Future Simple Tense

Basic form:
Affirmative: Subject + will + VerbI (present form)
Interrogative: Will + Subject + Verb I?
Negative: Subject + will + Verb I.
Examples:
 I will clean up my room. I promise!
 The telephone is ringing. I will pick it up!
 I think it will rain.
 Will you come to the party?
 They won’t arrive on time.

Shall is a modal verb that has a similar meaning to will. It's mainly used in the
British English for the first person.
You may use shall in the context of:
 a voluntary offer of help ("Shall I do the washing up?")
 an unavoidable and undesired course of action (Oh dear, the car won't
start. I suppose I shall have to take the bus.")
 asking opinions ("Shall I wear this dress?"),
 a formal commitment ("We shall cut taxes to stimulate the economy")
 as a threat or warning ("If you don't stop pinching Mary I shall tell your
mother")
 even in a prediction ("I wonder what I shall be when I grow up?)
You should never use it in a deduction, though.
 That will be my mother calling to see if I have left yet.
American English would eliminate the "shall" in the above examples and use
"Can I do the dishes for you?," "I'll have to take the bus," and "will" in the other
examples, as well.
Contracted forms;
One mention regarding contraction in L. G. Alexander ( 2001, 178) shall does
not contract to ‘ll in writing in contrast with will that does.
WILL = 'LL
 She'll dance = she will dance

WILL + NOT = WON'T

 She won't dance = she will not dance

Affirmative:

Auxiliary
Subject Verb
verb
+ +
e.g. I/a dog e.g.
will
etc. work/go/make

Interrogative:

Auxiliary
Subject Verb
verb
+ +
e.g. I/a dog e.g.
will
etc. work/go/make

Negative:

Auxiliary
Subject Verb
verb
+ +
e.g. I/a dog e.g.
will not
etc. work/go/make

Remember, we should never use will to say what somebody has already
arranged or decided to do in the future:
 Correct: Mike is moving to New Jersey next month.
 Incorrect: Mike will move to New Jersey next month.
Other examples:
 I think he will regret his choice. (Use 3)
 I will come back at 10 p.m. (Use 1)
 If you will keep your watch half an hour slow it is hardly surprising that
you are late for your appointments. (Use 4)
  John will keep dropping his towel on the floor after a bath. (Use 4)
 I will visit my grandma at hospital. (Use 1 or Use 2)
 Let's buy the snacks at the supermarket — it will be cheaper that way.
(Use 3)
We often use "will" with:

probably, most likely I'll probably drop in on uncle.

I think This gift is great. I think we'll love it.

It's not going to be boring there. I'm sure there will

I'm sure
be a lot of boys at your age

I wonder (if, what,

It's a bit late. I wonder if he'll come.
when, etc.)

I haven't seen Matthew today. I expect he'll call

I expect
today.

Definition:
The Future Simple is used in many situations such as when making promises or
predictions. On www.englishtenses.com we can fiind explanations regarding
ways of expressing future and future tense usage.
Use:
1. Promises
2. Unplanned actions
3. Planned actions
4. Predictions based on experience or intuition
5. Habits (obstinate insistence, usually habitual)
6. Hopes, expectations
7. If clauses
 Use 1: Promises
The first use of the Future Simple to make promises.
 I promise I will buy you this toy.
 Promise you will never leave me!

Use 2: Unplanned actions

Use this tense also to talk about unplanned (spontaneous) decisions.
 Don't worry! I will help you with this problem.
 I will close the window. It's starting to rain.

Use 3: planned actions

We use will in formal style for scheduled events and it is preferred to be going
to, particularly in the written language.
 The wedding will take place at St Andrew’s

Use 4: Predictions
We often use the Future Simple when making a prediction based on experience
or intuition.
 It will rain in a moment.
 It will get more difficult.
Accordingly to alexander L.G. (2001, 178) when we use will/shall for simple
prediction they combine with verbs to form tenses in the ordinary way.
 Simple future: I will see.
 Future progressive: I will be seeing.
 Future perfect: I will have seen.
 Future perfect progressive: i will have been seeing.

