THE FUTURE TIME

In English, there are several tenses are used to express different ideas about the future
1. PRESENT SIMPLE
We use the Present Simple to talk about future official events or timetables which we cannot change.
*For timetables (planes, buses, trains, etc. leaving and arriving) :
E.g. : My plane leaves Jakarta on Tuesday at 11.05
The train arrives at 6.25 tomorrow.
*For programs (when a conference, a meeting, a course, a football match, a film etc. begins and ends)
E.g. : The summer term begins on the 15th of February.
The conference starts on Wednesday at 9.30.
The meeting begins at 9.00 tomorrow morning.
*For official events or people if their plans are fixed by a timetable:
E.g. : President Jokowi gives his speech on the grand opening of National Conference.
The main speaker arrives on Tuesday afternoon.

2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
We use the Present Continuous to talk about future events or plans that we have fixed or arranged:
E.g. : I am starting a new job in June. (= the arrangements have already been made)
I am having my eyes tested today.(= I have an appointment)
I am getting married next year. (= I’ve prepared the wedding)
We are staying here until the end of the month. (= the arrangement have been made)

3. Will
We use will :
*To make predictions based on opinions of beliefs
E.g. : He will make a good doctor (= this is my personal opinion)
I think Indonesia will become a rich country one day.
Who do you think will win the match?

*To make predictions based on intuition, knowledge and experience.

E.g. : There will be millions more people, but there won’t be as much oil available for energy.
I know you will be able to overcome your problems.
As I know, she will attend the meeting tomorrow.

*To make a sudden decision at the moment of speaking (this can be making an offer or describing an
intention)
E.g.: All right, I will help you with the house work.
Well. I think I will go for a walk – I have a slight headache.
I think I will not go to the party after all.
Don’t get anything. I will bring food.
Don’t worry. I will ring the police now.

*To express promises and offers

E.g.: I will always be your friend.
She will bring back your laptop tomorrow.
I promise I won’t be late again.
I will make some tea, if you like.

*To express uncertainty, especially with probably, maybe, I think, I expect, and I hope.
E.g.: I think I will get a meal in town.
Probably I won’t be back in time.
I hope I will get higher marks this time.

*To express something in the future which doesn’t depend on a decision by the speaker.
E.g.: I will be 17 on my next birthday. (= I can’t change this. It will just happen)
There will be a full moon tomorrow.

4. BE GOING TO
We use be + going to:
 *To make a prediction based on evidence or facts that we can see or observe.
E.g.: Look at those clouds. It is going to rain.
Look at the sky. It is going to be nice and sunny.
He is very lazy and never pays attention to the teacher. He is going to fail the test.
*To express intention or plans to do something.
E.g.: I am going to change my life style completely.
I am going to study medicine after school.
I am not going to eat wasabi again in my whole life.
My parents are going to move to the country next year.

5. TIME CLAUSES
For time clauses in future tense, we use the Present Simple after “when, as soon as, after, before.”
E.g.: I will go and pick them as soon as the film finishes.
When the game is over, we will have a cup of tea.
Remember to switch on the alarm after you lock the door.
I will write this letter before I go out.

6. SHALL
We use shall to make a polite offer or suggestion or ask for advice, with “we” or “I”
E.g. : Shall I help you with that?
Shall we wait for a moment?
What shall I do if she refuses?

7. MAY / MIGHT
We use may/might when we are not sure if something will happen or not.
E.g. : They may not be happy about my decision.
My parents might call in the evening.

8. FUTURE CONTINUOUS
We use Future Continuous to express an event which is going on at a particular time in the future or over
a period of time in the future.
E.g. : I will be working at seven o’clock. (I will start before seven and I will continue after seven)

9. PAST FUTURE
We use was/were + going to :
a. To talk about something which was planned but did not or will not happen.
E.g. : Nina was going to stay here for at least a year. (But now she has changed your mind.)
b. To show we don’t mind changing our plans.
E.g. : Tom : Are you busy this evening?
Kay : “Well, I was going to write some letters.” (She may forget about letter if he has more
interesting idea)

10. FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE

We use the Future Perfect Simple to express an action which will be complete at a point of time in the
future. It is unusual to mention the point in time.
E.g. : By the end of this week, we will have finished our report.

11. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

We use the Future Perfect Continuous to emphasize how long an action will have lasted up to a point of
time in the future. It is usually necessary to mention the point of time and the length of time.
E.g. : By the end of this week, we will have been living for six months.

12. BE + ABOUT TO
We use be + about to to talk about something which is/was going to happen very soon and for which we
are/were already preparing:
E.g. : We are about to leave now.
I was about to tell you some secret when your mom called you.
Change the verbs in the parentheses into the right forms of future time.

1. Tom and Kathy ____are having_________ (have) a party next week. ________will you_____ (you,
come) with me?
2. I haven’t decided where to take my master degree. I probably ______will do_______ (do) it in London.
3. It’s 6.45. David is on the way to school. The school ______starts_______ (start) at 7.00 but the traffic is
awful. He _____might be________ (be) late.
4. Don’t forget to by some bread when you go out. – Ok. I ____will not forget_________ (not, forget).
5. I promise I _____will not go________ (not, go) home late again, Mom.
6. “It’s a bit cold in this room.” – “Is it?” – “I ____will turn on_________ (turn on) the heating system.
7. I can’t stand living here any longer. Tomorrow, I ______will look _______ (look) for another flat.
8. Brian : “___are you doing__________ (you, do) anything this weekend?
Martin : “Sorry, _____I’m meeting________ my client tomorrow.
9. You have to be quick, the film _____starts________ (start) at 12.15.
10. There is a hole in the bottom of the boat. A lot of water coming in through it. The boat _____might
sink________ (sink).
11. “Did you phone Ruth?” – “Oh no, I forgot. I _____will call________ her now.”
12. Sue ___is coming__________ (come) to see us tomorrow. Her train ____arrives_________ (arrive) at
10.15. _____I’m meeting________ (meet) her at the station.
13. “Have you decided where to go for your holiday?” – Yes, we _____are going________ (go) to Italy.
14. The man can’t see where he’s walking. There’s a hole in front of him. He _____is going to
fall________ (fall) into the hole.
15. I think Jane ____will get_________ (get) the job. She has a lot of experience.
16. We are late. I expect the film ____would have started_________ (start) by the time we get to the
cinema.
17. If you leave at six tomorrow, you _____will arrive________ (arrive) in Bandung by nine.
18. “Look! The sun shines so brightly.” – “Yes. That’s why John and I ___are going to visit__________
(visit) the butterfly park.”
19. Jonathan _____will attend________ (attend) the school meeting tomorrow morning. He has already
confirmed it with the committee.
20. Jack usually gives me a lift, but I ______am going to go_______ (go) home by train tomorrow as his
car is being repaired.
21. Mr. Parker : “I heard you bought a new house”
Mr. Wright : “Yes, we _____are moving________ (move) next week.”
Mr. Parker : “____will you have_________ (you, have) a house warming party?”
Mr. Wright : “No just yet. I ____am going to paint_________ (paint) it first. The paintwork is terrible.”
22. Anita : “You look very tired. You need a break.”
Calvin : “Yes. I _____am going to have________ (have) 2 days off next week. Mr. Wong agreed to let
me have it.”