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THE FUTURE IN ENGLISH

1) Use

will-future going to-future Present Simple Present

Continuous Future Continuous Future Perfect

prediction,

assumption;

spontaneous action;

action happens

without the speaker's

intention

planned action in the

future;

logical consequence

(sth. is going to

happen)

future action is fixed

(e.g. timetable,

calendar)

planned action in

the near future with

a reference to a

future time.

action will definitely happen

(it usually happens)

sth. will already have

happened before a certain

time in the future

There is often very little difference between the future tenses. It often depends where you live (in Britain or the USA) and when you use the

sentence (in spoken or written communication). In newspapers we often use the will-future, when the going to-future is used in oral communication.

A written report: The headmaster will close the old gym.

Oral: The headmaster is going to close the old gym.

We can substitute the going to-future with the Present Progressive when using an expression of time.

She is going to meet Frank at the airport at 8.30. She is meeting Frank at the airport at 8.30.

2) Signal words

There are no signal words that easily identify the future tenses. That's why you must understand and apply the different uses of each tense to each different circumstance.

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3) Form

will-future going to-future Present Simple Present Continuous Future Continuous Future Perfect

will + infinitive

to be

(am, are, is)

+going

to +infinitive

infinitive

3rd person singular

(he, she,

it)infinitive + -s

to be

(am, are, is)

+infinitive + -ing

will + be +infinitive + -ing will + have + past participle

4) Examples

will-future going to-future Present Simple Present Continuous Future Continuous Future Perfect

4-1 Affirmative sentences

He will carry this

bag for you.

We are going to

fly to Leeds in

summer.

The train leaves at

6.45.

I am going to a party

tonight.

They will be playing football

on Sunday afternoon.

She will have written the

letter by tomorrow.

will-future going to-future Present Simple Present

Continuous Future Continuous Future Perfect

4-2 Negative sentences

He will not carry

this bag for you.

We are not going

to fly to Leeds in

summer.

The train does

notleave at 6.45.

I am not going to a

party tonight.

They will not be

playing football on Sunday

afternoon.

She will not have

written the letter by

tomorrow.

will-future going to-future Present Simple Present

Continuous Future Continuous Future Perfect

4-3 Questions

Will he carry this

bag for you?

Are we going

tofly to Leeds in

summer?

Does the train

leave at 6.45?

Am I going to a

party tonight?

Will they be playing football

on Sunday afternoon.

Will she have written the

letter by tomorrow.

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THE FUTURE SIMPLE

Use

1) Future actions happen without the speaker's intention

The sun will shine tomorrow.

2)Subjective Predictions, assumptions: personal predictions which

are not based on external factors.

I think Sue will arrive in Paris at 6 pm.

3) Spontaneous actions

Hang on! I'll have a word with you.

4) Expressing possibility, probability, uncertainty, promises

Man will probably settle on other planets

I’m not sure where I will have lunch.

We promise that we will help to clean the house.

Signal words no clear unambiguous words which differentiate the use of the future

simple

Form

will + infinitive

Examples

Affirmative sentences:

He will play football.

He'll play football.

Negative sentences:

He will not play football.

He won't play football. or He'll not play football.

Questions:

Will he play football? – Yes, he will/No, he won’t

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GOING TO

Use

1) planned actions in the future

We are going to sing at the party.

2) You are certain that sth. is going to happen in the

future. (OBJECTIVE PREDICTIONS)

Look at that car! It is going to crash into the yellow one.

Signal words

no unambiguous ones

Form

to be (am, are, is) + going to + infinitive

Examples

Affirmative sentences:

I am going to play handball.

I'm going to play handball.

You are going to play handball.

You're going to play handball.

Negative sentences:

I am not going to play handball.

I'm not going to play handball.

You are not going to play handball.

You're not going to play handball.

You aren't going to play handball.

Questions:

Am I going to play handball? Are you going to play handball?

ATTENTION!!

Do not mix up with the Present Continuous!

going to-future Present Continuous

He's going to run in the marathon. He's running in the marathon next Sunday.

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EXERCISES

Use the verbs in brackets in the correct future tenses – will-future, going to-future, Present Simple Present or Present Continuous. There may be more

than one correct answer.

1. The train .......................................................................at 11:45. (to leave)

2. We ...........................................................................dinner at a nice restaurant on Saturday. (to have)

3. It ............................................................................... in the mountains tomorrow evening. (to snow)

4. On Sunday at 8 o'clock I .........................................................................................my friend. (to meet)

5. They .......................................................................... to London on Friday evening. (to fly)

6. Wait! I ...................................................... you to the station. (to drive)

7. The English lesson .........................................................at 8:45. (to start)

8. I .............................................................my sister in April. (to see)

9. Look at the clouds - it ...................................................... in a few minutes. (to rain)

10. Listen! There's someone at the door. I ............................................................. the door for you. (to open)

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Complete the sentences for situations in the future. Decide which tense you need to use. There may be more than one answer in some cases.

1. Aaron is carrying two tyres – he (change) ............................................. the tyres on a car.

2. Next week (be) ............................the beginning of winter and the weather forecast says that there(be) .............................. snow

tomorrow.

3. That’s why many of the garage’s customers have made an appointment and (call in) ......................................... today to get

their winter tyres.

4. By the end of the day, Aaron (repair) ....................................................... about 80 tyres. (Future Perfect)

5. He (be/probably) .................................................... tired after that.

6. It’s a lot of work for one day, but his customers promise that next year they (have) .......................................... their tyres changed earlier.

7. That’s what they always say, but they(forget/surely) ..................................................................... about it by next year.

8. Some customers have agreed that they(pick up) ......................................................... their cars tomorrow.

9. They have decided to go home by bus, which(stop) ...................................................... in front of the garage every hour.

Put the verbs into the correct form (will, going to, present simple or present continuous).

1. I love London. I (probably / go) ................................................... there next year.

2. Our train (leave) ……………………………………………….. at 4:47.

3. What (wear / you) ........................................................... at the party tonight?

4. I haven't made up my mind yet. But I think I (search) ............................................ for a nice restaurant to celebrate my birthday.

5. This is my last day here. I (go) .......................................................... back to England tomorrow.

6. Hurry up! The conference (begin) ..................................................... in 20 minutes.

7. My horoscope says that I (meet) ...................................................... an old friend this week.

8. Look at these big black clouds! It (rain) ………………………………………………… .

9. Here is the weather forecast. Tomorrow (be) ................................................... dry and sunny.