Use 5: Habits
The last use of this tense is interesting: we can also use the Future Simple to
express habits.
 She will bit her lip if she is thinking or if she's nervous about something.
 He will always make noise when we are sleeping.
Shall
You can also use shall to express future in Future Simple. It is more formal than
will, and usually appears in formal speeches, agreements or guarantees.
Examples:
 The guarantee shall be provided on the following conditions: (...)
 We shall never surrender!

Use 6: hopes, expectations:

The future is often used after verbs like hope, think, suppose, be afraid and also
the present with a future reference is possible after hope ( L.G.Alexander,
2001,179)
 I hope she’ll get the job she’s applied for.
 I hope she gets the job she’s applied for.
Use 7: if clauses
It is used in conditionals, clauses of time of purposes.
 If I drop this glass it will break.
 I’m putting this letter on top so that he’ll read it first.

Time adverbials
Some adverbials like tomorrow and all the combinations with it ( tomorrow
morning ) are used exclusively with futute reference. Other adverbials ferquently
used with future tense are those with next ( next year ). There is a category of time
adverbials used with other tenses as well as the future like at 4o’clock .

Other ways of expressing future( L.G.Alexander, 2001,179)

 Be going to – I’m going to see him tomorrow.
 Be to – I’m to see him tomorrow.
 Present progressive – i’m seeing him tomorrow.
 Simple present – i see him tomorrow.
These ways of expressing the future are less concerned with simple
prediction and more with intentions, plans, arrangements
 Future Continuous Tense

Basic form:
Affirmative: Subject + will +be + VerbI -ing (continuous form)
Interrogative: Will + Subject +be + Verb I-ing?
Negative: Subject + will +be not + Verb I-ing.

Affirmative:

Auxiliary Auxiliary
Subject Verb + ing
verb verb
+ + +
e.g. I/a dog e.g.
will be
etc. working/going/making

 She'll be having a bath when I'm back home. (Use 1)

 Tomorrow at nine, I will be hosing off (=washing with a hose) my car.
(Use 1)
 This time next week,I am going to be throwing a party. (Use 1)
 I'll be watching TV when my mother arrives. (Use 1)
 They will be geting home just about now. (Use 2)
Notice
Like any of the Future Tenses, Future Continuous cannot be used in sentences
beginning with: while, when, before, by the time, if, etc.
 By the time, you will be finishing your paiting.

Interrogative:

Auxiliary
Subject Auxiliary verb Verb + ing
verb + + + ?
will I/you/we etc. be dancing / taking
 Is she going to be cooking when we knock at the door? (Use 1)
 Will Mark be playing football at 6 p.m.? (Use 1)
 Will you be using the screwdriver? (Use 3)

Negative:

Auxiliary Auxiliary
Subject Verb + ing
verb verb
+ + +
e.g. I/a dog e.g.
will not be
etc. working/going/making
 We won't be having supper tomorrow before 8 o'clock. (Use 1)
 Iam not going to be learning English tomorrow at this time. (Use 1)
John won't be sleeping now (= I think John isn't sleeping now) (Use 2
Definition:
The most como muse of future progressive tense ist o describe actions which
will be in progress in the immediate or distant future ( L.G. Alexander, 2001,
180)
Use:
1. Future actions in progress
2. Guesses about the present or the future
3. Polite questions about somebody's intention
4. Arrangements and plans

Diferences:
If you want to learn about somebody's intentions, you should always use the
Future Continuous rather than the Present Simple. Using the Future Simple
implies that you want to influence somebody's decision. Questions become
much more objective if formed in the Future Continuous.
Examples:
 Will you come home? (= I want you to come home)
 Will you be coming home? (= I just want to know)

Use 1: Future actions in progress

The first use of the Future Continuous is to express future action in progress.
 In an hour, I will be sitting in front of my TV.
 In the evening, I will be baking a birthday cake.
 Use 2: Guesses
Use this tense also to make guesses about something in the present or future.
 He won't be coming any time soon. He is still at the office.
 Beatrice will be getting married very soon.

Use 3: Questions
And the last use of the tense is to make polite questions about something or
somebody.
 Will you be coming home before or after 10 PM?
 Will you be goingto the supermarket? I have something to buy.

Use 4: arrangements and plans

The future continuous canbe used like the present continuous to refer to planned
events, particularly in conexion with travel.
 We’ll be spending the winter in Australia.

Note
The Future Perfect appears in two forms: "will" form and "going to" form which
can be used interchangebly.
Example:
 "She will have finished" means "she is going to have finished"
 Future Perfect Tense

Basic form:
Affirmative: Subject + will have+ VerbIII/ed (past participle form)
Interrogative: Will + Subject +have + Verb IIII/ed?
Negative: Subject + will +have not + Verb IIII/ed.
Examples:

 I will have graduated from university by May.

 Patrick will have lived in Hong Kong for 20 years by the next month.
 The train will have left by now.
Affirmative:

Auxiliary Auxiliary
Subject Past participle
verb verb
+ + + e.g.
e.g. I/a
will have eaten/given/gone
dog etc.
etc.

Interrogative:

Auxiliar Auxiliar
Subject Past participle
y verb y verb
+ + + e.g.
e.g. I/a
will have eaten/given/gone
dog etc.
etc.
 Negative:

Auxiliary
Auxiliary
Subject verb + Past participle
verb
not
+ + +
e.g.
e.g. I/a
will not have eaten/given/gone
dog etc.
etc.

Definition:
We use the Future Perfect tense to talk about actions that will be finished
before some point in the future. We also use this tense to express situations that
will last for a specified period of time at a definite moment in the future. The
last use is to express certainty that an action was completed.

Use:
1. Completion before a specified point in the future
2. Actions or situations that will last in the future (for a specified time)
3. Certainty that an action was completed

Use 1: Completion before a specified point in the future

The first use of this tense is to talk about future actions that will be finished
before some specified point in the future.
 Before they come, we will have cleaned up the house.
 John will have eaten the whole cake, by the time the birthday party starts!

Use 2: Duration in the Future

Another use of this tense is to talk about actions will last after a given point in
the future.
 By the next year, I will have known Monica for 30 years.
 Patrick will have lived in Hong Kong for 20 years by 2012.

Common time expressions:

Time expressions that are commonly used with the Future Perfect:
 By
 By the time
 Before
 By tomorrow/7 o'clock/next month
 Until/till

Use 3: Certainty About the Near Past

The last use is to express conviction that something happened in the near past.
 The train will have left by now. We have to look for another way to get
there. (I'm sure the train has left)
 The guests will have arrived at the hotel by now. (I'm sure the guests have
arrived at the hotel)

The Future Perfect appears in two forms: "will" form and "going to" form which
can be used interchangably.
Example:
 "She will have finished" means "she is going to have finished"
 Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Basic form:
Affirmative: Subject + will have been+ VerbI -ing (continuous form)
Interrogative: Will + Subject +have + Verb I -ing?
Negative: Subject + will +have not +been + VerbI -ing.
Examples:

 By the next year, I will have been working as a teacher for 30 years.
 We will be making a rest stop in half an hour, because you will have been
driving the car for 6 hours by then.
Definition:
We use the Future Perfect Continuous tense to express situations that will last
for a specified period of time at a definite moment in the future. We also use this
tense to express certainty about the cause of some future situation.

Affirmative:

Auxiliar Auxiliar Auxiliar

Subject Verb + ing
y verb y verb y verb
+ + + + e.g.
e.g. I/a
will have been eating/giving/goin
dog etc.
g etc.

