The Future

There are several ways of expressing future in English. They are listed below:

• The ‘future simple’ will/shall + infinitive

• The Future Continuous Tense
• The Future Perfect Tense
• The Present Continuous Tense
• The Simple Present Tense
• The be going to form
• The Future Perfect Continuous Tense
• To be + infinitive (for future plans)
• To be about + infinitive / to be on the point of + gerund

1 Future Simple

Form
The Future Simple is formed with will/shall and the infinitive
Affirmative Interrogative Negative
I will/I’ll play / I shall play Shall I play? I will not/won’t play/
You will/you’ll play Will you play? I shall not /I shan’t play
He will play Will he play? You will not/you won’t play
We will play/we’ll play/we shall play Shall we play? He will not/he won’t play
You will play Will they play? We will not/won’t play/we shall
They will play Will they play? not play /we shan’t play
You will not/ won’t play
They will not/won’t play

Negative interrogative: will he not/won’t he play? etc.

The Future Simple tense is used

• for actions that will take place some time in the future, i.e. when we express our
opinions, assumptions, speculations about the future or merely predict what will
happen. These may be introduced by verbs such as assume, believe, hope, expect,
doubt, be afraid, suppose, think etc:
I’ll meet you in the café tomorrow afternoon.
(I suppose) they will sell the house.
(I believe) he will join us for dinner.
• for future habitual actions which we assume will take place:
Spring will come again and birds will build nests.
They will build new blocks of flats in this area.
• for future (formal) arrangements:
The wedding will take place at the church.
• idiomatically, i.e. to express a habit or custom in the present:
Boys will be boys.
• in Type 1 conditionals and time clauses
If he decides to go, he’ll let us know.
When it gets warmer the snow will start to melt.
• in newspapers and news broadcasts, for formal announcements of future plans and
for weather forecasts. In conversation such statements would normally be
expressed by the present continuous or be going to form.
Newspapers: The President of the company will give a press release
tomorrow.
Sunny weather will persist in coastal areas.

Note: The general rule of shall for the 1st person singular and plural and will for the
rest applies to British English. American English prefers will for all persons.

The use of first person will and shall

Formerly will was used for intention:

I will wait for you. (I intend to wait for you)
Shall was used when there was no intention of the speaker:
I shall be 25 next month.
We shall know the results next week.
Shall, used as above, is still found in formal English, but is o longer common in
conversation. Instead we usually used will:
I will be 25 next week.
We’ll know the results next week.
Shall is still used in interrogative:
Let’s take a taxi, shall we?
Shall we take a taxi?
Shall I take these to your room?
Shall is sometimes used to express determination of the speaker:
We shall fight and we shall win. (a speech)
I shall be there, I promise you.
Won’t can be used with all persons to express negative intention:
Little Tommy won’t do his homework. (meaning he refuses to do it)

2 Future Continuous Tense

Form
This tense is made up of the future simple of to be and the present participle. In the
first person, will is more usual than shall, except in the interrogative:
Affirmative I/we will/shall be working
He/she/it/you/they will be working
Interrogative Shall/will I/we be working?
will he/she/it/you/they be working?
Negative I/we will/shall not be working
He/she/it/you/they will not be working
Negative interrogative will he not/won’t he be working?

The Future Continuous tense is used

• for actions that will be taking place and continuing at some point in future time:
At one o’clock I’ll be having lunch.
There is a suggestion of probability here. Sometimes we know a person’s habits so
well that we can almost say with certainty what he or she will be doing at a given time
in the future:
Mother will be coming to visit us for Christmas.
• for future arrangements:
He will be leaving at five.
• for polite questions:
Will you be seeing Mary tomorrow morning?
Note: In all these cases the Future Simple can be used, but the continuous tense
emphasizes continuity.

3 Future Perfect Tense

Form
The Future Perfect Tense is formed with will/shall and perfect infinitive
It is usually used
• with a time expressions beginning with by: by then, by that time, by the end of
the year, i.e. for actions that will have finished by or before a certain time in the
future:
They will have completed their French course by next spring.
When I leave school next June, I will have had English classes for eight years.
How many English books will you have read by that time?

4 The Simple Present used for the future

This tense can be used with a time expression for a definite future arrangement,
timetables, itineraries and schedules:
Catharine starts school on Monday.
The championship ends on August 29th.
The plane takes off at 5:30.
We leave at six, arrive in Dublin at ten and take the plane on…
Although the present continuous can be used for definite future arrangements, the
present simple sounds more formal.

5 The Present Continuous used as a future form

The present continuous can express a definite arrangement in the near future:
I am taking an exam in October. (this implies that I have entered for it)
When using this tense as a future form time must be mentioned, as other wise there
may be confusion between present and future. Also, future cannot be expressed in this
way with the verbs not normally used in the continuous form:
I am meeting him tonight but I will know tonight. Not I am knowing tonight.

