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SUMMARY-future Tenses

The document outlines various future tenses in English, including Future Simple, Future Perfect, Future Perfect Continuous, Future Progressive, and the use of 'be going to', Present Progressive, and Present Simple for future events. Each tense is explained with examples illustrating their specific uses, such as predictions, plans, and fixed arrangements. It also compares different forms to clarify their distinctions in meaning and usage.

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16 views4 pages

SUMMARY-future Tenses

The document outlines various future tenses in English, including Future Simple, Future Perfect, Future Perfect Continuous, Future Progressive, and the use of 'be going to', Present Progressive, and Present Simple for future events. Each tense is explained with examples illustrating their specific uses, such as predictions, plans, and fixed arrangements. It also compares different forms to clarify their distinctions in meaning and usage.

Uploaded by

Naty
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Summary: Future Tenses

 SHALL – WILL (FUTURE SIMPLE) shall/will + infinitive verb


- For predictions about the future based on what we think, believe or imagine; with
expressions such as be sure, be afraid; adverbs like probably, certainly, perhaps:
I think the Conservatives will win the next election.
I’m sure he’ll call soon.
I’m afraid we’ll run out of time.
We shall need an extra bedroom when the new baby arrives.
It’ll be sunny tomorrow.

- For decisions made at the moment of speaking:


I’m tired. I’ll go to bed.

- In the main clause of adverbial clauses of condition and time:


If the weather is nice tomorrow, we’ll go on a picnic.
When I arrive home, I’ll call you.

- For promises, requests, refusals, offers, orders, threats:


I promise I won’t tell this anyone.
We shall contact you again when we have further information.
I’ll help you with your homework.
Will you help me with my homework?
I won’t help you with your homework.

- For unpreventable actions in the future (things which we cannot control; future as
fact):
Winter will come soon.
I shall/will be twenty next month.

- Shall Shall I / we: It is usually used to make suggestions or offers rather than
to refer to future time:
It’s getting late. Shall we go home?
Shall I invite Louisa and Jill to the party?
It is used in a pure future sense with passive verbs:
Shall I / we be asked to do this activity again?
It is used in a pure future sense with verbs denoting actions or
events which do not depend on the speaker for their performance.
Shall I / we see you again?

 FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE will/shall have + past participle verb


- For an action / event that will have happened, or will be relevant by a certain
time in the future:
At the end of this month, they will have been in their house for one year.
Next month I will have worked for the company for six years.
Won’t she have retired by the end of the year? (more common than Will she not
have retired?)
Do you think she’ll have seen the doctor by four o’clock?

 FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS will/shall have been + -ing verb

- For an action / event that has been repeated or carried on continuously since some
previous moment up to a moment in the future (we want to emphasise the length or
duration of an activity or event, and the action may or may not stop at the future
time):
I will have been studying English for three years by the end of this course.
In September the head teacher will have been teaching at the school for 20
years.

 FUTURE PROGRESSIVE will/shall be + -ing verb

- For temporary actions and events that will be in progress at a particular time in
the future:
This time next week, I’ll be taking photographs with my new camera.
She won’t be working on Tuesday.
They will be visiting Rome during the summer.

- For events / actions that will happen as a matter of course, i.e. independently of the
intention or will of anyone concerned:
I’ll post your letter for you. I’ll be passing a post-box.

 BE GOING TO am/is/are + going to + infinitive verb

- For predictions when we can see the cause of the event:


I can see you are going to have a baby. When is it due?
Look out! There’s a bus coming! It’s going to hit us!
You’re not going to do all this in an hour. There’s just too much to do.

- For the future culmination of a present intention:


I’m going to wait here until you have finished.
The children are going to watch a film this evening.

 PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
- For plans or fixed arrangements, especially social and travel arrangements (used
with a time expression):
We are having a birthday party next Friday.
Sorry. I can’t help you tomorrow. I’m leaving in the morning.
Are you going to Maggie’s party tonight?

- As an excuse:
I’m sorry. I wish I could join you this evening, but I’m meeting an old friend of mine.

 PRESENT SIMPLE

- For future events which are based on a timetable, programme or calendar (used
with a time expression):
My train leaves at 11.30 tomorrow morning.

- In subordinate clauses of time with the time expressions when, until, after, as soon
as:
When we get home, we’ll have dinner.

The present perfect tense can also be used instead of the present simple tense
when the completion of the event is emphasised:
When we have had a rest, we’ll go out.

COMPARE:
- Be going to and simple future (for predictions):
Our economy is going to collapse. (The speaker has evidence to say it: shops are
closed; Banks aren’t working; etc.)

It will be hard to build a strong economy again. (This is what the speaker thinks or
believes.

- Present continuous and be going to (for plans):


I’m doing some gardening tomorrow morning. (The speaker has already made
plans to do this tomorrow.)

I’m going to do some gardening tomorrow morning. (This is the speaker’s


intention.)

- Present continuous and simple present (for plans):


The directors are meeting tomorrow at 10 a.m. (This plan may be changed.)
They meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. (This plan will not be cancelled or altered.)

- Be to + infinitive, present continuous and simple present (for plans):


The President is to open a new hospital tomorrow. (The plan hasn’t been made by
the President; someone else made the plan.)

The President is opening a new hospital tomorrow. (The plan may be changed.)
The President opens a new hospital tomorrow. (The plan will not be cancelled.)
If we omitted the adverb “tomorrow”, only the first sentence would refer to the
future (the second sentence would refer to an action that is taking place at the time
of speaking, and the third one would refer to a habitual action).

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