Future tenses 1Back to online samples page

In these sentences you have to choose one of the future tenses given to express the future correctly. Then click the check button to see if you are right.

1. Hi! I'm just calling to find out what ____ on Tuesday evening, because I've got two tickets for the big football game.

you'll do

you're going to do

you're doing

2. ____ the washing up for me tonight? After all, I've done it every day this week.

Will you do

Are you going to do

Are you doing

3. Call me again at six o'clock. I think ____ fixing your car by then.

I'm finishing

I'll have finished

I'll finish

4. Just think! This time next week ____ on a beautiful beach in the Caribbean sun. I can't wait.

we'll be lying

we'll lie

we're going to lie

5. According to the timetable the next train ____ at 11.30. That gives us half an hour, so let's have a coffee.

leaves

is about to leave

will have left

6. Those dark clouds are coming this way. Pack everything away in the car. ____.

It'll rain

It's raining

It's going to rain

7. Don't disturb me this afternoon because ____ some important contracts with our partners.

I'll be discussing

I discuss

I'll discuss

8. I doubt if there's any point in asking Dad if we can use the car. He ____ us the keys after we took them last time without telling him.

isn't giving

doesn't give

won't give

9. I know that ____ married some day, but I just haven't met the right person yet.

I'm getting

I'll get

I get

10. We have to deal with this problem before it ____ too difficult to sort out.

will become

is going to

becomes

© Marc Loewenthal, eflworksheets.com, 2000-2002

Expressions of future tenseLanguages can employ various strategies to convey future tense meaning. The future can be a simple tense, meaning that verbs can be inflected, or conjugated, to indicate future tense. For instance, Italian has a simple future tense:

present parlo "I talk, I am talking" vs. future parlerò "I will talk"

The future can also be a compound tense, or an analytical structure involving the main verb and an auxiliary verb. The English future tense using the tense auxiliary will is an example of a compound future tense. Across languages, the auxiliary verbs used to mark future tense often include verbs originally meaning "come", "go", "have", "take" "love", or "want" (the origin of English will).[1] The auxiliary+verb sequence can eventually become grammaticalized into a single word form, leading to reanalysis as a simple future tense. This is in fact the origin of the future tense in Western Romance languages like Italian (see below).

In some languages, there is no special morphological or syntactic indication of future tense, and future meaning is supplied by the context, for example by the use of temporal adverbs like "later", "next year", etc. Such adverbs (in particular words meaning "tomorrow" and "then") can also develop into grammaticalized future tense markers.

A given language can exhibit more than one strategy for expressing future tense. Also, the verb forms used for the future tense can also be used to express other types of meaning.

[edit] Future tense in EnglishIn English, as in most Germanic languages, there is no simple future tense. Futurity is expressed either by using words that imply future action ("I go to Berlin tomorrow.") or by employing an auxiliary construction that combines certain present tense verbs with the stem of the verb which represents the true action of the sentence.

The tradition that English has a future tense traces to the period of 300 years, from 1066 to about 1350, when Anglo-Norman was the official language of England. Norman, unlike English, is a Romance language; and the Romance languages, unlike Germanic languages, do have a simple future tense.

The most common auxiliary verbs used to express futurity are will, should, can, may, and must. Of these, "will" is the most neutral and it is the most commonly used. "Should" implies obligation or commitment to the action contemplated. "Can" implies the ability to commit the action but does not presuppose obligation or firm commitment to the action. "May" expresses the least sense of commitment and is the most permissive; it is also a verb used in the auxiliary construction that suggests conditionality. "Must," by contrast, expresses the highest degree of obligation and commitment ("I must go") and is temporally nearest to present time in its expression of futurity ("I must go now.")

To wit:

I shall/will go I should go I can go I may go I must go

To express futurity in the negative, a negative adverb - such as "not" or "never" is inserted after the auxiliary verb, as in all other auxiliary constructions.

