Quick Notes

Quick Notes

English Chapter 6: Grammar and Vocabulary
6.13 Future Tense
 
  Verb 'to be'  
 

1. The present continuous tense is used for plans:

The present continuous is used when we say what we have planned and arranged to do at a specific time in the future. These are fixed plans with a definite time and/or place.

Examples:

  • I'm doing my homework this evening.
  • I'm starting university in September.
  • Sally is meeting John at seven o'clock this evening in a restaurant downtown.

2. To be + going to + verb:

A. We use 'going to' to express the future when we intend to do something or have decided to do something but did not arrange it. It is just an intention.

Example:

  • A: The windows are dirty.
    B: Yes, I know. I'm going to clean them later.
     = I've decided to clean them, but I haven't arranged to clean them.

B. We also use 'going to' to make predictions.

  • Watch out! You are going to break the glass.
  • It's so cloudy! I think it's going to rain.
  
     
 
 
1.1  Future Simple Tense

 

  Affirmative Form  
 

I/ you/ we/ they/ she/ he/ it will/ ’ll go.

Examples:

I think I will/ ’ll buy the latest merch.

They will/ ’ll attend the party.

  
     

 

  Interrogative Form  
 

Will I/ you/ we/ they/ she/ he/ it go?

Examples:

Will you accompany me to the party?

Will they forgive me for my mistakes?

  
     

 

  Negative Form  
 

I/you/we/they/she/he/it will not/ won’t go.

Examples:

I told you already, I will not/ won’t meet them!

They will not/ won’t stay for long.

  
     

 

  The use of future simple tense  
 
  • We use the simple future for instant decisions.
    Example: "I've left the door open; I'll close it."
     
  • We use the simple future when we predict a future situation:
    Example: "She'll pass the exam. She's hardworking."
     
  • We use the simple future with: "I (don't) think...", "I expect...", "I'm sure...", "I wonder...", "probably".
    Example: "It will probably rain tonight", "I wonder what will happen?
     
  • We use the simple future in conditional sentences type one.
    Example: "If I have enough time, I'll watch the film."
  
 

Things to remember:

1. We don't use the simple future to say what somebody has already decided or arranged to do in the future. We use instead either the present continuous or "going to + verb"(future plan)

  • Ann is travelling to New York next week. (NOT, "Ann will travel ")
  • Are you going to watch television? (NOT "will you watch").

2. You can use shall instead of will for I and we:

  • I shall play football. (Or, I will play ...)
  • We shall play football. (Or, we will play ...)
  
     
 
 
1.2  Future Continuous Simple Tense
 
  The form  
 

Will + Be + Verb-ing

  
     

 

  Affirmative Form  
 

Examples:

I will be/ I’ll be watching TV.

  
     

 

  Interrogative Form  
 

Examples:

Will you be looking at the sunset?

  
     

 

  Negative Form  
 

Examples:

I will not/ won’t be listening to the radio.

  
     

 

  The use of future continuous simple tense  
 

1. Used to indicate an action that will be taking place at some time in the future.

Examples:

  • I will be watching a football match next Sunday afternoon.
  • We'll be working on our project this morning.
  • When you arrive, I'll be sleeping.
  • I will be leaving in a few minutes.
  • We will be working tomorrow morning.
  
     
 
1.3  Future Perfect Simple Tense
 
  The form  
 

Will + Have + Verb in the past participle

  
     

Examples:

Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I will / I'll have finished. I will not / won't have finished. Will you have finished?
 

 

  The use of future perfect simple tense  
 

The Future Perfect tense shows that something will occur before:

  1. another action occurs in the future
  2. or before a specific time in the future.

Examples:

  • By the end of this weekend, I will have revised my lessons.
  • By the time her husband arrives home, she will have prepared dinner.
  • I won't have finished this task by the end of June.
  
     
 
 
1.4  Future Perfect Continuous Tense
 
  The form  
 

Will + Have + Been + Verb-ing

  
 
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I will have been teaching. I will not/won't have been teaching. Will you have been teaching?
 
     

 
  The use of future perfect continuous tense  
 

1. Used to show that an event will continue until a particular event or time in the future. It is mostly used with an expression such as:

  • for five minutes
  • for two weeks

These expressions indicate durations.

Examples:

  • She will have been working for over 8 hours by the time her children arrive.
  • He will have been studying English for three years next month.