FUTURE TENSE

Simple Future Tense

 There are two forms to express future tense

 Will + simple form of the verb

The doctor will see Lucy at five.

 Be + going to + simple form of the verb

Ramadhan is going to sign up for English Test next
week.
 The Future
Will and be + going + to are often used to
describe future actions.

Thomas will graduate in June.

Maria is going to go to Mexico next week.
Yes/No Questions
 Move the “will” to the front of the subject.

Vicki will take English 2 next semester.

Will Vicki take English 2 next semester?
Yes/ No Questions
“Be” + Going To
 Move the “be” verb to the front of the subject for the
going to form

Vicki is going to take English 2 next semester.

Is Vicki going to teach English 2 next semester?
Wh-Questions
 Move the wh-question word to the front of the yes/no
question form.

Will Vicki take English 2 next semester?

When will Vicki take English 2?

Wh-Questions + Be + Going To
 Move the wh-question word to the front of the yes/no
question form.

Is Vicki going to take English 2 next semester?

When is Vicki going to take English 2?
Negatives
 Add not between will and the verb.
Vicki will not take English 2 next semester.

 Add not after the “be” form of the verb in the be

+going to form
Vicki is not going to take English 2 next semester.
Will
 Indicates promise, determination, volunteer action,
prediction or inevitability for the future

a. Helen’s money will disappear. (prediction)

b. We’ll need a bigger classroom.(inevitability)
c. I’ll spend your money carefully! (promise)
d. Karl will get an “A” in this class.(determination)
Be + Going To
 Used for prediction and inevitability, but not promise
volunteered action or determination.

Crystal is going to meet a tall, handsome man.

(prediction)

We’re going to need more laptops. (inevitability)

 Do not use Will for an action or event planned for the
future.
 Use Be Going to for an action or event planned for the
future.

Jackie is going to go to Vietnam in the fall.

(NOT : Jackie will go to Vietnam in the fall.)
 In the negative, will not (won’t) can mean refusal.
I won’t do my homework.

 Be Going To can also be used to mean refusal

I am not going to do my homework.
 Will is used for polite requests and invitations
Yolanda, will you please close Google Talk?

 Would and Could can also be used this way

Yolanda, would/could you please close Google Talk?

 We do not use Be Going to for polite requests.

 Shall (another form of will) is mainly used with I or
We in the question form.

Shall I end class early?

Shall we leave class at 11:00?

 Very Formal
 The Future
The simple present and present progressive are
also used to express future time. These are
often used in connection with schedules.

She is meeting a new client at eleven o’clock.

The train leaves at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow.
Simple Present (meaning the
future)
 Simple present has a future meaning in subordinate
(dependent) clauses that express time and condition
with these words.

 TIME (when, whenever, while as (=while), until,

befroe, after, as soon as, by the time)
Ex: When Karl finishes the dishes, he and his wife will
watch TV.

 CONDITION (if, unless, in case)

Ex: In case you need me, I’ll be in my office.
Simple Present (Future
Meaning)
 Will or “be + going to” is used in the main clauses of a
future tense sentence that contains a dependent
clause if time or condition. The main clause
determines the tense of the whole sentence. Will is
most commonly used.

Ex: When the ceremony is over, Yolanda and Mike will

leave for their honeymoon.
Simple Present (Future
Meaning)
 The simple present has a future meaning with certain
specific verbs that indicate a scheduled event.
(start, begin, end, open, close, arrive, leave, take off,
get to, land, rise, set)

Ex: The wedding begins at 2:00 next Saturday.

Present Continuous(Future
Meaning)
 Present continuous is used for a planned future event
or action. It is generally interchangeable with the “be
+ going to” form.

Ex: I’m driving to the mall later this afternoon.

 The present continuous is not used for the future with

verbs such as rain, snow, get sick, or die because these
are not planned events and also not used with non-
action verbs.
Present Continuous(Future)
In the negative, the present continuous indicates:
 The negative of a plan for the future.
Ex: Tobey’s not coming to class tomorrow.

 Refusal
Ex: I’m not giving you the answers to the quiz!