If duration of an activity (e.g. "since April", "for three hours") is unknown then
the Future Continuous should be used instead of the Perfect Form.
Example:
 I will be taking a bath.
 I will have been taking a bath.
 Negative:

Subjec Auxiliar Auxiliar Auxiliar

Verb + ing
t y verb y verb y verb
e.g. I/a + + + + e.g.
dog will not have been eating/giving/goi
etc. ng etc.

Negative sentences sound rather unnatural. This is probably because the answer
to a question like, "Will she have been teaching for 30 years this year?", would
simply be, "No, I don't think so".

Interrogative:

Auxilia Auxilia Auxilia

Subje
ry ry ry Verb + ing
ct
verb verb verb
+ e.g. + + +
e.g.
I/a
will have been eating/giving/
dog
going etc.
etc.

Questions beginning with "how long" are more common.

 How long will you have been learning German this year?
 How long will you have been trying to get your driving license this week?
I hope you'll finally make it!
Use:
1. Duration at a definite moment in the future
2. Cause of a future situation

USE 1: Duration
We use this tense to express situations that will last for a specified period of
time at a definite moment in the future. It is important that we expect these
situations to last longer.
 Before they come, we will have been cleaning the house for 5 hours.
 By the next year, Ben and his wife will have been living together for 50
years.
 Common Time Expressions
Time expressions that are commonly used with the Future Perfect Continuous:
 By tomorrow / 8 o'clock
 This year / month / week
 Next year / month / week

USE 2: Cause
English speakers also use this tense when they want to express certainty about
the cause of some future situation.
 By this time, he will have been working for 12 hours, so he will be very
tired.
 We will be making a rest stop in half an hour, because you will have been
driving the car for 6 hours by then.
 Going to Future

Form:
Affirmative: Subject + to be ( present ) + going to + verb I.
Interrogative: To be ( present) + subject + going to + verb I?
Negative: Subject + to b enot ( present ) + going to + verb I.
Examples:
 He is going to arrive tomorrow.
 It’s going to rain.
 Are you going t ogive me the book?
 They are not going to read.

Uses: ( L.G.Alexander, 2001,180, Thomson, 2010, 186)

1. Predictions
2. Intentions, plans
3. In the place of present progressive
4. After if

Use 1: predictions
The going to-future is often used to predict the future. It is common in speech,
especially when we are referring to the immediate future – it signs what is about
to happen or may have prior knowledge of something which will happen in the
near future. The time is usually not mentioned. It may be used after verbs like to
be sure, to believe to be afraid, to think
 She’s going to faint!
 They are ging to be married soon.

Use 2: intentions, plans

In informal style the tendency is to use going to-future instead of will when
there are any intentions and plans. Intentions can be emphasized whith adverbs
like now and just which are generally associated with the present time. If we
want to be precise about intentions and plans, we use verbs like intend to, plan
to, propose to rather than going to. The intention is always premeditated and
there is usually also the idea that some preparation for the action has already
been made.
 I’m going to practice the piano for two hours this evening
 I’m just going to show you how to make a cake.
 They are going to build a new motorway.
 They propose to build a motorway.

Use 3: going to-future in place of present progressive

The going to-future may be used where we would equally expect to have the
present progressive with a future reference though to be going to can combine
with go and come, the present progressive is preferred with these verbs for
reasons of style.
 I’m having dinner with Janet tomorrow evening.
 I’m going to have dinner with Janet tomorrow evening.
 I’m going home early this evening.

Use 4: going to future after if

We normally use will after if to make predictions, but we can use be going to to
express an intention. It can be used in the main clause as well.
 If you are going to join us, we’ll wait for you.
 If you invite Jack, there’s going to be trouble.

Other ways of expressing future

1. Use of to be to (present) + VerbI (infinitive) – is used to refer to the future
when the actions are subject to human control.
 The managers are to meet in London next week.
 You are to deliver these flowers before ten.(instructions)
 You are not to tell him anything about our plans. (mustn’t)
2. Use of to be about to, be on the point of – refer to the immediate future.
 The race is about to start.
 They are on the point of starting.
3. Use of be due to – is used in connections with timetables and itineraries.
 The plane is due to arrive from Athens at 7.

