FUTURE FORMS

FORM USE EXAMPLES

Future simple: - General prediction -I bet we'll still be in this house in20 years' time.
Will/won't + infinitive Who will win the election?
- Future facts Next year will be a leap year.

- Decision made at the time of Oh, our guests are here. I'll sort out some drinks and
speaking nibbles.
Be going to + infinitive - Prediction based on present Kate Atkinson's new book has already sold thousands of
evidence copies; it's going to be a bestseller.

- Intention (personal or Is the management going to accept the current pay

impersonal) claim?
Present continuous - Arrangements Next year we're working on a joint project with the
Frankfurt office.
Future continuous: - Prediction of an action in By next July the economy will be growing at a healthy
Will/won/t have + past progress rate once more.
participle - Plans made in the past I can't make next Monday's class as I'll be returning from
my long weekend away.
- Events that are part of a routine The committee will be meeting at the usual time on
Friday.
Future perfect: - Prediction about a completed Will you have discussed this with your boss before you go
will/won't have + past action in the future to the conference?
participle
Present simple - An event that is part of a The lecture starts tomorrow evening at 8.00pm.
timetable
- After certain expressions of time, We will send you the books you ordered as soon as we
e.g. as soon as receive payment.
Predictions
1. Future simple will/won't + infinitive
We use this to talk about predictions based on opinion, analysis or judgment:
This investment from all sectors will bring economic prosperity and continued success.
We often use will/won't to predict an event which we think will happen because similar
events have happened in the past:
He'll be in prison for a long time. (Similar crimes have attracted long sentences)
The battery won't last forever, so you should buy a spare. (Previous batteries haven't lasted)
We can also use will/won't for future events that are certain to happen:
Aunt Charlotte will be ninety on Thursday. It won't be light before 6am.

2. Be going to + infinitive
When there is evidence in the present to justify the prediction, we use be going to +
infinitive:
Howard's wife is going to have a baby!
With be going to the prediction is often about the immediate future:
Ssh! The bride's father has just got up. He's going to make a speech now.

3. Future continuous will/won't be + -ing form

We use this form for a temporary action in progress at or around a particular point in the
future:
This time next Thursday I'll be lying on the beach!
We use this form to talk about an action that will be in progress in the future; it may have a
result or make another action possible:
My mother will be looking after the children, so we'll be able to talk.

4. Future perfect simple and continuous

We use the future perfect simple (will/won't have + past participle) to make predictions
about actions which we expect to be completed before a particular time in the future:
He'll have had the operation by July and should be a lot fitter then.
We use the future perfect continuous (will/won't have + been + -ing form) to talk about an
action which will still be in progress at a point in the future. It focuses on the duration of the
action:
By 2040, people will have been using mobile phones for over half a century.
Decisions, intentions and arrangements
1. Future simple will/won't + infinitive:
We can talk about spontaneous decisions with this form:
You look tired. I'll cook dinner tonight.
We can use will/won't + infinitive to strengthen meaning, and to express determination:
I will join you all at the festival at the weekend, whatever my parents say!

2. Be going to + infinitive
We use be going to + infinitive for actions that we have already decided to do:
My nephew is going to study environmental law next year. (this is his plan/intention)
The police aren't going to prosecute those youths after all. (They have decided against it)

3. Present continuous and be going to

We use the present continuous to describe an event in the future which has already been
arranged by the time of speaking:
We're seeing a musical at the theatre next week. (we've got tickets)

4. Future continuous will/won't be + -ing form

We can use the future continuous to talk about events that are a result of or part of an
arrangement made in the past:
Trains won't be running to Upminster this weekend due to essential track repairs.

5. Be to + infinitive
We use be to + infinitive to talk about official arrangements in the future:
The President is to hold an official reception for the visitors.
Other ways of expressing the future
1. Present simple, be due to, for timetabled events:
We use the present simple to talk about timetabled events, usually with a time or date:
Carriageway repairs on this stretch of the motorway start on 26th May.
We also use be due to for timetabled events, usually with a time or date:
Carriageway repairs on this stretch of the motorway are due to start on 26th May.
The present simple suggests that the timetabled event is totally fixed, but be due to suggests
possible change, i.e. the event may change:
New measures to contain asylum seekers are due to come into force on 1st August but a
case currently before the European court may delay this until the autumn.

2. Future continuous for routine events:

We can use will/won't be + -ing form to emphasize the routine nature of an event:
We'll be having our weekly meeting tomorrow so I'll present your proposal then. (future
continuous: emphasis on the routine nature of the weekly meeting)

3. Expressions for near future events

We use be about to to talk about an event that we intend or expect to happen in the near
future. The event may not be planned, but evidence in the present indicates that it will
happen:
Ladies and gentlemen. Please take your seats. The performance is about to start.
We also use be on the point of and be on the verge of to talk about the near future. These
both means that something is very close to happening. They can be followed by either an
-ing form or a noun:
Don’t provoke your little brother. You can see he’s on the point of losing his temper.
Because of the erosion of their habitats, some species are on the verge of extinction.

4. Expressions of probability and certainty:

We use be likely/unlikely to + infinitive to say that something in the future is
probable/improbable:
The payment is likely to take ten days.
They’re unlikely to arrive before six.
We can use be sure (bound/certain) to + infinitive to say that something is going to happen
or should have been expected:
 The new timetable is sure to annoy some of the teachers when they see it.
Your application is bound to fail if you don’t get the divisional director’s approval.

5. Verbs with future meaning

VERBS STRUCTURE EXAMPLES

Decide - hope - promise - swear - Verb + to + infinitive I hope to see everyone at the next Open
intend (also + -ing) Day.
Do you swear never to reveal this secret?
He intends to retire/retiring next year.

Anticipate - predict - envisage
Verb + noun/-ing form We anticipate congestion on all routes
this weekend.
They predict rain tomorrow.
Do you envisage making any policy
changes?

Arrange - expect - guarantee - Verb (+ noun) + to + We’re planning a break to get a bit of
plan - undertake infinitive sun this winter.
We expect to promote trainees within
three years.

Future in the past

1. Was/were going to + infinitive:
Sometimes we need to describe the future from a viewpoint in the past:
I was going to get up early this morning but the alarm didn’t go off.
When we use was/were going to, the plan is not fulfilled (i.e. it did not happen):
The fitness club was going to increase its annual subscription but so many members
protested that it backed down. (It didn’t increase the subscription)
We also use this form to make excuses for things we have not done:
I was going to buy you a birthday present but I couldn’t find anything you’d like.

2. Other ways of expressing the future in the past:

 PRESENT/FUTURE FORM PAST FORM EXAMPLES

Present continuous past continuous They were coming for dinner, but in the end they
didn’t arrive until after midnight.

Will/shall would The heating wasn’t working so we hoped the

engineer wouldn’t take long.

Will be + -ing form would be + -ing form Little did we know that we would still be waiting
in the lounge in three hour’s time!

Wil have would have The Cabinet thought the oil crisis would have
ended before the election.

Is/are about to/due to was/were about As she raised her arm, he realised she was about
to/due to to hail a taxi.

Is/are to was/were to He was to arrive at the airport at nine.

We were to have been met by the tour guide.