Differences Between Future Tenses

We use "going to"

to talk about a planned activity for future.
for prediction in the near future. The speaker is sure because there are signs about
it.
We use "will"
 when we decide to do something at the time of speaking.
 " for prediction in the remote future
 for requests, invitations and offers.
We generally use "will" for prediction with the following verbs and phrases, Believe , expect
, hope , think , wonder , I’m sure , I’m afraid ...etc
e.g. I believe he will pass the exam.
 with the adverbs Perhaps, probably, certainly (We do not use going to in this case.)
e.g. Perhaps they will support you in the election.
Jackson will probably go to London next year.
 to express promise, not going to
e.g. I will study medicine at university.
 in a question tag after imperative, not going to.
e.g. Do it today, will you?
 to give an order or state our wishes, not be going to.
e.g.Will you turn on the lights?
 to express an action in necessity in the future, not be going to.
e.g.You will have to pay a fine if you don’t pay your tax on time.
 for threat.
e.g. Study hard or you will fail.

EXERCISE 1: Put in ‘will’ or ‘be going to’:

1. A: We don’t have any bread.

B: I know. I __________________________________________________ get some from the shop.

2. A: We don’t have any bread.

B: Really? I __________________________________________________ get some from the shop then.

3. A: Why do you need to borrow my suitcase?

B: I ___________________________________________________ visit my mother in Scotland next month.

4. A: I’m really cold.

B: I ___________________________________________________________________ turn the heating on.

5. A: Are you going to John’s party tonight?

B: Yes. Are you going too? I ______________________________________________________ give you a lift.

6. A: What are your plans after you leave university?

B: I _____________________________________________ work in a hospital in Africa. I leave on the 28th

7. (The phone rings)

A: I _____________________________________________________________________ get it!

8. A: Are you ready to order?

B: I can’t decide … Okay, I _______________________________________________ have the steak,

please.

9. A: Are you busy tonight? Would you like to have coffee?

B: Sorry. I __________________________________________________________ go to the library. I’ve been

planning to study

all day.

10. A: Why are you carrying a hammer?

B: I ____________________________________________________ put up some pictures.

Future Simple vs Future Perfect

What's the difference between

Tom will finish his work at midnight.

and

Tom will have finished his work at midnight.

"Tom will finish his work at midnight" means that he will be working until midnight, and midnight is more or
less the exact time he will finish working.

"Tom will have finished his work by midnight" means that Tom will work until a time before midnight, when the
work will be finished. We don't know when. Maybe 8, 9 or 10 o'clock.
Note that with the future perfect, we usually use the preposition by, or before.
EXERCISE 2: Simple Future and Future Perfect
1.
Margaret: Do you think everything will be finished when I get back from the store?
Jerry: Don't worry. By the time you get back, I (pick) …………………………………………………….
up the living room and (finish) …………………………………………………………… washing the dishes.
Everything will be perfect when your parents arrive.
Margaret: I hope so. They (arrive) …………………………………………………………… around 6 o'clock.
Jerry: Everything (be) ………………………………………………………. spotless by the time they get here.
2.
Nick: I just have two more courses before I graduate from university. By this time next year, I (graduate)……..
.……………………………………………. , and I will already be looking for a job.
Stacey: Does that scare you? Are you worried about the future?
Nick: Not really. I (go)………………………………………………. to a career counselor and get some advice
on how to find a good job.
Stacey: That's a good idea.
Nick: I am also going to do an internship so that when I leave school, I (complete, not only)……………………..
……………………………………….. over 13 business courses, but I (work, also)………………………………
………………………………. in the real world.
3.
Stan: Did you hear that Christine (take) …………………………………………………….. a vacation in South
America this winter?
Fred: I can't believe how often she goes abroad. Where exactly does she want to go?
Stan: She (visit) ……………………………………………………..Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.
Fred: At this rate, she (visit) ………………………………………………………… every country in the world
by the time she's 50.
4.
Judy: How long have you been in Miami?
Elaine: I have only been here for a couple of weeks.
Judy: How long do you plan on staying?
Elaine: I love Miami, so I (stay)……………………………………………….. here for an extended period of
time. When I go back home, I (be) …………………………………………………………………..here for more
than three months.
Judy: Wow, that's quite a vacation! You (see, definitely) ………………………………………………………..
just about everything there is to see in Miami by then.

