FUTURE tenses

grammar

FUTURE tenses

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future tenses

what is a future tense

A verb form used to talk about actions or situations that have not happened yet. The future can be expressed using different structures, depending on the speaker’s intention. We use the future to talk about:

• Predictions –> what we think will happen (WILL)• Decisions –> choices we make now for the future (WILL)• Intentions / plans –> what we want or plan to do (BE GOING TO)• Evidence –> signs something will happen (BE GOING TO)• Possibilities –> things that might happen (MIGHT)

WILL

AFFIRMATIVE

NEGATIVE

QUESTION

ANSWER

Form: Will + subject + infinitive Will you come to the party?

Form: Yes/No + subject + will / won’t Yes, I will. / No, I won’t.

Form: will not (won’t) + infinitive I won’t (will not) watch TV tonight.

Form: Will + infinitive I will study for the exam.

Predictions

Affirmative

Negative

will + definitely + infinitive | definitely + won't + inifinitve will + probably + infinitive | probably + won't + inifinitve

- we are sure: - something is likely to happen:

Spontaneous decisions Will + infinitive

be going to

AFFIRMATIVE

NEGATIVE

QUESTION

ANSWER

Form: Subject + am/is/are + going to + infinitve I am going to visit my grandparents tomorrow.

Form: Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + infinitve Are you going to study this weekend?

Form: Yes/No + subject + am/is/are + (not) going to Yes, I am going to. / No, I’m not going to.

Form: Subject + am/is/are + not + going to + infinitve She is not (isn’t) going to eat pizza tonight.

Intentions or Evidence

She is going to start a new sport He is going to wake up soon.

might

Possibility

might / might not + infinitive

I might go to the party tonight.

They might not travel next summer.

present tenses with future meaning

In English, we don't always use "will" or "be going to" to talk about the future. We can also use present tenses when we talk about fixed plans or programs. Present Simple for timetables / schedules The flight arrives at 6 p.m. Present Continuous for future arrangements or fixed plans She is visiting her grandparents next week.

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

AFFIRMATIVE

NEGATIVE

QUESTION

ANSWER

Form: Subject + won't (will not) be + verb-ingI won’t be watching TV at 8 p.m.

Form: Will + subject + be + verb-ing?Will you be studying at 8 p.m.?

Form: Yes/No + subject + will / won’t Yes, I will. / No, I won’t.

Form: Subject + will be + verb-ingI will be studying at 8 p.m.

Action in progress in the future

This time tomorrow, I will be flying to London.At 9 o’clock, she will be having dinner.

Future Tenses – Comparison Table

Future tense Form When we use it Example

• Predictions
• Decisions

WILL BE GOING TO MIGHT PRESENT TENSES (future meaning) FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will call you later. It will rain tomorrow.

Will + infinitive

I am going to study tonight. Look at the clouds! It is going to rain.

• Intentions
• Plans
• Evidence

am/is/are + going to + infinitive

I might go to the party tonight.She might be late for class.

• Possibility

Might + infinitive

Present Simple: verb (+ s/es for 3rd person sing.) Present Continuous: am/is/are + verb-ing

• Timetables /Schedules
• arrangements / fixed plans

The train leaves at 7 p.m. I am meeting my friends tomorrow.

• action in progress at a specific moment in the future

At 8 p.m., I will be studying. Tomorrow at this time, she will be travelling to Paris.

will be + verb-ing