Future Tenses

Miguel Ángel Rodríguez López

Future Simple (will)

This tense expresses a pure future, that is, actions bound to happen because of the course of time.

The SUBJECT cannot control what will happen.

Future Simple (will)FORM:

Affirmative: She will win the tennis match

Negative : She won’t (will not) win the tennis match

Interrogative : Will she win the tennis match?

Short answers: Yes, she will – No, she won´t

Future Simple (will)

1. Predictions based in what we think: It will rain in the evening

2. Instant decisions: The doorbell is ringing, I’ll open

3. Promises and offers: I promise mum, I will pass my test

Future Simple (will)

This tense is used with particular verbs, such as think – know – believe – suppose –

expect – hope to express beliefs, convictions, hope, expectations,

knowledge and opinions about the future.

I think we will win the match

Future Simple (will)

Sometimes, we use this tense with particular adverbs such as: probably – possibly –perhaps in order to express uncertainty about the future.

It will probably rain later

GOING TO

This tense is formed with:TO BE (present simple) + GOING TO + INFINITIVE

GOING TOFORM:

Affirmative: I am going to travel abroad

Negative : I am not going to travel abroad

Interrogative : Are you going to travel abroad?

Short answers: Yes, I am – No, I’m not

1. Predictions based in what we can see at the moment: Look at that car! It is going to crash into the traffic light! 2. It expresses future plans and intentions: I’m going to buy a new phone next week.

GOING TO

GOING TO or PRESENT CONTINUOUS?

Sometimes, we can use the Present Continuous instead of Going to. It occurs when “time” and/or “place are mentioned. I’ m going to take the 7 o’clock train to Madrid OR

I’ m taking the 7 o’clock train to Madrid

PRESENT SIMPLE

We normally use this tense to describe travel plans, schedules, departures, arrivals.

The train leaves at 7 a.m. tomorrow.

FUTURE PERFECT

This tense is formed with:WILL + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

FORM:FUTURE PERFECT

Affirmative: He will have finished the book by the weekend

Negative : He won’t (will not) have finished the book by the weekend Interrogative : Will he have finished the book by the weekend?

Short answers: Yes, he will – No, he won´t

This tense describes actions we know will (or will not) be completed by a certain time in the future.

By the end of June, we will have finished our exams.

FUTURE PERFECT

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

This tense is formed with:WILL + BE + Verb (-ing)

FUTURE CONTINUOUSFORM:

Affirmative: This time next week, I will be having my driving test.

Negative : This time next week, I won’t (will not) be having my driving test. Interrogative : Will I be having my driving test this time next week?

Short answers: Yes, I will – No, I won´t

This tense expresses actions that will be in progress at a certain time in the future.

At 3 o’clock tomorrow, we will be travelling.

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

This tense is formed with:WILL + HAVE + BEEN + Verb (-ing)

FORM:Affirmative: They will have been living in that house for 3 years by the end of March.

Negative : They won’t (will not) have been living in that house for 3 years by the end of March.

Interrogative : Will they have been living in that house for 3 years by the end of March?

Short answers: Yes, they will – No, they won´t

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

This tense describes continuous and repeated actions which begin before a certain time in the future and will probably continue after that time.

By the end of this month, I will have been working with this company for five years.

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS