rro future reference

Future reference
Verb forms
English has no future tense as such. However, severalforms, especially the modal verbs will and shall, can be used to make future reference. These forms are summarized as follows:

future reference
5
Thefuture perfect tense (will have + the past participle) is used with a time adverb to talk about an action that will be finished at
the time in the future that you are referring to. see p. l.t5.
I was hoping

nr

to meet Jomes, but by the time I arrive hewiil

have gone home.

Be

't

aboutto +thebaseform is used totalkaboutthevery nearfuture.

Will/shalt+ thebase form makesthe most directform of future reference. see p. 66. The other modal verbs that express possibility make a more indirect reference to future time.
take several Vears to frnish. )ean will look after the dogs while we're away. I shall simplytell herto mind her own business.

See p. 116.

l'm sorry I can't stop and chat; I'm aboutto leave for work.

Itwill

Thefuture continuous tense (willbe

+ the present

participte)

is

used to talk about future action in progress. See p. tr7.

,
z
Be

Weshall see.

Whatwill

you be doing on Soturdav morning? Oh, I'll be shopping asusual.

the base form is used to express intention and make predictions. See P. tt3.

goingto

Beto + the base form is used to tall( about formal plans, especially
in

journalism. See p. tr7.

The Presidentisto attend an EU-Russia

Yo u' d b

Hefoited his uam lastyear;thisyear heis goingtowork horder' efter to ke th e w a shi n g i n ; it i s goi n g to r ai n .

summittomorrow.

The present continuous tense is used to talk about plans and

arrangements in the future with

Soroh
t

time adverb.

See p.

98'
'

will/shall
The modal verbswill or shall followed by thebase verb are used to express future reference.
I

form of a main

and Horrietare meeting atten o'clock onTuesday

am flying to Glasgow on FridaY.

shall come.

Weshall come.

The present simple tense is used

See P. 94.

time adverb to talk about or previous arrangement part timetable of a future plans which are

with

or lwill come.
Youwill come.

or
Wewill come.
Youwill come.

She/he/itwill come.
.

Theywill come.

The mai n ftlm starts at 2.45 P'm.

weleave at 4 p.m. tomorrow

Will can be used with all persons of the verb, although some speakers prefer to useshall in the rst person singular and plural. See p. 66 forfurther details.