FUTURE TENSES

future simple
future continuous
future perfect
future perfect continuous
going to
present continuous
present simple
 FUTURE SIMPLE
USE
We use this tense to express a pure future. Actions
expressed in the simple future are bound to happen
because of the course of time. This means that the
speaker has no power over the events, that he cannot
control what will happen. For this reason this tense is also
called the. uncertain future My brother will
He will be sixteen be born next
years old next Friday. month
 Structure
WILL + INFINITIVE

WON’T + INFINITIVE
I won’t call
I will never forget you again
you.
USE
1.We often use this tense with particular verbs; such as
think – know – believe – suppose – expect – hope to
express beliefs, convictions, hope, expectations,
knowledge and opinions about the future.

Examples
I think Brazil will win.
I don’t suppose she will be promoted now
USE
1.We often use this tense with particular verbs; such as
think – know – believe – suppose – expect – hope to
express beliefs, convictions, hope, expectations,
knowledge and opinions about the future.
2.We often use it with particular adverbs such as:
probably – possibly –perhaps to express uncertainty
about the future.

Examples
He will probably ask the general manager.
This matter will probably not be raised before the
commission’s first meeting
USE
1.We often use this tense with particular verbs; such as
think – know – believe – suppose – expect – hope to
express beliefs, convictions, hope, expectations,
knowledge and opinions about the future.
2.We often use it with particular adverbs such as:
probably – possibly –perhaps to express uncertainty
about the future.
3.The simple present is used in conditional clauses
and time clauses. The simple future is used in the
main clause (not in the if-clause).
Examples
He ‘ll help you if you ask him.
I ‘ll tell him the news as soon as I see him.
He ‘ll be arrested the moment he sets foot on Schengen
 GOING TO
FORM
This tense is formed with the present tense of the verb to
be + going to + infinitive of the main verb.

She isn’t going to give

this party next week I’ m going to watch
this football match
on TV tonight.

What are you going to do

about this ?
USE
1.We use this tense to talk about present intentions and
plans for future actions.

Examples
I ‘m going to pass my exams next month.
I ‘m going to spend two weeks in Spain this summer.
USE
1.We use this tense to talk about present intentions
and plans for future actions.
2.We also use going to in order to express
subjective certainty on the part of the speaker.

Examples
This boat is going to sink.
It’s going to rain, by the look
 PRESENT SIMPLE
FORM
This tense is formed with the infinitive of the main verb.
The negative and interrogative are formed with the
present tense of to do + infinitive
You leave from Kennedy airport
at noon, and arrive in Paris at
15.00 hours GMT.

The match begins

at 14.00 hours.

The plane takes

off at 7.30 local
time.
 USE
We use this tense to talk about planned future actions.
We usually use it to describe travel plans, time tables,
departures, arrivals.

Examples
The bus leaves at 15.30.
The reception starts at 19.00 hours.
The ferry leaves Dover at 12.30 tomorrow and we arrive
at Calais at 13.15.
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS
FORM
This tense is formed with the present of the verb to be and
the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb.

I’m studying lesson 5 We are having

this afternoon. dinner with
friends tonight
USE
1.We use this tense to indicate definite future
arrangements, actions planned in the near future.
We nearly always use a future time expression with it.

Examples
He ‘s starting his new job next Monday.
I’ m taking the 11 o’clock train to Berlin
 USE
1.We use this tense to indicate definite future
arrangements, actions planned in the near future.
We nearly always use a future time expression with it.
Note: do not confuse intention ( to be + going to + verb)
and arrangement (to be + present participle).
Examples
I’m going to stay in London. = intention
I’m going to London next weekend = arrangement
 FUTURE CONTINUOUS
FORM
 This tense is formed with the future simple of to be +
present participle of the main verb.
We’ ll be flying to
What will you be doing this
Rome this time
time next week?
next week.

They won’t be sitting in the

classroom at 6 o’clock
tomorrow.
USE
 We use this tense for actions that will be in progress at a
certain time in the future.

Examples
At 11.45 next Friday, I ‘ ll be doing my chemistry exam.
I’ ll be hiking through the States this time next year.
 on the time diagram

past now future

This time next week I’ll be taking my driving test.

USE
1.The future continuous is also used to express long-
term arrangements, especially for travelling.

Examples
The band will be travelling through Scandinavia at the
end of the month. They will be giving three
performances there.
USE
1.The future continuous is also used to express long-
term arrangements, especially for travelling.
2.The future continuous is also used to ask very polite
questions about future activities. By using the future
continuous tense, the speaker asking the questions
shows that he does not want to influence the other
person’s decision in any way at all.

Examples
Where will you be having dinner, Sir? (secretary to boss)
What will you be having, Madam? (waiter to customer)
 USE
1.The future continuous is also used to express long-
term arrangements, especially for travelling.
2.The future continuous is also used to ask very polite
questions about future activities. By using the future
continuous tense, the speaker asking the questions
shows that he does not want to influence the other
person’s decision in any way at all.
3.The future continuous is also used to make
deductions about what is happening at the moment of
speaking.
Examples
He will be working in his garden now. Otherwise,
he would have heard the phone.
She’s not answering her mobile. She will still be
doing the washing up.
 FUTURE PERFECT
FORM
 This tense is formed with will + have + past participle of the
main verb. We use BY+ time expression in these
sentences.
They ‘ll have
arranged their
business by noon.

They won’t have

organized this
Will they have copied all
course by the end of
that material by Friday
this year.
morning?
USE
We use this tense to describe actions which we know will
(or will not) be completed by a certain time in the future.

Examples
I ‘ll have finished this book by the end of the week.
on the time diagram

past now future

end of next week

Examples
By the end of next week, I’ll have finished my exams.
 FUTURE PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
FORM
This tense is formed with the future perfect tense of to be +
present participle of the main verb.
By the end of this
How long will you have year, we ‘ll have
been living in that flat by been working in NY
the end of this year? City for more than
three months.
I won’t have been living
here for more than five
years by the end of this
year.
USE
We use this tense to describe continuous and repeated
actions which begin before a certain time in the future
and will probably continue after that time.

Examples
By the end of this academic year, I’ll have been teaching
for 30 years.
on the time diagram

past future
now
end of this academic year

Example
By the end of this academic year, I’ll have been teaching
for 30 years.