This document discusses various English verb tenses used to talk about the future: will/won't for instant decisions, promises, offers, threats and predictions based on opinion; be going to for future plans and intentions and predictions based on present evidence; present continuous for future arrangements; future continuous to indicate actions in progress at a specified future time; and future perfect to talk about actions completed before a specified future time. It provides examples of forms and uses for each future tense and exercises to practice using them.

1. FUTURE TENSES
WILL/WON’T

FORM ( will + infinitive)
Affirmative: You will help him later
Negative: You won’t help him later
Interrogative: Will you help him later

USE
1.INSTANT DECISIONS: decisions made at the moment of speaking.
Example: ‘Do you want to come with me?’ ‘ No. Thanks. I think I’LL GO home .
2. PROMISES / OFFERS / THREATS: to make promises, threats or to offer help.
Example: Don’t worry. I’LL GO and buy some food for you.
3. PREDICTIONS based on what we think:
Example: In my opinion, governments WILL BE a lot more ecological in the future.

2. BE GOING TO
FORM
(be+going to+infinitive)
Affirmative: We are going to buy a new TV.
Negative: We aren’t going to buy a new TV.
Interrogative: Are we going to buy a new TV.
USE
1.FUTURE PLANS or INTENTIONS
Example: I’M GOING TO START revising after the Chritmas holidays.
2. PREDICTIONS based on present EVIDENCE, you are certain that something is
likely to happen.
Example:Look at the queue! We aren’t going to get in for hours.

3. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
FORM
(be+ING)
Affirmative: We are leaving school at 8 p.m.
Negative: We aren’t leaving school at 8 p.m.
Interrogative: Are we leaving school at 8 p.m?
USE
1. Future arrangements (personal plans):
Example: We’RE MEETING Paul at 7 p.m.

4. Complete the sentences with WILL or GOING TO.
1.I’m sorry. I can’t talk now. I __________ (call) you later.
2. Sharon _______________ (have) a baby in June.
3. I’ve decided to repaint the bathroom. I____________ (paint)
it green.
4. ‘I can’t hear the TV!’. ‘ I ____________ (turn) it up so you can
hear it.
5. I promise I ___________ (be) a good girl, mummy.

5. FUTURE CONTINUOUS
FORM
(will + be + -ing)
Affirmative: I’ll be playing football at six o’clock.
Negative: I won’t be playing football at six o’clock.
Interrogative: Will you be playing football at six o’clock?
USE
To indicate that we will be in the MIDDLE of doing something in a specified time in
the future.
Example: Don’t phone me tomorrow because I WILL BE STUDYING.
I’LL BE PLAYING basketball at six o’clock

TIME EXPRESSIONS
AT three o’clock, this time tomorrow, in two days...

6. FUTURE PERFECT
FORM
(will + have + past participle)
Affirmative: I’ll have arrived at the hotel by lunchtime.
Negative: I won’t have arrived at the hotel by lunchtime.
Interrogative: Will you have arrived at the hotel by lunchtime?
USE
To speak about actions that will be COMPLETED BEFORE a specific time in the
future.
Example: We’LL HAVE GONE before Monday.
We’LL HAVE FINISHED this book by tomorrow night.

TIME EXPRESSIONS
BY then, by next year, by the time ....

7. Complete the sentences with the FUTURE CONTINUOUS or the
FUTURE PERFECT
1. This time tomorrow, Maria______________ (sunbathe) on a beach
in Majorca.
2. Wake me up by nine o'clock - I _____________ (sleep) long enough
by then.
3. Don't phone me between 7 and 8. We _____________(have)
dinner then.
4. Before we arrive home, mum _______________ (prepare) our
breakfast.
5. Tomorrow afternoon we're going to play tennis from 3 o'clock until
4.30. So at 4 o'clock, we ______________(play)
tennis.
6. By the time you get home I ______________(clean) the house from
top to bottom.
7. Tom is on holiday and he is spending his money very quickly. If he
continues like this, he ______________(spend) all his money before
the end of his holiday.