I shall/will not go I should never go I cannot go I may never go I must not go

In all of these, action within a future range of time is contemplated. But in all cases, the sentences are actually voiced in the present tense, since there is no proper future tense in English. It is the implication of futurity that makes these present tense auxiliary constructions amount to a compound future quasi-tense.

Note that some commentators, especially in England, prefer that the first person, whether 'I' or 'we' decline with 'shall' as the auxiliary and that the other two persons decline with 'will'. This does not describe, nor has it ever described, common usage anywhere in the world, although there are people who follow it. [2] It was originally suggested in Chambers's 17th century grammar.

This reality, that expression of futurity in English is a function of the present tense, is born out by the ability to negate the implication of futurity without making any change to the auxiliary construction. When a verbal construction that suggests futurity (such as "I shall go") is subsequently followed by information that establishes a condition or presupposition, or the active verb stem itself contradicts a future indicative application of the construction, then any sense of future tense is negated - especially when the auxiliary will is used within its literal meaning, which is to voluntarily 'will' an action. For example:

Person A says: "You will go now. You will not stay." Person B answers: "I shall go nowhere. I will stay."

The second 'will', in B's response, is not only expressing volition here but is being used in contradistinction to the usual first person 'shall' in order to achieve emphasis. Similarly, in the case of the second and third persons, 'will' operates with 'shall' in reverse.

For example:

A: Will he be at the café at six o'clock? B: He will be there. [Normal affirmation] BUT B: He shall be there.

[Stresses that this is not the usual pattern that was previously established or to be expected (Last time he was late or did not show up)]

Additional auxiliary constructions used to express futurity are labelled as follows:

Future Continuous: Auxiliary + Verb Stem + Present Participle

I shall/will be going You will be singing He will be sleeping We may be coming They may be travelling It will be snowing when Nancy arrives It will not be raining when Josie leaves

Future Perfect: Auxiliary + Verb Stem + Past Participle

I shall/will be gone You will have sung He will have slept We may have come ("We may be come" can still be used poetically, but it is

obsolete in speech) They may have travelled It will have snowed It will not have rained

Future Perfect Habitual (or Future Perfect Continuous): Auxiliary + Verb Stem + Past Participle + Present Participle

I shall/will have been going You will have been singing He will have been sleeping We may have been coming They may have been travelling

It will have been snowing It will not have been raining

Learn English Through Pictures

Picture This - The Tenses Illustrated

Present Tenses | Past Tenses | Future Tenses | Examples

The Present TensesPresent Simple

Present Simple Used to say what

someone usually

does

I always study English on Tuesday.

Present Progressive/Continuous

Present Progressive Used to say what

someone is doing

now

I am studying English now

Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Simple

Used to show

unfinished time

I have studied English twice this week.

Present Perfect Progressive/Continuous

Present Perfect Progressive

Used to say how

long someone has

been doing

something.

I have been studying English for 2 years.

I have been studying English since 1997.

The Past Tenses

Simple Past

Simple Past  Used to show a

completed action

I studied English last Saturday.

Past Progressive/Continuous

Past Progressive Often used to say

when something

was being done or

what was

happening when

something else

happened

I was studying English last Monday when

my friend rang.

I was studying English at 5pm last

Monday.

Past Perfect Simple

Past Perfect Simple The past of have

done.  Used to say

when something

was done by.

I had done my English homework by 6.30

pm last Saturday.

I had done my English homework by the time I ate dinner last Saturday.

Past Perfect Progressive/Continuous

Past Perfect Progressive

The past of have

been. Used to

show how long

I'd been doing my English homework for

30 minutes when my friend rang last

something was

done for by a

certain time.

Saturday.

I'd been doing my English homework for

30 minutes by 1 pm last Saturday.

The Future Tenses

The future can be indicated in several different ways in English. It is often created with the

use of auxiliaries: "She will be a student.", "She is going to drive a new car."

