There are many different ways we can
talk about the future.
Let’s look at the future with:
1. will, going to, present simple, and present continuous
2. future continuous, future perfect simple, and future perfect continuous
When do we use the
simple future forms?
Function: When do we use them?
1. will, going to, present simple, present continuous
I can’t wait for our holiday – you’ll love Greece! 4 p.m. Mary is picking us up at 12 p.m. to take
I’m going to sunbathe every day! What time us to the airport.
does the plane take off tomorrow?
Yes, but I promise I won’t do much work while
She’ll forget! I’ll send a message now to remind we are there. Hey! Careful with the lock on the
her. Are you taking your computer? case; you’re going to break it!
1 2 3 4
Timetables and schedules Future organised event Predictions Intentions and plans
What time does the plane take Mary is picking us up at She’ll forget! I’m going to sunbathe.
off? 12 p.m. Decisions made at the moment Predictions based on previous
of speaking knowledge
I’ll send a message now. You’re going to break it!
Offers, promises, and requests
I won’t do much work.
To express certainty
You’ll love Greece.
Look at the conversation. Find examples for these uses.
Function: When do we use them?
1. will, going to, present simple, present continuous
1 2 3 4
Timetables and schedules Future organised event Predictions Intentions and plans
What time does the plane take Mary is picking us up at She’ll forget! I’m going to sunbathe.
off? 12 p.m. Decisions made at the moment Predictions based on previous
of speaking knowledge
I’ll send a message now. You’re going to break it!
Offers, promises, and requests
I won’t do much work.
To express certainty
You’ll love Greece.
In connected speech, going to is
often pronounced /gənə/. This future action wasn’t
planned. It’s a decision he
made now about the future.
This is a general prediction.
It isn’t based on This is a plan/intention,
observation/previous but it isn’t organised
knowledge. (there’s no date or How do we use the
time). other future forms?
Function: When do we use them?
2. future continuous, future perfect simple and continuous
Don’t message Mary now. She’ll be feeding I know! We will have already arrived at the
the baby and then will be getting him ready hotel and will have been enjoying the
for bed for the next hour. Can you believe sunshine for at least two hours! Can’t wait!
it? This time tomorrow, we’ll be ordering
hamburgers on the beach!
Look at the continuation of the conversation and put An
the phrases on the timeline. Is
Is phrase
Phrase
Phrase
Phrase
phrase 4531will
isaan
2willfuture
an
start
start
actionaction
action
before
whenthat
in assumption
Before this
Until this
1. She’ll be feeding the baby. thisor an
progress
the
will
time assumption
friends
happen
tomorrow,
over arrive
this about
a period
at
time
butthe
will
of It …for
will
time
thebe
still
about
2. We will have already arrived at the hotel. something
ittime
hotel.
tomorrow
finish
inWhen
before
the future.happening
orare
before
orwestill
What
sure
be
this
in
isit next hour.
insomething
progress.
tomorrow.
3. She will be getting the baby ready for bed. thetime
will
period now?
progress?
continue
tomorrow?
of timeto?here? now.
4. We will be ordering hamburgers.
5. We will have been enjoying the sunshine.
1 3 2 4
Now 5 This time tomorrow
Function: When do we use them?
2. future continuous, future perfect simple and continuous
future continuous future perfect simple future perfect continuous
Actions in progress over a given period of An action completed before another certain Actions in progress over a period of time up
time in the future. time in the future. to a specified time in the future.
She’ll be getting the baby ready for bed for (By this time tomorrow) we will have (By this time tomorrow) we will have been
the next hour. already arrived at the hotel. enjoying the sunshine for two hours.
Actions in progress at a certain time in the
future.
This time tomorrow, we will be ordering This will be in
hamburgers on the beach. progress for two
This is hours up to the
An assumption about something happening happening specified time:
now. These actions are in progress: the first over a
now. this time
period of future time, the second at aWe will be ordering
She will be feeding the baby. tomorrow.
specified future time. hamburgers.
She will be feeding the She will be getting the We will be ordering
baby. baby ready for bed. We will have arrived at hamburgers.
the hotel.
For the next hour.
We will have been enjoying the sunshine.
For two hours.
Now This time tomorrow
Form: How do we make these structures?
future continuous future perfect simple future perfect continuous
She’ll be getting the baby ready for bed for (By this time tomorrow) we will have (By this time tomorrow) we will have been
the next hour. already arrived at the hotel. enjoying the sunshine for two hours.
Subject + will + ……. + verb -ing Subject + .…… + ……. + past participle Subject + will + have + …….. + verb -ing
Fill in the missing will
been
words from the
breakdown of the
be have
form.
Form: How do we make these structures?
future continuous future perfect simple future perfect continuous
She’ll be getting the baby ready for bed for (By this time tomorrow) we will have (By this time tomorrow) we will have been
the next hour. already arrived at the hotel. enjoying the sunshine for two hours.
be + verb -ing
Subject + will + .……. will + have
Subject + .…… …….. + past been + verb -ing
Subject + will + have + .……..
participle
To make the negative, we In connected speech,
change will to won’t. have is pronounced /əv/.
In connected speech, the
auxiliary verb been is
pronounced /bɪn/. Let’s practise
Practice activities
Complete the gaps using the correct future form.
1. By this time next week, you ……………………. (leave) your job and ……………………………………. (travel) already.
By this time next week, you’ll have left your job and (you) will be travelling already.
2. Watch out! You ……………………................. (hit) the gate with the car!
Watch out! You are going to hit the gate with the car!
3. By the year 2020, Sofia ……………………………………………. (work) on the soap for 10 years.
By the year 2020, Sofia will have been working on the soap for 10 years.
4. A. What time ……………………………… (film/start) tonight? B. 8 p.m. I …………………………… (get) a taxi at
7.30.
A. What time does the film start tonight? B. 8 p.m. I’m getting a taxi at 7.30.
5. A. By the time you get home, Tim ……………………………. (open) all his presents. B. Oh no! I
…………….. (call) him now and ask him to wait then.
A. By the time you get home, Tim will have opened all his presents. B. Oh no! I’ll call him now and ask him to wait then.
6. This time next year, Laura and Lewis ………………………………… (not live) next door anymore. They ……….. (move)
house in January.
This time next year, Laura and Lewis won’t be living next door anymore. They are moving house in January.
