2. TENSES USED FOR THE FUTURE
• Future simple
• Be going to
• Future continuous
• Future perfect
• Future perfect continuous
3. FUTURE SIMPLE
• Decisions made on the spur of the moment.
This room’s a mess, I’ll tidy it later.
• Predictions about the future, based on our views or what we imagine. Verbs and
expressions used are think, believe, expect, be sure, be afraid, probably,
certainly, perhaps.
She will probably accept the job offer.
• Promises, threats, warnings, requests, hopes and offers.
Will you lend me some money?
• Actions, events, situations which will definitely happen in the future and which we
can’t control.
Our oldest son will be thirty next May.
4. BE GOING TO
• For plans, intentions or ambitions for the future.
He’s going to be a veterinarian when he graduates.
• Actions we have already decided to do in the near future.
We are going to buy that antique mirror we saw.
• Predictions based on what we can see or what we know, especially when
there is evidence that something will happen.
He feels very guilty; he’s going to tell the truth.
Time expressions
Tomorrow; the day after tomorrow;
tonight; soon; next
week/month/year/summer; in a
week/month, etc.
5. FUTURE CONTINUOUS will be + verb + -ing
• For actions which will be in progress at a stated future time.
I am going to Cuba. This time next week, I’ll be travelling to Havanna.
• For actions which will definitely happen in the future as the result of a routine
or an arrangement.
I will be driving to the countryside at the weekend.
• When we ask politely about someone’s plans or intentions for the near future.
Will you be meeting John and I tonight, Charles?
6. FUTURE PERFECT will have + past participle
• For actions that will have finished before a stated time in the future.
I will have prepared super by 7.00 p.m.
Time expressions:
Before; by; by then; by the time;
until/till (only in negative sentences).
7. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
• To emphasize the duration of an action up to a certain time in the future. It is
used with by … for.
By the end of September, she will have been living in Tunisia for three years.
8. TIME CLAUSES WITH FUTURE REFERENCE
Use of present simple or
perfect
• We use the present simple or present perfect,
BUT NOT FUTURE FORMS with:
• While; before; after; until / till; as; when;
whenever; once; as soon as; as long as; by the
time.
By the time we get to the surprise party, Ella will
have arrived. (NOT: By the time we will get…)
• Unless; if; suppose / supposing; in case, etc.
Take your umbrella in case it rains. (NOT: … in case
it will rain.)
However, we use future forms
with:
• When when it is used as a question word.
When will the daffodils be blooming?
• If / Whether after expressions which show
uncertainty or ignorance, such as I don’t
know, I doubt, I wonder, I’m not sure, etc.
I doubt whether he will get here on time.