English can even create the future by using the simple present (used for

timetables,programs etc.), "The train arrives at 10pm" or the present progressive (used for

future plans), "He is collecting his mother from the station tonight."

Simple Future (uses will or shall or going to + base form)

Simple Future (Some uncertainty)

Decide to do

something at the

time of speaking

I think I'll do my English homework tonight.

Simple Future (Certain)

Have already

decided or

I am going to study English next Saturday.

arranged to do

something

Future Progressive/Continous (uses will be, shall be or going to be +-ing form)

Future Progressive (Some uncertainty)

The English

lesson should begin at 7.30 and

end at 9.15, so

the person

should be

studying at 7.30

(but the lesson

might start late).

I will be starting my English lesson at 7.30 pm.

Future Progressive (Certain)

The English

lesson begins at

7.30 and ends at

9.15, so he's

certain to be

studying when his

friend arrives at

8.00 

I am going to be studying English when my friends

arrive at 9.00 pm.

Future Perfect Simple (uses will have or shall have + past participle)

Future Perfect Simple

Used to say

something will

already be

complete by a

I will have already done my English homework by

the time I eat dinner on Saturday.

time.

Future Perfect Progressive/Continuous (uses will have been or shall have been + -ing form)

Future Perfect Progressive

Used to say how

long something

will have been

happening in the

future by a certain

time.

I will have been studying English for 30 minutes

when my friends arrive.

Some Examples

To break

To build

To buy

To drive

To eat

To grow

To make

To teach

To wear

 

October 1999Revised: March 2007

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Simple Future

Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.

FORM Will

[will + verb]

Examples:

You will help him later.

Will you help him later?

You will not help him later.

FORM Be Going To

[am/is/are + going to + verb]

Examples:

You are going to meet Jane tonight.

Are you going to meet Jane tonight?

You are not going to meet Jane tonight.

Complete List of Simple Future Forms

USE 1 "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action

"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often, we use "will" to respond to someone else's complaint or request for help. We also use "will" when we request that someone help us or volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily do something.

Examples:

I will send you the information when I get it.

I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.

Will you help me move this heavy table?

Will you make dinner?

I will not do your homework for you.

I won't do all the housework myself!

A: I'm really hungry.B: I'll make some sandwiches.

A: I'm so tired. I'm about to fall asleep.B: I'll get you some coffee.

A: The phone is ringing.B: I'll get it.

USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise

"Will" is usually used in promises.

Examples:

I will call you when I arrive.

If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.

I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.

Don't worry, I'll be careful.

I won't tell anyone your secret.

USE 3 "Be going to" to Express a Plan

"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future. It does not matter whether the plan is realistic or not.

Examples:

He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.

She is not going to spend her vacation in Hawaii.

A: When are we going to meet each other tonight?B: We are going to meet at 6 PM.

I'm going to be an actor when I grow up.

Michelle is going to begin medical school next year.

They are going to drive all the way to Alaska.

Who are you going to invite to the party?

A: Who is going to make John's birthday cake?B: Sue is going to make John's birthday cake.

USE 4 "Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction

Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions are guesses about what might happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the following examples, there is no difference in meaning.

Examples:

The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.

The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting year.

John Smith will be the next President.

John Smith is going to be the next President.

The movie "Zenith" will win several Academy Awards.

The movie "Zenith" is going to win several Academy Awards.

IMPORTANT

In the Simple Future, it is not always clear which USE the speaker has in mind. Often, there is more than one way to interpret a sentence's meaning.

No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Simple Future, Simple Present is used.

Examples:

When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Not Correct

When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

You will never help him.

Will you ever help him?

You are never going to meet Jane.

