Future Tense

The future is uncertain. We know the past. We know the present. We do not know the
future. We can be 100% sure or certain about the past and the present. But we can
never be 100% certain about the future. In English there are several structures and
tenses to talk about the future. It is usually the degree of certainty about the future that
decides our choice of structure or tense.

Will = modal verb

One of the most common ways to talk about the future is with will, for example: I will
call you tonight. We often call this the "future simple tense", but technically there are
no future tenses in English. In this construction, the word will is a modal auxiliary
verb.

Here are the three main ways that we use will to talk about the future.

No plan
We use will when there is no prior plan or decision to do something before we speak.
We make the decision at the time of speaking. Look at these examples:

 Hold on. I'll get a pen.

 We will see what we can do to help you.
 Maybe we'll see what I can do.

In these examples, we had no firm plan before speaking. The decision was made at
the time of speaking.

We often use will with the verb think:

 I think I'll go to the gym tomorrow.

 I think I'll have a holiday next year.
 I don't think I'll buy that car.
 I think I’ll / will go to the pool next week.
Prediction
We often use will to make a prediction about the future. Again, there is no firm plan.
We are saying what we think will happen. Here are some examples:

 It will rain tomorrow.
 People won't go to Jupiter before the 22nd century.
 Who do you think will get the job?
 I will pass the exams.
be
The verb be is an exception with will. Even when we have a very firm plan, and we
are not speaking spontaneously, we can use will with be. Look at these examples:

 I will be in London tomorrow.

 There will be 50 people at the party.
 The meeting will be at 9.30 am.
 I will be at school next week.
The verb be is always exceptional!

going to
Intention
We use the special going to construction when we have the intention to do
something before we speak. We have already made a decision before speaking.
Look at these examples:

 I have won $1,000. I am going to buy a new TV.

 We're not going to see my mother tomorrow.
 When are you going to go on holiday?
 I am going to take my driving license.

In these examples, we had an intention or plan before speaking. The decision was
made before we spoke.
Prediction
We often use going to to make a prediction about the future. Our prediction is based
on evidence. We are saying what seems sure to happen. Here are some examples:

 The sky is very black. It is going to snow.

 It's 8.30! You're going to miss the train!
 I crashed the company car. My boss isn't going to be very happy!
 I have very bad grades. I am going fail my classes.

In these examples, the present situation (black sky/the time/damaged car) gives us a
good idea of what is going to happen.

 We use will for prediction when we have no real evidence: "It will rain

tomorrow." (It's my feeling but I can't be sure.)
 We use going to for prediction when there is some real evidence: "It's going to
rain." (There's a big, black cloud in the sky and if it doesn't rain I'll be very
surprised.)

Present Continuous for Plan

We often use the present continuous tense to talk about the future. Of course, we
normally use the present continuous to talk about action happening in the present,
but if we add a future word, we can use it to talk about the future. (By "future word"
we mean words or expressions like tomorrow, next week, in June. The future word
may be clearly expressed or understood from the context.)

Sometimes there is no real difference between an intention (going to) and a plan
(present continuous). In this case, it doesn't matter which we use.
 We're going to paint the bedroom tomorrow.
 We're painting the bedroom tomorrow.

We use the present continuous only when a plan exists before we speak. Look at

these examples:

 Mary is taking her music exam next year.

 They can't play tennis with you tomorrow. They're working.
  We're going to the theatre on Friday.

Present Simple for Schedule

When an event is on a schedule or timetable (for example, the take-off time for a
plane), we often use the present simple to express the future. We usually also use a
future phrase (expressed or understood) like tomorrow, at 6.30pm, next week.

Only a few verbs are used in this way, for example:

 be, open, close, begin, start, end, finish, arrive, come, leave, return

Look at these sentences:

 The train leaves Detroit at 9pm tonight.

 John starts work next week.
 Tomorrow is Thursday.

Future Time: Summary

When we speak, we choose the tense that we use. This is important in English,
because the tense we choose expresses more than just a simple fact. When we speak
about the future, the tense we choose can express how we "see" the future, even our
personal feelings about the future. It certainly expresses what we believe to be the
probability (the chance, the reality) of something happening or whether we have
already decided to do it.
There are a number of future forms in English, just as there are different forms for the
past and present. Let's take a look at examples of the four different forms: Simple Future,
Future Continuous, Future Perfect, and Future Perfect Continuous used to speak in
English about the future.
Peter will be at work tomorrow. - Future Simple
She's going to travel to Hong Kong next month.- Future with Going to
Jennifer will have finished the report by ten tomorrow. - Future Perfect
Doug will be enjoying a good book at this time next week.- Future Continuous
I will have been working for six hours by the time I finish this. - Future Perfect Continuous
The following article takes a look at each of these forms, as well as some variations in
future tense usage with clear examples to help explain the use of each.

Listed below are examples, uses, and formation of Future Forms.

Uses of the Future With 'Will'

The future with 'will' is used for a number of situations:

1. Used for Predictions

It will snow tomorrow.
She won't win the election.
2. Used for Scheduled Events
The concert will begin at 8 o'clock. = The concert starts at 8 o’clock.
When will the train leave?= The train leaves….

Used for scheduled events

3. Used for Promises

Will you marry me?
I'll help you with your homework after class
I will train you after classes.

4. Used for Offers

I'll make you a sandwich.

They'll help you if you want.

Will you work for me?

5. Used in Combination with Time Clauses (as soon as, when, before, after)
He will telephone as soon as he arrives.
Will you visit me when you come next week?

Use of Future Continuous

FORMATION
Affirmative: Subject + will + be + vb+ -ing
Negative: Subject + will + NOT (won’t)+ be + vb+ -ing
Interrogative: will + SUBJECT be + vb+ -ing

Use the future continuous to speak about what will be happening at a specific time in the
future.

She will be sleeping at 11:30.

Tom will be having a good time this time tomorrow.
He will be working at 12:30.
Use of Future Perfect

FORMATION:
Affirmative: Subject + will + have + verb (IIIrd form)
Negative: Subject + will + NOT (won’t) + have + verb (IIIrd form)
Interrogative: Will + Subject + have + verb (IIIrd form)

Use the future perfect to speak about what will have been finished by a time in the future.

I will have finished the book by tomorrow.

Angela will have found a new job by the end of the year.
I will have arrived home by the time you call me.
Use of the Future Perfect Continuous

FORMATION:
Affirmative: Subject + will + have + been + vb + ing
Negative: Subject + will +NOT (won’t)+ have + been + vb + ing
Interrogative: Will + Subject will + have + been + vb + ing

Use the future perfect continuous to speak about how long something will have been
happening up to a point of time in the future.

They will have been studying for five hours by six o'clock.
Mary will have been playing golf for five hours by the time she finishes.
He will have been playing video games for three hours by the time his laptop shuts down.