Summary: When do we use future forms?
I’m meeting Tim at 6.30 tonight to go to the Tin Tin I can’t tonight. My cousin is coming over to fix my laptop. I’m so
Band concert. I can’t wait! It starts at 8pm, but we want to jealous! I’ve decided I’m going to watch more live music next
get there early. Do you want to come? I’ll buy your ticket! year. I think I’ll have more free time.
will going to
for predicting something in for immediate decisions and for intentions or things we are planning (but haven’t organized
the future offers yet)
I think I’ll have more free I’ll buy your ticket! I’m going to watch more live music next year.
time.
Immediate decisions are ones
made in that moment, e.g. I’ll
email you later. This isn’t
planned.
present continuous present simple
for organised arrangements for scheduled or timetabled events
I’m meeting Tim at 6.30 tonight. It starts at 8pm.
My cousin is coming over to fix my Let’s analyze them in
laptop. Arrangements often have times more detail…
and dates.
Pearson © 2021 Formula
The Future with Will To Be Going To
Use the future with will to talk about an event in the
future that you have just decided to do, for
predictions and for promises.
will
Used in Combination with
for predicting something in for immediate decisions and
For promises Time Clauses (as soon as,
the future offers
when, before, after)
The economy will get I think I'll go to that party Yes, I will marry you. He will telephone as soon
better soon. next week. I'll help you with your as he arrives.
It will snow tomorrow. 'll make you a sandwich. homework after class Will you visit me when
She won't win the They'll help you if you want. you come next week?
election.
PRACTICE
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-simple-future-simple-exercise-1.html
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/future-continuous-exercise-1.html
the Future with Going To Other Tenses to Express
the Future
Use the future with will to talk about an event in the
future that you have just decided to do, for
predictions and for promises.
To be going to
Used for Plans Used for Future Predictions Based on Physical Evidence.
The future with 'going to' is used to express planned events or We can also use 'be going to' to make a prediction about the future.
intentions. These events or intentions are decided on before the Often it's possible to use both 'be going to' and 'will' but it's more
moment of speaking. common to use 'be going to' if we can see evidence in the present.
Frank is going to study Medicine. Oh no! Look at those clouds. It's going to rain.
Where are they going to stay when they come? Be careful! You're going to drop those dishes!
She isn't going to buy the new house afterall. he sky is getting darker and darker. It's going to rain.
Note: 'Going to' or '-ing' are often both correct for planed events.
'Going to' should be used for distant future intentions (example: He's
going to study Law)
Use of the Present Simple and Continuous
Other Tenses to Express
the Future
use the present continuous for planned or personally scheduled events.
Usually used with principle verbs such as: come, go, begin, start, finish, have,
etc.
Use of the Simple Present Tense Use of the Present Continuous Tense
We use the present simple tense in two cases. First, we use it for a We use the present continuous tense for definite future arrangements.
timetabled event in the future, like public transport or the start of a Often, it doesn't really matter if we choose 'be going to' or the present
class: continuous. In the following example, there is really very little
My train leaves at six tonight. difference in meaning:
His class starts at 9am tomorrow.
I'm going to the cinema tonight.
Second, we use it after certain words, when the sentence has a I'm going to go to the cinema tonight.
future meaning. These words are: before / after / as soon as / until /
when:I'll call you when I get home.
She's going to study after she finishes dinner.
Please drink some water as soon as you complete the race.
PRACTICE
https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/preliminaryenglish/grammar/present-simple-and-continuous-as-future-tenses.htm
Use of Future Continuous Other Tenses to Express
the Future
also known as the future progressive tense, is used to describe a continuous
action that will be in progress at a future time.
Some signal words will help recognize this tense can be, for example, this
time next week/month, in an hour, or at a particular time tomorrow, e.g., at
7am tomorrow.
Use of Future Continuous
An action will be in progress at a certain time in the future. A future action that we expect to happen.
The future continuous is used to express that an action (to watch a The future continuous tense is used to express an action (to meet his
movie) will be in progress at a certain time in the future (in an hour). parents) that will take place in the future, but which we already expect
to happen (this visit was planned a long time ago).
In an hour, she will be watching a new movie at the cinema.
And we will be meeting his parents, as we planned to visit them a
long time ago.
PRACTICE
https://langster.org/en/grammar/english/a2/future-continuous-tense-in-english/
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/future-continuous-exercise-1.html
Use of Future Perfect and Future Perfect Continuous Other Tenses to Express
the Future
also known as the future progressive tense, is used to describe a continuous
action that will be in progress at a future time.
Some signal words will help recognize this tense can be, for example, this
time next week/month, in an hour, or at a particular time tomorrow, e.g., at
7am tomorrow.
Use of Future Perfect Use of Future Perfect Continuous
Use the future perfect to speak about what will have been finished by Use the future perfect continuous to speak about how long something
a time in the future. will have been happening up to a point of time in the future.
I will have finished the book by tomorrow. They will have been studying for five hours by six o'clock.
Angela will have fond a new job by the end of the year. Mary will have been playing golf for five hours by the time she finishes.
PRACTICE: https://www.thoughtco.com/future-tenses-review-quiz-for-esl-4078815
Beare, Kenneth. "Various Future Forms for English Learners." ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/future-forms-in-
grammar-1211136.
