to see if I have left yet.
American English would eliminate the "shall" in the above examples and use "Can I
do the dishes for you?," "I'll have to take the bus," and "will" in the other examples,
as well.
Contracted forms;
One mention regarding contraction in L. G. Alexander ( 2001, 178) shall does not
contract to ‘ll in writing in contrast with will that does.
WILL = 'LL
 She'll dance = she will dance

WILL + NOT = WON'T

 She won't dance = she will not dance

Affirmative:
 Auxiliary
Subject Verb
verb
+ +
e.g. I/a dog e.g.
will
etc. work/go/make

Interrogative:

Auxiliary
Subject Verb
verb
+ +
e.g. I/a dog e.g.
will
etc. work/go/make

Negative:

Auxiliary
Subject Verb
verb
+ +
e.g. I/a dog e.g.
will not
etc. work/go/make

Remember, we should never use will to say what somebody has already arranged or
decided to do in the future:
 Correct: Mike is moving to New Jersey next month.
 Incorrect: Mike will move to New Jersey next month.
Other examples:
 I think he will regret his choice. (Use 3)
 I will come back at 10 p.m. (Use 1)
 If you will keep your watch half an hour slow it is hardly surprising that you
are late for your appointments. (Use 4)
 John will keep dropping his towel on the floor after a bath. (Use 4)
 I will visit my grandma at hospital. (Use 1 or Use 2)
 Let's buy the snacks at the supermarket — it will be cheaper that way. (Use 3)
We often use "will" with:

probably, most likely I'll probably drop in on uncle.

 I think This gift is great. I think we'll love it.

It's not going to be boring there. I'm sure there will be

I'm sure
a lot of boys at your age

I wonder (if, what,

It's a bit late. I wonder if he'll come.
when, etc.)

I haven't seen Matthew today. I expect he'll call

I expect
today.

Definition:
The Future Simple is used in many situations such as when making promises or
predictions. On www.englishtenses.com we can fiind explanations regarding ways of
expressing future and future tense usage.
Use:
1. Promises
2. Unplanned actions
3. Planned actions
4. Predictions based on experience or intuition
5. Habits (obstinate insistence, usually habitual)
6. Hopes, expectations
7. If clauses

Use 1: Promises
The first use of the Future Simple to make promises.
 I promise I will buy you this toy.
 Promise you will never leave me!

Use 2: Unplanned actions

Use this tense also to talk about unplanned (spontaneous) decisions.
 Don't worry! I will help you with this problem.
 I will close the window. It's starting to rain.
 Use 3: planned actions
We use will in formal style for scheduled events and it is preferred to be going to,
particularly in the written language.
 The wedding will take place at St Andrew’s

Use 4: Predictions
We often use the Future Simple when making a prediction based on experience or
intuition.
 It will rain in a moment.
 It will get more difficult.
Accordingly to alexander L.G. (2001, 178) when we use will/shall for simple
prediction they combine with verbs to form tenses in the ordinary way.
 Simple future: I will see.
 Future progressive: I will be seeing.
 Future perfect: I will have seen.
 Future perfect progressive: i will have been seeing.

Use 5: Habits
The last use of this tense is interesting: we can also use the Future Simple to express
habits.
 She will bit her lip if she is thinking or if she's nervous about something.
 He will always make noise when we are sleeping.
Shall
You can also use shall to express future in Future Simple. It is more formal than will,
and usually appears in formal speeches, agreements or guarantees.
Examples:
 The guarantee shall be provided on the following conditions: (...)
 We shall never surrender!

Use 6: hopes, expectations:

The future is often used after verbs like hope, think, suppose, be afraid and also the
present with a future reference is possible after hope ( L.G.Alexander, 2001,179)
 I hope she’ll get the job she’s applied for.
 I hope she gets the job she’s applied for.

Use 7: if clauses
It is used in conditionals, clauses of time of purposes.
 If I drop this glass it will break.
 I’m putting this letter on top so that he’ll read it first.
Time adverbials
Some adverbials like tomorrow and all the combinations with it ( tomorrow
morning ) are used exclusively with futute reference. Other adverbials ferquently
used with future tense are those with next ( next year ). There is a category of time
adverbials used with other tenses as well as the future like at 4o’clock .