Are you ever going to meet Jane?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

John will finish the work by 5:00 PM. ACTIVE

The work will be finished by 5:00 PM. PASSIVE

Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. ACTIVE

A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight. PASSIVE

More About Active / Passive Forms

EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS

Verb Tense Exercise 18 Will and Be Going to

Verb Tense Exercise 19 Will and Be Going to

Verb Tense Exercise 20 Will and Be Going to

Verb Tense Exercise 21 Simple Present and Simple Future

Verb Tense Exercise 22 Simple Present and Simple Future

Verb Tense Exercise 23 Simple Future and Future Continuous

Verb Tense Exercise 24 Simple Present, Simple Future, Present Continuous, and Future Continuous

Verb Tense Practice Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review

Verb Tense Final Test Cumulative Verb Tense Review

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples:

The train leaves tonight at 6 PM. The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM. When do we board the plane? The party starts at 8 o'clock. When does class begin tomorrow?

Future Simple Verb TenseThere are a few different ways to state future actions or future events.

1. Present Continuous Verb Tense is used to state future events or actions when it is clearly stated or understood that the action or event is in the future.

o to describe planes that have be arranged before the time of speaking.

We are traveling to Europe in a few weeks. The girls taking the S.A.T. next week.

o the present continuous verb tense is used an informal actions or events

We are planning to watch T. V. tonight.

The girls are singing on Friday night at the local club.

o is used to for personal information I am finishing my doctorate degree next year. We are moving to a new house next week.

o it is not used for official purposes o the subject of the sentence must be a person, not a thing o the present continuous tense can't be used to predict a

future event or action, based on a present event or action.

o static verbs are not used 2. Present Continuous Verb Tense with "going to" is used:

o to emphases the "intention" of a planned future action or a planed future event.

We are going to travel to the United States in a few days.

The girls are going out tonight. o can be used to predict a future event or

action, based on a present event or action We are moving to New York in a few

days, we are going to be very busy until for the next few weeks.

Mary is graduating collage next week, we are going to her graduation ceremony.

o actions or events that are obviously going to occur.

The table leg looks very weak. The table is going to fall any minute.

It is very dark outside, it is going to rain soon.

o When the present continuous tense is used with "going to" it is understood that event or action is in the future.

o static verbs are not used 3. Future Simple Verb Tense is used:

o to make decisions that are made at the time of speaking We will eat dinner today at 6:00PM We will clean your room this week.

o to state desire or willingness for something or someone The girls will be happy to go on holiday for a few

weeks. I will be happy to help you today.

o to state a fact about the future My teacher will be happy, the whole class passed

the test.

The phone bill will be very very high, my father will be very upset.

o to predicate a future event or action I think it will rain this afternoon. My sister will be a great teacher.

o to make a formal statement about a future action or event

The president will make a public announcement on Tuesday at 8:00PM.

The school will be closed for a few days. o to make suggestions or state ideas

We will be happy drive you to the store.

Will we go to the store tonight or tomorrow morning.

o to make a request Will you come with me to the store? You will do your homework now.

What is the structure of the future simple verb tense?

Subject

Auxiliary Verb

Main Verb

-

- - Will

- Verb in the base

fo

m

How to build sentences using the future simple verb tense.

The auxiliary verb "will" is used with the future simple verb tense.

The base form of the main verb is always used. For negative sentences "not" is added between the auxiliary

verb "will" and the main verb. See chart. For questions the auxiliary verb "will" comes before the subject.

See chart.

Positive Sentences Examples:

I will be at school to today. They will go to the doctor tomorrow. My dog will come home this evening. Your coffee will be cold if you don't drink it. The girls will be home at ten.

Negative Sentences

Examples:

I will not be at school to today. They will not go to the doctor tomorrow. My dog will not come home this evening. Your coffee will not be hot if you don't drink it. The girls will not be home at ten o'clock.

Questions

Examples:

Will I have time to go to the store? Will you be home next week? Will your friends help you clean your room latter? Will there be hot water when I come home tonight? Will someone buy some milk and cheese?

