Future Forms
“There is no future in learning English” – anon
The above quote is a play on words (a joke with two possible meanings). The ‘hidden’ meaning here is that we don’t conjugate verbs to make statements about the future. Instead we use other words or tenses to show that we are talking about the future.
The future forms here are presented in order of likelihood, from the weakest to the most definite.
Will- I/you/he/she/it/we/they/you + will + do
‘Will’ is used when we make a decision for the future at the time of speaking.
I will answer the phone.
We will come to your house tonight.
They say that they will arrive late.
decision action
|-----------------*
Past---------------------------------------Now-------------------------------------Future
Be Going To- I am
you/we/they/you + are + going to + do
he/she/it is
‘be going to’ is used when we have made decision for the future previous to the time of speaking.
We are going to meet our manager on Sunday.
Joyce is going to move tomorrow.
They said that they are going to arrive late.
decision action
|---------------------------------*
Past---------------------------------------Now-------------------------------------Future
Task 1
Form sentences using ‘will’ or ‘going to’.
- I / think /have a cup of coffee.
- It’s snowing and I / not / go out today.
- Where / you be in ten years time?
- If you are in, we / see you at seven.
- Those two cars are driving too quickly, they / crash!
- Ann wrote me a letter saying that she / come to visit.
- Someone’s knocking at the door. I / answer it.
- She / bring her sister?
- You / take a holiday in Turkey?
- Oh no! The heating has broken, what / we / do?
Present Continuous- (see present continuous)
When we want to suggest that a previously made plan is very likely we use the present continuous.
I am meeting Sally at 1pm on Thursday
She is having a party next week
plan action
|---------------------------------*
Past---------------------------------------Now-------------------------------------Future
Task 2
Increase the probability of these statements by changing them into the present continuous
- I am going to watch a film tonight.
- She is going to have dinner with her husband on Friday.
- They are going to move house on the weekend.
- He is going to phone the cable company later.
- They are going to climb Everest next year.
- My cousin is going to come here for a couple of weeks.
Present Simple- (see present simple)
The most definite plan for the future is suggested by the use of the present simple. Usually this is used for timetables or set dates in the future.
The Queen arrives at 9pm tonight
James and Amy return next month
Christmas is on a Monday next year
timetabled arrangement action
|---------------------------------*
Past---------------------------------------Now-------------------------------------Future
Task 3
This is Alex’s diary, use the present simple to write full sentences about his week
1. On Monday Alex goes to the doctor.
If we want to focus on the estimated duration or outcome of a future action we can use the ‘future continuous’ or the ‘future perfect’
Future Continuous-
I/you/ he/she/it/we/they/you + will + be + doing
am/is/are going to
When we want to talk about an action that will be in progress at a given time in the future we use this form.
“Come here at 8pm, we will be eating at 7pm” “He will be working all day on Saturday” “They are going to be traveling at this time tomorrow”
************
Past---------------------------------------Now-------------------------------------Future
Task 4
Write sentences about yourself using the future continuous.
Future Perfect-
I/you/ he/she/it/we/they/you + will + have + done
am/is/are going to
Again, the perfect tense can present problems, as with the past perfect, if you consider it as being the present perfect tense set in the future you will find it easier to understand.
It is used to give estimates of a future outcome and ‘round numbers up’
“I will have finished this by 10.15” “She is going to have completed three courses by the end of this semester” “I have worked here for eleven months, next month I will have worked here for exactly a year”
outcome point in the future
*……………………..*
Past---------------------------------------Now-------------------------------------Future
Task 5
Write sentences about yourself using the future perfect.
Future Perfect Continuous-
I/you/ he/she/it/we/they/you + will + have + been + doing
am/is/are going to
Finally, this form is very similar to the future perfect but, as with all of the continuous tenses, it focuses more on the duration of the action.
“They will have been trying to do this for three years” “She is going to have been studying for five years by the end of this month” “Next month I will have been working here for exactly a year”
outcome point in the future
duration of action
*……………………..*
Past---------------------------------------Now-------------------------------------Future
Task 6
Write sentences about yourself using the future continuous.