Other ways of expressing future( L.G.Alexander, 2001,179)

 Be going to – I’m going to see him tomorrow.
 Be to – I’m to see him tomorrow.
 Present progressive – i’m seeing him tomorrow.
 Simple present – i see him tomorrow.
These ways of expressing the future are less concerned with simple prediction
and more with intentions, plans, arrangements

Going to Future

Form:
Affirmative: Subject + to be ( present ) + going to + verb I.
Interrogative: To be ( present) + subject + going to + verb I?
Negative: Subject + to b enot ( present ) + going to + verb I.
Examples:
 He is going to arrive tomorrow.
 It’s going to rain.
 Are you going t ogive me the book?
 They are not going to read.

Uses: ( L.G.Alexander, 2001,180, Thomson, 2010, 186)

1. Predictions
2. Intentions, plans
3. In the place of present progressive
4. After if

Use 1: predictions
The going to-future is often used to predict the future. It is common in speech,
especially when we are referring to the immediate future – it signs what is about to
happen or may have prior knowledge of something which will happen in the near
future. The time is usually not mentioned. It may be used after verbs like to be sure,
to believe to be afraid, to think
 She’s going to faint!
 They are ging to be married soon.

Use 2: intentions, plans

In informal style the tendency is to use going to-future instead of will when there are
any intentions and plans. Intentions can be emphasized whith adverbs like now and
just which are generally associated with the present time. If we want to be precise
about intentions and plans, we use verbs like intend to, plan to, propose to rather
than going to. The intention is always premeditated and there is usually also the idea
that some preparation for the action has already been made.
 I’m going to practice the piano for two hours this evening
 I’m just going to show you how to make a cake.
 They are going to build a new motorway.
 They propose to build a motorway.

Use 3: going to-future in place of present progressive

The going to-future may be used where we would equally expect to have the present
progressive with a future reference though to be going to can combine with go and
come, the present progressive is preferred with these verbs for reasons of style.
 I’m having dinner with Janet tomorrow evening.
 I’m going to have dinner with Janet tomorrow evening.
 I’m going home early this evening.

Use 4: going to future after if

We normally use will after if to make predictions, but we can use be going to to
express an intention. It can be used in the main clause as well.
 If you are going to join us, we’ll wait for you.
 If you invite Jack, there’s going to be trouble.

Other ways of expressing future

1. Use of to be to (present) + VerbI (infinitive) – is used to refer to the future
when the actions are subject to human control.
 The managers are to meet in London next week.
 You are to deliver these flowers before ten.(instructions)
 You are not to tell him anything about our plans. (mustn’t)
2. Use of to be about to, be on the point of – refer to the immediate future.
 The race is about to start.
 They are on the point of starting.
3. Use of be due to – is used in connections with timetables and itineraries.
 The plane is due to arrive from Athens at 7.

Future Continuous Tense

 Basic form:
Affirmative: Subject + will +be + VerbI -ing (continuous form)
Interrogative: Will + Subject +be + Verb I-ing?
Negative: Subject + will +be not + Verb I-ing.

Affirmative:
Auxiliary Auxiliary
Subject Verb + ing
verb verb
+ + +
e.g. I/a dog e.g.
will be
etc. working/going/making

 She'll be having a bath when I'm back home. (Use 1)

 Tomorrow at nine, I will be hosing off (=washing with a hose) my car. (Use 1)
 This time next week,I am going to be throwing a party. (Use 1)
 I'll be watching TV when my mother arrives. (Use 1)
 They will be geting home just about now. (Use 2)
Notice
Like any of the Future Tenses, Future Continuous cannot be used in sentences
beginning with: while, when, before, by the time, if, etc.
 By the time, you will be finishing your paiting.