Future Perfect Continuous (also called the Future Perfect Progressive)

 Just like with the other perfect continuous tenses (and the future perfect simple),
we can use the future perfect continuous
 to say 'how long' for an action that continues up to another point in the future.
 The second point can be a time or another action. Generally, we need 'for + length of time' and if we
use 'when' or 'by the time', we usually use the present simple.
E.G. In April, she will have been teaching for twelve years.
By the time you arrive, I'll have been cooking for hours!

 In the same way as with the future perfect simple, we often use the future perfect continuous
because we like easy numbers. It's also possible to use the present perfect continuous, but then we
get a more complicated number.
E.G. I've been working here for 11 months and three weeks. (This is correct, but the time is not an easy
number.)
On Tuesday, I will have been working here for one year. (A much easier number.)
 We can use the future perfect continuous, like the other perfect continuous tenses, to talk about
something that finishes just before another time or action (in this case, in the future). It's often used
because there will be a result at the second point in the future. (Again, if we use 'when' we usually
need the present simple.)
E.G. When I see you, I'll have been studying, so I'll be tired.
  The general formula is will + have been + verb (ending in -ing).
Future Perfect Progressive Tense
So, now we know future perfect progressive tense verbs contain will + have been + verb (ending in -ing).
They're indicating something that will happen in the future. And that "something" will be an ongoing occurrence.
For example, "By that time, she will have been working here for two years."
Compared to Future Perfect Tense
An example of future perfect tense is, "Shannon will have gardened for three years by then." There, we're
speaking about the future, and Shannon's gardening, but it seems to have an end date. Future perfect progressive
tenses do not have an end date. They're ongoing, continuous, or progressive.
Typically Action Verbs
What's interesting about the future perfect progressive tense is that those -ing verbs will almost always be action
verbs, not stative verbs. That is, they'll largely be verbs carrying out a specific action, not a feeling or something
intangible.
For example, it would be rare - although not implausible - to see something like, "She will have been feeling sad
for two years." Typically, perfect progressive tense verbs are paired up with verbs expressing some sort of action.
Example Sentences
Although the label for these verbs is quite a mouthful, you'll find the concept is rather simple. Things stay the
same with this tense. To indicate something happening continuously in the future, make use of will + have
been + verb (ending in -ing).
 She will have been living in Ireland for ten years at that point.
 If it's midnight, he will have been sleeping for four hours by then.
 We will have been studying at this glorious university for three years.
 When our parents get married, I will have been singing professionally for over a year.
 By our 40th wedding anniversary, this plant will have been growing for 35 years.
Used in a Question
will + subject + have been + verb (ending in -ing). Here are three examples:
 At that point, will you have been living in Ireland for ten years?
 Will he have been sleeping for four hours by midnight?
 Will we have been studying at this university for three years at that point?
 By the time our parents get married, will you have been singing for a whole year?
 By our 40th wedding anniversary, will this plant have been growing for 35 years?
Negative Statements
The future perfect progressive tense used in the negative form to indicate a continuous action will not be
happening in the future
will + not + have been + verb (ending in -ing). Here are three examples:
 At that point, I will not have been living in Ireland for ten years - only two.
 He will not have been sleeping for four hours by midnight.
 By then, we will not have been studying at this university for three years.
 I will not have been singing professionally for one year by the time our parents get married.
 By our 40th wedding anniversary, this plant will not have been growing for 35 years.

Write the verbs in future perfect continuous.