6 The be going to form used as a future form

This form, be going to + the full infinitive, is used to express intention and prediction.
When it expresses the speaker’s intention to perform a certain action it is always
premeditated and there is the idea that some preparation for the action has been made.
I am going to meet Tom at the station at six.
But there is a difference between this form and present continuous when they express
future. While
I am meeting Tom at the station
implies that Tom and the speaker have made an arrangement to meet, in the
example:
I am going to meet Tom at the station at six.
means that this is the speaker’s intention only and that Tom may get a
surprise.
When it is used for prediction, this form expresses the speaker’s feeling of
certainty. The time may not be mentioned, but the action is expected to happen in the
near or immediate future:
Look at the sky! It’s going to rain.
Listen to the wind. We’re going to have big waves on the beach.

7 The be + infinitive form

This form expresses some future formal arrangement or a command:
There is to be a meeting at ten.
You are to wait. That is an order.

8 The be about + infinitive form

This construction refers to the immediate future:
The fireworks are about to explode!

Exercises

A Put the verbs in brackets into the right form, either future simple or future
continuous tense

1. Sandra: Where is Tim going to meet us?

Marcus: He (wait) for us when our train arrives. I am sure he (stand) on the platform
when we pull into the station.
Sandra: And then what?
Marcus: We (pick) Michele up at work and go out to dinner.

2. Ted: When we get to the party, Jerry (watch) TV, Sam (make) drinks, Beth (dance)
by herself, and Thad (complain) about his day at work.
Robin: Maybe, this time they won't be doing the same things.
Ted: I am absolutely positive they (do) the same things; they always do the same
things.

3. Florence: Oh, look at that mountain of dirty dishes! Who (wash) all of those?
Jack: I promise I (do) them when I get home from work.
Florence: Thanks.
Jack: When you get home this evening, that mountain will be gone and nice stacks of
sparkling clean dishes (sit) in the cabinets.
4. Doug: If you need to contact me next week, I (stay) at the Hoffman Hotel.
Nancy: I (call) you if there are any problems.
Doug: This is the first time I have ever been away from the kids.
Nancy: Don't worry, they (be) fine.

5. Samantha: Just think, next week at this time, I (lie) on a tropical beach in Maui
drinking Mai Tai's and eating pineapple.
Darren: While you are luxuriating on the beach, I (stress) out over this marketing
project. How are you going to enjoy yourself knowing that I am working so hard.
Samantha: I 'll manage somehow.
Darren: You're terrible. Can't you take me with you?
Samantha: No. But I (send) you a postcard of a beautiful, white-sand beach.
Darren: Great, that (make) me feel much better.
Exercises

A Supply the Future Perfect Tense:

1. Stay here five or ten minutes. The rain ___________ (stop) by then.
2. …he _________ (repair) the bike by five o’clock?
3. They _________ (clean) the room tomorrow before we come to class.
4. You _________ (hear), I expect, that Mary is going to be married.
5. It’s 10 o’clock. They __________ (get) home by now.
6. Before they leave, they __________ (visit) every museum in town.
7. By the end of this month they __________ (open) the new supermarket.
8. If you come this late tomorrow, we __________ (complete) the work alone.
9. By the time you arrive, they ___________ (eat) the whole pie without you.

Exercises (different ways of expressing future)

A Put the verbs in brackets into the right form, either future simple or be going to
form

1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper?

B: I (write) a letter to my friends back home in Texas.
2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up!
B: I (get) you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up.
3. A: I can't hear the television!
B: I (turn) it up so you can hear it.
4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit) Paris, Nice and Grenoble.
5. Sarah (come) to the party. Oliver (be) there as well.
6. A: It is so hot in here!
B: I (turn) the air conditioning on.
7. I think he (be) the next President of the United States.
8. After I graduate, I (attend) medical school and become a doctor. I have wanted to be a
doctor all my life.
9. A: Excuse me, I need to talk to someone about our hotel room. I am afraid it is simply too
small for four people.
B: That man at the service counter (help) you.
10. As soon as the weather clears up, we (walk) down to the beach and go swimming.
B Put the verbs in brackets into the right form, either future simple or be going to
form1:

1. Mark: What are you doing with those scissors?

Beth: I (cut) that picture of the ocean out of the travel magazine.
Mark: What (you, do) with it?
Beth: I (paint) a water colour of the ocean for my art class, and I thought I could use
this photograph as a model.

2. Mark: (You, do) me a favour Sam?

Sam: Sure, what do you want me to do?
Mark: I (change) the broken light bulb in the lamp above the dining room table. I need
someone to hold the ladder for me while I am up there.
Sam: No problem, I (hold) it for you.

3. Gina: Where are you going?

Ted: I (go) to the store to pick up some groceries.
Gina: What (you, get)?
Ted: I (buy) some milk, some bread, and some coffee.