Interrogative:
Auxiliary
Subject Auxiliary verb Verb + ing
verb + + + ?
will I/you/we etc. be dancing / taking
 Is she going to be cooking when we knock at the door? (Use 1)
 Will Mark be playing football at 6 p.m.? (Use 1)
 Will you be using the screwdriver? (Use 3)

Negative:

Auxiliary Auxiliary
Subject Verb + ing
verb verb
+ + +
e.g. I/a dog e.g.
will not be
etc. working/going/making
 We won't be having supper tomorrow before 8 o'clock. (Use 1)
 Iam not going to be learning English tomorrow at this time. (Use 1)
John won't be sleeping now (= I think John isn't sleeping now) (Use 2
Definition:
 The most como muse of future progressive tense ist o describe actions which will be
in progress in the immediate or distant future ( L.G. Alexander, 2001, 180)
Use:
1. Future actions in progress
2. Guesses about the present or the future
3. Polite questions about somebody's intention
4. Arrangements and plans

Diferences:
If you want to learn about somebody's intentions, you should always use the Future
Continuous rather than the Present Simple. Using the Future Simple implies that
you want to influence somebody's decision. Questions become much more objective
if formed in the Future Continuous.
Examples:
 Will you come home? (= I want you to come home)
 Will you be coming home? (= I just want to know)

Use 1: Future actions in progress

The first use of the Future Continuous is to express future action in progress.
 In an hour, I will be sitting in front of my TV.
 In the evening, I will be baking a birthday cake.

Use 2: Guesses
Use this tense also to make guesses about something in the present or future.
 He won't be coming any time soon. He is still at the office.
 Beatrice will be getting married very soon.

Use 3: Questions
And the last use of the tense is to make polite questions about something or
somebody.
 Will you be coming home before or after 10 PM?
 Will you be goingto the supermarket? I have something to buy.

Use 4: arrangements and plans

The future continuous canbe used like the present continuous to refer to planned
events, particularly in conexion with travel.
 We’ll be spending the winter in Australia.
 Note
The Future Perfect appears in two forms: "will" form and "going to" form which can
be used interchangebly.
Example:
 "She will have finished" means "she is going to have finished"

Future-in-the-Past

Form:
Affirmative: I should write
Interrogative: Would you write?
Negative: He wouldn’t write.

The future-in-the-past can be expressed by was going to, was about to, was to have
+ past participle, was on the point of, was due to, would.

Use: (L.G.Alexander, 2001, 184)

1.Can refer to events which were planned to take place and which did take
place
 I was about to go into hospital.
2. Can refer to an outcome that could not be forseen.
 Little did they know they were to be reunited ten years later.

3.To describe events which were interrupted.

 We were just going to leave when Tom fel land hurt his ankle.
4.To describe events which were hindered or prevented
 I was to see Mr. Kay tomorrow, but the appointment has been canceled.
5.Used in narrative to describe events that were destined to happen.
 Soon we would reach the top.
Pawlowska, Kempinski (1994, 80) writes about all the forms future tense have and
presents the situations when future-in-the-past are used :
1. Conditional sentence type II – I wouldn’t emegrate now if I were you.
2. In reported speech and as a past equivalent of the simple future tense –
The doctor said he would visit them soon.
3. Past routines – When we were small we would sit by the fire in the
living room.
4. After wish – I wish they would stay longer.
 Future In The Past Continuous Tense

Form:
Affirmative: I should be writing.
Interrogative: Would you be writing ?
Negative: He shouldn’t be writing.
Uses:
Accordingly to Pawlowska (1994, 81) the future in the past tense is used in the
following situations:
1. Conditional sentence – type II and mixed conditionals
 If we won that prize we would be living in Hawaii very soon.
2. In reported speech and as a past equivalent of the future continuous tense.
 He said he would be talking to Mary soon.
He hoped the baby would be sleeping when he returned.

Future-in-the-Past Perfect

Form:
Affirmative: I should have written.
Interrogative: Would you have written?
Negative: He would have not written.
Uses:
1. Conditional sentence type III
 If we had changed the money at the airport we would have saved twenty
dollars.
2. As a past equivalent of the future perfect tense
 I was sure she would have typed those letters by the time we got back.
3. Other uses – assumptions, unrealized past wishes
 They should have finished the job by now.
 She would have liked to marry an American businessman.

Future In The Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Form:
Affirmative: I should have been writing.
Interrogative: Would you have been writing ?
Negative: He shouldn’t have been writing.
Uses:
Accordingly to Pawlowska (1994, 85) the future in the past tense is used in the
following situations:
1.Conditional sentence – type III
 If you had told me she was going to call, I would have been sitting by
the phone.

The following image wants to represent the forms, uses and examples of how future
may be expressed.