1. They (watch) ……………………………………TV all day.

2. In half an hour she (work) ……………………………….for six hours without a break.
3. In two months I (teach) …………………………….English at this school for ten years.
 4. Next week you (live) ………………………………in your new house for a year.
5. My friends (lie) ………………………………………on the beach all holiday.
Write questions in future perfect continuous.
1. (How long/we/wait/for her) ………………………………………………..…… by now?
2. (Howlong/they/run) ……………………………………………………..……………..
3. (How long/she/learn/English) ……………………………………………………….
4. (How long/they/go out together) …………………………………………………………
5. (How long/he/do/this) ………………………………………………………………………
Make the future perfect continuous. Choose the positive, negative or question form.
1) I …………………………………………..(work) all weekend so I won't be energetic on Sunday night.
2) How long …………………………………………(you / wait) when you finally get your exam results?
3) Julie ……………………………………….(not / eat) much, so we'll need to make sure she has a
good meal when she arrives.
4) How long ………………………………………..(she / plan) to move house when she finally moves?
5) (she / wait) long by the time we get there?.............................................................
6) (he / play)………………………………………………………….. computer games for ten hours when
he finally stops?
7) They …………………………………………………………………..(study) all day, so they'll want to go
out in the evening.
8) They ……………………………………………………(not / stay) in the hotel for long when she arrive
9) I …………………………………………………………………….(not / walk) when I meet you – I'll
have been cycling.
10) She …………………………………………………………(play) squash, so she won't be dressed up.
11) We ……………………………………………………………(look) at houses for four months next
Tuesday.
12) We ……………………………………………………………………..(not / do)this project for long when
the inspector arrives.
13) How long ……………………………………………………………..(you / work) on this project when it
is finished?
14) ………………………………………………………………..(you / buy) clothes when I see you?
15) He …………………………………………………………………(not / do) much work, so he'll be happy
to start a new project.
16) How long ………………………………………………………………(the children / sleep) in the living
room when their new bedroom is ready?
17) How long ………………………………………………………………..(he / train) when he enters the
competition?
18) ……………………………………………………………………..(you / take) exams the day we meet
19) I …………………………………………………………………………(answer) students' questions all
morning, so I'll want a quiet lunch.
20) ……………………………………………………………. (they / travel) for long when they arrive?

Exercise 2 - Future perfect and future continuous

1-…………………………………………………………….(you / retire) by the time you're 60?
2- Next year, I…………………………………………… (study) maths at university.
3- Hurry up! The film ……………………………………………….. (start) soon.
4- There won't be anyone in the office. Everyone …………………………………..(go) home.
5- Julie ………………………………….(not work) this time next week. She'll be on holiday!
6- I'm only halfway through my homework. ………………………………..(not finish) it before the
teacher arrives.
7-Do you think that David ……………………..…………………….(fix) the car by tomorrow?
Don't phone me before 8 o'clock, we ………………………………… (have) dinner.

Exercise 3- Future continuous and future perfect

Complete the sentences with the future continuous, future perfect or future perfect continuous form of the verbs in brackets. Use
contractions where possible.

1. We ………………………move) into our new house soon. I'm so excited.

2. I……………………(go out) with John for two years in May.
3. …………………………………….(you / use) the car at the weekend?
4. This time tomorrow, we'll be celebrating because we…………………………………………………. (finish) our exams.
5. Don't phone her now. She…………………………………………………………. (have) dinner.
6. We………………………………… (not / work) next week. We'll be on holiday.
7. This time next month I………………………………………….. (drive) for ten years.
8. I'm afraid the books you ordered……………………………………………………… (not / arrive) by Friday.

Future perfect and future continuous -

Choose the correct tense - the future continuous or future perfect?

In twenty years' time most people …………………………………………………….. the Internet.

Right: will be using

By this time next year we …………………………………………………………… into our new house.

Right: will have moved

When he retires, he ……………………………………………………………………. for fifty years.

Right: will have been working

By 2050 holidaymakers …………………………………………………………. to the Moon.

Right: will be travelling

As soon as we reach the coast, we …………………………………………………….. for a week.

Right: will have been sailing

They …………………………………………………………………… the station by November.

Right: will have built

I ……………………………………………………………………… a job as soon as I leave school.

Right: will get

He will come back in summer. By then he ………………………………………………… in Cork for

two years.

Right: will have been staying

At midnight the speakers…………………………………………………………….. their projects for

ten hours.

Right: will have been presenting

When we go to see our kids, they……………………………………………………. at the camp for a

fortnight.

Right: will have been