FUTURE TENSES
CONTENT
• Simple future tense
• Future continuous tense
• Future perfect tense
• Future perfect continuous tense
• There are a number of different ways of referring to the future in English. It is important to
remember that we are expressing more than simply the time of the action or event. Obviously,
any 'future' tense will always refer to a time 'later than now', but it may also express our attitude
to the future event.
All of the following ideas can be expressed using different tenses:
• Simple prediction: There will be snow in many areas tomorrow.
• Arrangements: I'm meeting Jim at the airport.
• Plans and intentions: We're going to spend the summer abroad.
• Time-tabled events: The plane takes off at 3 a.m.
• Prediction based on present evidence: I think it's going to rain!
• Willingness: We'll give you a lift to the cinema.
• An action in progress in the future: This time next week I'll be sun-bathing.
• An action or event that is a matter of routine: You'll be seeing John in the office tomorrow, won't you?
• Obligation: You are to travel directly to London.
• An action or event that will take place immediately or very soon: The train is about to leave.
• Projecting ourselves into the future and looking back at a completed action: A month from now he will
have finished all his exams.
It is clear from these examples that several tenses are used to express the future. The future tense
section shows the form and function of each of these uses of future tenses.
• There are four future verb tenses in English.
• Simple future tense
• Future continuous tense
• Future perfect tense
• Future perfect continuous tense
FUNCTIONS OF THE SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE
• The simple future refers to a time later than now, and expresses facts or certainty. In this
case there is no 'attitude'.
Subject will infinitive without to
Affirmative
I will go
I shall go
Negative
They will not see
They won't see
Interrogative
Will she ask?
Interrogative negative
Won't they try?
TO SEE: SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative
Negative
I will see I won't see Will I see? Won't I see?
*I shall see *Shall I see?
You will see You won't see Will you see? Won't you see?
He will see He won't see Will he see? Won't he see?
We will see We won't see Will we see? Won't we see?
*We shall see *Shall we see?
They will see They won't see Will they see? Won't they see?
*Shall is dated, but it is still commonly used instead of "will" with the affirmative or interrogative
forms of I and we in certain cases (see above).
THE SIMPLE FUTURE IS USED:
• To predict a future event: • With we in the interrogative form using "shall", to make a
It will rain tomorrow. suggestion:
• With I or We, to express a spontaneous decision: Shall we go to the cinema tonight?
I'll pay for the tickets by credit card. • With I in the interrogative form using "shall", to ask for
• To express willingness: advice or instructions:
I'll do the washing-up. What shall I tell the boss about this money?
He'll carry your bag for you. • With you, to give orders:
• In the negative form, to express unwillingness: You will do exactly as I say.
The baby won't eat his soup. • With you in the interrogative form, to give an invitation:
I won't leave until I've seen the manager! Will you come to the dance with me?
• With I in the interrogative form using "shall", to make an Will you marry me?
offer:
Shall I open the window?
• Note: In modern English will is preferred to shall. Shall is mainly
used with I and we to make an offer or suggestion, or to ask for
advice (see examples above). With the other persons (you, he, she,
they) shall is only used in literary or poetic situations, e.g. "With
rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, She shall have music
wherever she goes."
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
• The future continuous is made up of two elements:
the simple future of the verb 'to be' + the present participle (base+ing)
Subject simple future of the verb 'to present participle
be'
You will be watching
I will be staying
FUNCTIONS
The future continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a time later
than now. The future continuous is used for quite a few different purposes.
The future continuous can be used to project ourselves into the future.
EXAMPLES
• This time next week I will be sun-bathing in Bali.
• By Christmas I will be skiing like a pro.
• Just think, next Monday you will be working in your new job.
The future continuous can be used for predicting or guessing about future events.
EXAMPLES
• He'll be coming to the meeting, I expect.
• I guess you'll be feeling thirsty after working in the sun.
• You'll be missing the sunshine once you're back in England.
In the interrogative form, the future continuous can be used to ask politely for information about the
future.
EXAMPLES
• Will you be bringing your friend to the pub tonight?
• Will Jim be coming with us?
• Will she be going to the party tonight?
• Will I be sleeping in this room?
The future continuous can be used to refer to continuous events that we expect to happen in the
future.
EXAMPLES
• I'll be seeing Jim at the conference next week.
• When he is in Australia he will be staying with friends.
• I'll be eating with Jane this evening so I can tell her.
When combined with still, the future continuous refers to events that are already happening now and
that we expect to continue some time into the future.
EXAMPLES
• In an hour I'll still be ironing my clothes.
• Tomorrow he'll still be suffering from his cold.
• Next year will she still be wearing a size six?
• Won't stock prices still be falling in the morning?
• Unfortunately, sea levels will still be rising in 20 years.
FUTURE PERFECT
The future perfect is composed of two elements
the simple future of the verb "to have" (will have) + the past participle of the main verb
Subject + will have + past participle of the
main verb
He will have finished.
I will have finished.
TO ARRIVE, FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative
Interrogative
I will have arrived I won't have Will I have Won't I have
arrived arrived? arrived?
You will have You won't have Will you have Won't you have
arrived arrived arrived? arrived?
He will have He won't have Will he have Won't he have
arrived arrived arrived? arrived?
We will have We won't have Will we have Won't we have
arrived arrived arrived? arrived?
They will have They won't have Will they have Won't they have
arrived arrived arrived? arrived?
FUNCTION
The future perfect tense refers to a completed action in the future. When we use this tense we are
projecting ourselves forward into the future and looking back at an action that will be completed some
time later than now. It is most often used with a time expression.
EXAMPLES
• I will have been here for six months on June 23rd.
• By the time you read this I will have left.
• You will have finished your report by this time next week.
• Won't they have arrived by 5:00?
• Will you have eaten when I pick you up?
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
The future perfect continuous is composed of two elements the future perfect of the verb "to be"
(will have been) + the present participle of the main verb (base + ing)
Subject + will have been + present participle
He will have been playing.
I will have been playing.
TO LIVE, FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
TENSE
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Negative
Interrogative
I will have been living I won't have been Will I have been Won't I have been
living living? living?
You will have been You won't have been Will you have been Won't you have been
living living living? living?
He will have been He won't have been Will he have been Won't he have been
living living living? living?
We will have been We won't have been Will we have been Won't we have been
living living living? living?
They will have been They won't have been Will they have been Won't they have been
living living living? living?
FUNCTION
Like the future perfect simple, this form is used to project ourselves forward in time and to look back. It
refers to events or actions that are currently unfinished but will be finished at some future time. It is most
often used with a time expression.
EXAMPLES
• I will have been waiting here for three hours by six o'clock.
• By 2001 I will have been living in London for sixteen years.
• When I finish this course, I will have been learning English for twenty years.
• Next year I will have been working here for four years.
• When I come at 6:00, will you have been practicing long?
THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL OTHER WAYS TO TALK
ABOUT THE FUTURE WITHOUT USING A FUTURE
VERB TENSE.
• Using the present continuous to talk about future arrangements
• Using the simple present to talk about scheduled events
• Using "going" to talk about the future
• Future obligations
• The immediate future