4. John: Wow, it's freezing out there.

Jane: I (make) some coffee to warm us up. Do you want a piece of pie as well?
John: Coffee sounds great! But I (have) dinner with some friends later, so I'd better
skip the pie.
Jane: I (go) to dinner tonight too, but I'm having a piece of pie anyway.

5. Frank: I heard you're taking a Spanish class at the community college.

Tom: Yeah, I (go) to Guatemala next spring and I thought knowing a little Spanish
would make the trip easier.
Frank: I (visit) my brother in Marseilles next year. Maybe I should take a French
class.
Tom: I have a course catalogue in the other room. I (go) get it, and we can see
whether or not they're offering a French course next semester.

6. Michael: Do you think the Republicans or the Democrats (win) the next election?
Jane: I think the Republicans (win) the next election.
John: No way! The Democrats (win).

7. Susan: We (go) camping this weekend. Would you like to come along?
Sam: That sounds great, but I don't have a sleeping bag.
Susan: No problem. I (lend) you one. My family has tons of camping gear.

8. Barbara: I (buy) a new car this weekend, but I'm a little worried because I don't
really know much about cars. I'm afraid the salesman (try) to take advantage of me
when he sees how little I know.
Dave: I used to work for a mechanic in high school and I know a lot about cars. I (go)
with you to make sure you are not cheated.

9. Gina: Fred and I (visit) Santa Fe next summer. Have you ever been there?
1
Exercises B, C and D are taken from www.englishpage.com, Verb Tense Tutorial.
Margaret: My family lives in Santa Fe! I (give) you my parents' phone number. When
you get to Santa Fe, just call them and they (give) you a little tour of the town. They
can show you some of the sights that most tourists never see.

10. Pam: Can you see my future in the crystal ball? What (happen) next year?
Fortune Teller: You (meet) a man from the East Coast, perhaps New York or maybe
Boston. You (marry) that mystery man.
Pam: Forget the man! I want to know if I (get) a new job.
Exercises

A Put the verbs in brackets into the right form, either simple present or future simple
tense2:

1. Today after I (get) out of class, I (go) to a movie with some friends.
2. When you (arrive) in Stockholm, call my friend Gustav. He (show) you around the
city and help you get situated.
3. A: Do you know what you want to do after you (graduate)?
B: After I (receive) my Master's from Georgetown University, I (go) to graduate
school at UCSD in San Diego. I (plan) to complete a Ph.D. in cognitive science.
4. If it (snow) this weekend, we (go) skiing near Lake Tahoe.
5. Your father (plan) to pick you up after school today at 3:00 o'clock. He (meet) you
across the street near the ice cream shop. If something happens and he cannot be
there, I (pick) you up instead.
6. If the people of the world (stop, not) cutting down huge stretches of rain forest, we
(experience) huge changes in the environment during the twenty-first century.
7. If Vera (keep) drinking, she (lose, eventually) her job.
8. I promise you that I (tell, not) your secret to anybody. Even if somebody (ask) me
about what happened that day, I (reveal, not) the truth to a single person.
9. She (make) some major changes in her life. She (quit) her job and go back to
school. After she (finish) studying, she (get) a better paying job and buy a house.
She is going to improve her life!
10. Tom (call) when he (arrive) in Madrid. He (stay) with you for two or three days
until his new apartment (be) available.

C Put the verbs in brackets into the right form: the simple present, future simple,
present continuous or future continuous tense3:

1. Right now I am watching T.V. Tomorrow at this time, I (watch) __________ T.V.
as well.
2. Tomorrow after school, I (go)__________ to the beach.
3. I am going on a dream vacation to Tahiti. While you (do) __________ paperwork
and (talk) __________ to annoying customers on the phone, I (lie) __________ on a
sunny, tropical beach. Are you jealous?
4. We (hiding) __________ when Tony (arrives) __________ at his surprise party. As
soon as he opens the door, we (jump) __________ out and (scream) __________ ,
"Surprise!"
5. We work out at the fitness centre everyday after work. If you (come) __________
2
The exercise is taken from www.englishpage.com, Verb Tense Tutorial.
3
Exercises C and d are taken from www.englishpage.com, Cumulative verb tense review, Verb tense
practice test.
over while we (work) __________ out, we will not be able to let you into the house.
Just to be safe, we (leave) __________ a key under the welcome mat so you will not
have to wait outside.
6. While you (study) __________ at home, Magda (be) __________ in class.
7. When I (get) __________ to the party, Sally and Doug (dance) __________ , John
(make) __________ drinks, Sue and Frank (discuss) __________ something
controversial, and Mary (complain) __________ about something unimportant. They
are always doing the same things. They are so predictable.
8. When you (get) __________off the plane, I (wait) __________ for you.
9. I am sick of rain and bad weather! Hopefully, when we (wake) __________ up
tomorrow morning, the sun (shine) __________ .
10. If you (need) __________ to contact me sometime next week, I (stay)
__________ at the Sheraton in San Francisco.