The Future Tense

Future Time Words

- tomorrow; in two minutes/hours/days/months etc.; in five years’ time; next
day/month/year etc.; later; soon = curand, in curand/shortly = in scurt timp; sometime
(= candva ) in the future; on Monday etc.; in 2050 etc.; at midnight; someday = intr-o zi
etc.

A. WILL

Future Simple
- we use it to express a non-continuous action which will happen in the future
will/won’t + short infinitive
1. to express future facts: The site will come online next week.

2. to make predictions (not based on present evidence = dovada, but based on the
speaker’s thoughts or opinions) or to say what we think it will happen:

It will rain tomorrow.

John thinks his favourite team will win.

3. to express hopes, expectations: I hope they will come to the party.

Maybe they won’t be mad at us.
I expect you won’t let me down.

4. intentions/promises: I will buy a bunch of flowers for her birthday.

Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone!

5. requests/invitations: Will you, please, help me with this heavy bag?

Will you join us for dinner?

6. threats: Just wait! You’ll regret this!

 If you don’t stop, I will punish you!

7. spontaneous/rapid decisions, decisions made at the moment of speaking: What a

beautiful dress! I’ll buy it!

8. to express what will happen for events that have already been arranged (formal style):
The wedding will take place at St. Joseph Cathedral.

- in British English, especially in the formal style, we often use “shall” with “I/we” instead
of “will” (“shall” is very rare in American English):

I shall never forget you.

- in spoken English, we generally use “I’ll” and “we’ll”:

We’ll probably go to France.

- we can also use “shall” for offers or suggestions (informal style) ; thus, we use “shall”
mostly in questions:

 offers: Shall I help you with that heavy bag?

 suggestions: Shall we invite Tim at the party?

!!! Compare “shall” and “will”:

Shall I open the window? (= do you want me to open it?)

Will you shut the door? (= I want you to shut it)

Negation: will not = won’t; shall not = shan’t

Interrogation: Will you……
Future Continuous

- is used to express continuous, ongoing actions which will take place in the future for a
specific amount of time (this time tomorrow, this time next week, at 9 tomorrow, in two
weeks’ time etc.)
will/won’t +be + -ing form

1. Actions in progress at a point in the future

This time next week, I’ll be taking my Biology test.
Try to call before 8 o’clock. After that, we’ll be watching the match.

2. habits or repeated actions at a point in the future; future plans and arrangements:
In the future, we’ll be flying around using flying machines.
We’ll be coming next weekend.
In three years’ time, I’ll be studying medicine.
- many times, we see that action as new, different, or temporary:

Today we’re taking the bus, but next week we’ll be taking the train.
He’ll be staying with his parents for several months while his father is in recovery.
Will you be starting work earlier with your new job?

B. BE (am/is/are) GOING TO +verb

1. we have already decided to do that thing, we intend to do it; it is a planned activity:

We are going to invite Tim to our party. (I have already decided/It’s my intention to
invite Tim)
 (Noi il vom invita = avem de gand sa il invitam/intentionam sa-l invitam pe Tim la
petrecere.)

Are you going to eat anything?

2. predictions, when there is a proof/evidence or we think it’s certain to happen; the action
is about to happen:

Look, it’s very cloudy! It’s going to rain! (the proof/evidence which makes me say that it’s
going to rain is that it is cloudy)
(Priveste, este foarte innorat! Va ploua/O sa ploua!)
Look out! He’s going to break that glass!
3. we can also use the phrase be going to + verb when we give commands or say that
something is obligatory:
You’re going to pick up all of those toys right now!

- it should be noted that the past continuous form of this phrase can be used to express
actions which were about to happen in the past:
I was going to write a letter last night.

4. Actions that appear to be immediately imminent or has already started:

Look out! We’re going to hit the car!

Other examples:

Are you busy tonight?

I. I haven’t made any plans. I’ll probably watch a film. (nothing is planned)

II. Yes, I’m going to watch a film. (I’ve made my decision)

!!! Sometimes, there is little difference in meaning between “will” and “be going to” and it is
often just a matter of formality: “will” is generally more formal than “be going to”:

The website will come online next week. (more formal)

The website is going to come online next week. (more informal)

In the future, everyone will have their own flying car. (more formal)
In the future, everyone is going to have their own flying car. (more informal)
C. We use Present Continuous with a future meaning when that action has been already
fixed or arranged:

I’m going to the cinema on Sunday.

(Merg la cinema sambata.- “merg” cu sensul de “voi merge”; the action of going to the cinema
has been already arranged/fixed)
I’m not working tomorrow, so we can go out somewhere.
(Nu lucrez maine, deci putem iesi undeva. - “nu lucrez” cu sensul de “nu voi lucra”; the action of
not working has been already decided/fixed)

!!! Many times, we use Present Continuous with a future meaning and be going to+ verb
interchangeably, with no difference in meaning:
I’m visiting Paris next week.
I’m going to visit Paris next week.
Nevertheless, when we use the Present Continuous we understand that the action has already
been arranged or fixed, whereas we use be going to+ verb when the action has already been
decided, but we don’t know whether the speaker has arranged to do it or not (maybe yes,
maybe not):
  I’m leaving next week. I’ve booked my flight. (the action of leaving has been
already fixed or arranged: I have even bought some plane tickets)

I’m going to leave next week. I can’t stay here anymore. (it’s my intention to
leave, the action of leaving has already been decided, but not necessarily arranged; we don’t
know whether the speaker has talked to anyone about it, has established the conditions of
leaving etc.)

 I don’t know what I’m doing tomorrow. (I don’t know my schedule or plans,
so the action of doing something hasn’t been fixed or arranged)

I don’t know what I’m going to do about the problem. (I haven’t decided
what to do and I haven’t made any arrangements either.

!!! The choice between “will” and “be going to” depends largely upon whether the speaker is
expressing just probable occurrence or a less certain or controllable action (will) unlike a
planned activity (be going to)

D. We use Present Simple with a future meaning when we talk about timetables and
programmes, about something which, many times, was established by an authority:

My train leaves at 11.30.

(Trenul meu pleaca la 11.30; “pleaca” cu sensul de “va pleca”; the action leaving is connected to
an official timetable/ the train leaves at 11.30 because an authority established it)
Future Perfect Simple

Will + have + past participle

- we use it to talk about an activity that will be finished by a specific time in the future:

They will have finished their project by next week.

The guests are coming at 8 p.m. I’ll have finished cooking by then.
On 9 October we’ll have been married for 50 years.
By the time we arrive, the kids will have gone to bed.

Future Perfect Continuous

- it describes an action or activity that will continue up until a point in the future
- by using it, we are projecting ourselves forward in time and looking back at the duration
of that activity:
In November I will have been working for my company for three years.
At 8 o’clock, I will have been waiting for them for 30 minutes.
We will have been cleaning the house all day by the time she returns.