The future simple verb tense "going to" is used in the following situations:

1. Planed events - When a future event that has been planed before the time of speaking.

o I am going to Mexico in a few days. o We are not going to work next week. o They are going to university next year.

2. Predictions - To make a future prediction based on facts. o There is going to be a really big storm in a few hours. o The test next week is going to be really hard. o The puppies are cute. I am sure someone is going to

adapt them. 3. Intentions - To state the something that is intended to take

place in the future, in informal conversations. o I am going to be a rich person someday. o We are going to pass the test. o The puppies are going to make a big mess in house.

The future continuous verb tense is used to:

1. to emphasize an action or an event that will be in progress at sometime in the future.

o Next week we will be sking in the mountains. o Tomorrow my parents are coming to visit out

new house. 2. for events or activity's that are planned for a future time. 3. the specific time of the future event or the future activity can be

stated. 4. the approximate time of the future event or the future activity

can be stated ed. 5. the time of an future event or the future activity doesn't have to

be stated. 6. The present continues tense is used unplanned future events.

7. "Will" is used to state desire to do something. 8. The difference between "will" to state desire and "will" used with

the future continues tense: o "Will be" is used with the future continues

tense. o "Will" used without "be" is used to state

desire. o "Will can also be used with the present

continuous tense to state an unplanned event or action. When "will is used with the present contentious tense "will" is followed by the verb + -ing.

9. The present continues tense with "going to" and the future continues tense can be used interchangeable.

The future simple perfect verb tense is used:1. The future simple perfect verb tense often used with "by" and

"not", "for" and "until" to state that the action or event will be completed at time in the future.

2. The future simple perfect verb tense is used to state an action that occurs into the future until a later time in the future.

3. To state an event or action that will finish before an other action event in the future.

Rules for using the future simple perfect verb tense:

1. The future simple perfect verb tense is used for actions that are non continuous.

2. A specific time is usually stated or is understood. 3. It is common to use the future simple perfect verb tense to

clarify the order of 2 future events. 4. The future simple perfct verb tense can't be used with "time

claueses" such as when, while, "by the time", soon, before, after, if, unless, until etc.

5. The future simple pefect verb tense is also known as the "future perfect verb tense".

6. The future period of time if usually states : o next year o next week o next month etc. o the exact came can be stated o the approximate can can be stated

Examples:

1. We will have worked at the school 25 years next week.

2. My brother will be tired when he gets here, because he will have fl owen 12 hours.

The Future Tenses

The future can be indicated in several different ways in English. It is often created with the

use of auxiliaries: "She will be a student.", "She is going to drive a new car."

English can even create the future by using the simple present (used for

timetables,programs etc.), "The train arrives at 10pm" or the present progressive (used for

future plans), "He is collecting his mother from the station tonight."

Simple Future (uses will or shall or going to + base form)

Simple Future (Some uncertainty)

Decide to do

something at the

time of speaking

I think I'll do my English homework tonight.

Simple Future (Certain)

Have already

decided or

arranged to do

something

I am going to study English next Saturday.

Future Progressive/Continous (uses will be, shall be or going to be +-ing form)

Future Progressive (Some uncertainty)

The English

lesson should I will be starting my English lesson at 7.30 pm.

begin at 7.30 and

end at 9.15, so

the person

should be

studying at 7.30

(but the lesson

might start late).

Future Progressive (Certain)

The English

lesson begins at

7.30 and ends at

9.15, so he's

certain to be

studying when his

friend arrives at

8.00 

I am going to be studying English when my friends

arrive at 9.00 pm.

Future Perfect Simple (uses will have or shall have + past participle)

Future Perfect Simple

Used to say

something will

already be

complete by a

time.

I will have already done my English homework by

the time I eat dinner on Saturday.

Future Perfect Progressive/Continuous (uses will have been or shall have been + -ing form)

Future Perfect Used to say how I will have been studying English for 30 minutes

Progressive long something

will have been

happening in the

future by a certain

time.

when my friends arrive.