Future with May and Might

 We use the modal verbs "may" and "might" to talk about possible activities or
happenings in the future.
Examples:
 I'm not sure I'll go to the party. I may be away.
 Don't drop by at 7:20 PM. I might be watching TV.
 Please, prepare something to eat. Mr. Johnson might be hungry.
 We may not be able to go to school this week.
There isn't much difference between the two. So you can say:
 "John might be at home" or "John may be at home".
 "I may visit Mary" or "I might visit Mary".
Likelihood
Sentences formed with "might" are less likely to happen than those with "may".
For example:
 I may be away at 10 PM. (35% likelihood)
 I might be away at 10 PM. (20% likelihood)
Of course, these figures may vary depending on the situation.

Unreal Situations
However, when the situation is unreal, only "might" can be used:
 If I were a bit smarter, I might go to college. (The speaker won't become
smarter, so the situation is unreal)

Continuos Form:
If you want to emphasize progression of a situation, you may use the continuous
form of the verb after the modal.
 Don't drop by at 7:20 PM. I may/might be watching TV.

Reported Speech
If you're using the reported speech, "may" becomes "might".
 "I may be late," said Frank. In reported speech: Frank said that he might
be late.
 Future-in-the-Past

Form:
Affirmative: I should write
Interrogative: Would you write?
Negative: He wouldn’t write.

The future-in-the-past can be expressed by was going to, was about to, was to
have + past participle, was on the point of, was due to, would.

Use: (L.G.Alexander, 2001, 184)

1.Can refer to events which were planned to take place and which did take
place
 I was about to go into hospital.
2. Can refer to an outcome that could not be forseen.
 Little did they know they were to be reunited ten years later.

3.To describe events which were interrupted.

 We were just going to leave when Tom fel land hurt his ankle.
4.To describe events which were hindered or prevented
 I was to see Mr. Kay tomorrow, but the appointment has been
canceled.
5.Used in narrative to describe events that were destined to happen.
 Soon we would reach the top.
Pawlowska, Kempinski (1994, 80) writes about all the forms future tense have
and presents the situations when future-in-the-past are used :
1. Conditional sentence type II – I wouldn’t emegrate now if I were
you.
2. In reported speech and as a past equivalent of the simple future
tense – The doctor said he would visit them soon.
3. Past routines – When we were small we would sit by the fire in the
living room.
4. After wish – I wish they would stay longer.

Future In The Past Continuous Tense

Form:
Affirmative: I should be writing.
Interrogative: Would you be writing ?
Negative: He shouldn’t be writing.
Uses:
Accordingly to Pawlowska (1994, 81) the future in the past tense is used in the
following situations:
1. Conditional sentence – type II and mixed conditionals
 If we won that prize we would be living in Hawaii very soon.
2. In reported speech and as a past equivalent of the future continuous tense.
 He said he would be talking to Mary soon.
He hoped the baby would be sleeping when he returned.

Future-in-the-Past Perfect

Form:
Affirmative: I should have written.
Interrogative: Would you have written?
Negative: He would have not written.
Uses:
1. Conditional sentence type III
 If we had changed the money at the airport we would have saved
twenty dollars.
2. As a past equivalent of the future perfect tense
 I was sure she would have typed those letters by the time we got
back.
3. Other uses – assumptions, unrealized past wishes
 They should have finished the job by now.
 She would have liked to marry an American businessman.

Future In The Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Form:
Affirmative: I should have been writing.
Interrogative: Would you have been writing ?
Negative: He shouldn’t have been writing.
Uses:
Accordingly to Pawlowska (1994, 85) the future in the past tense is used in the
following situations:
1.Conditional sentence – type III
 If you had told me she was going to call, I would have been sitting
by the phone.

The following image wants to represent the forms, uses and examples of how
future may be expressed.