 When the present continuous means in the future,

some indication of time is given in wither the sentence
or the context.
Ex. What are you doing tomorrow?
Present Continuous(Future)
 The present continuous is often used in
subordinate(dependent ) clauses that express time and
condition with these words:
(when, while, as (=while), until, by the time, if, unless,
in case)

Ex: Whenever Helen is doing her homework, Grace

will watch and take notes.
Present Continuous(Future)
 Will or “be+ going to” is used in the main clause of
sentences with dependent clauses of time or condition.

 Sometimes the present continuous is used in the main

clause when time is mentioned.
Ex: We’re talking about simple present tomorrow while
we are working in groups.
 The Future Progressive
This tense is used to describe an event or
action that will occur over a period of time at a
specific point in the future.
at 10 a.m. tomorrow
by the time you arrive

• I will be teaching English 3 at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

• They will be moving their furniture out of the house by
the time you arrive tomorrow.
 The Future Perfect
This tense is used to describe an event or
action that will be completed before another
event or time in the future.
will have finished the exam class ends

We will have finished the exam by the time class ends

tomorrow.
 Future Perfect Progressive
This tense describes an action that has been in
progress for a duration of time before another
event or time in the future.

finishes law school

will have been living in the U.S.

for eight years

By the time he finishes law school, we will have

been living in the U.S. for eight years.
Complete the following sentences choosing
the correct future tense form
There are many possible future tense forms to choose
from, including;
 simple present
 present continuous
 will-future
 going to-future
 will+present perfect
 will+present perfect continuous.
1. The train __________ (to arrive) at 12:30.
2. We __________ (to have) dinner at a seaside restaurant on
Sunday.
3. It __________(to rain) in Bantul tomorrow evening.
4. On Friday at 8 o’clock I __________ (to meet) my friend.
5. Paul __________ (to fly) to Jakarta on Monday morning.
6. Wait! I __________ (to drive) you to the station.
7. The English lesson __________ (to start) at 8:45.
8. Are you still writing your essay? If you __________ (to
finish) by 4pm, we can go for a walk.
9. I __________ (to see) my mother in April.
10. Look at the clouds – it __________ (to rain) in a few
minutes.
11. When they ___ (to get) married in March, they __ (to be) together
for six years.
12. You’re carrying too much. I ___(to open) the door for you.
13. Do you think the teacher ___ (to mark) our homework by Monday
morning?
14. When I ___ (to see) you tomorrow, I __(show) you my new book.
15. After you __(to take) a nap, you ___(to feel) a lot better
16. I’m sorry but you need to stay in the office until you ___(to finish)
your work.
17. I __(to buy) some candies from the corner shop when it ___(to
open).
18. I ___ (to let) you know the second the builders _____(to finish)
decorating.
19. Before we ___ (to start) our lesson, we ____ (to have) a review.
20. We ___ (to wait) in the shelter until the bus __ (to come).
21. I’m very sorry Dr. Jones ___ (not be) back in the clinic until 2pm.
22. This summer, I ___ (to live) in Jogja for four years.
23. I don’t think you ___ (to have) any problems when you land in
Bali.
24. The baby should be due soon, next week she ___ (to be) pregnant
for nine months.
25. By the time we get home, they ___ (to play) football for 30
minutes.
26. In three years I ___ (to live) in a different country.
27. When you ___ (to get) off the train, I ___ (to wait) for you by the
ticket machine.
28. ___ (to take) your children with you to Singapore?
29. This time next week I ___ (travel) in Raja Ampat!
30. Now I ___ (to check) my answers.
Future Tense
 More explanations:
 http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.h
tml
Future tenses Exercise Answers
1. The train arrives at 12:30.
2. We are going to have dinner at a seaside restaurant on Sunday.
3. It will snow in Bantul tomorrow evening. (or is going to snow)
4. On Friday at 8 o’clock I am meeting my friend. (or am going to meet)
5. Paul is flying to Jakarta on Monday morning.
6. Wait! I will drive you to the station.
7. The English lesson starts at 8:45.
8. Are you still writing your essay? If you finish by 4pm, we can go for a walk.
9. I am going to see my mother in April.
10. Look at the clouds – it is going to rain in a few minutes. (or will rain)
11. When they get married in March, they will have been together for six years.
12. You’re carrying too much. I will open the door for you.
13. Do you think the teacher will have marked our homework by Monday morning?
14. When I see you tomorrow, I will show you my new book.
15. After you take a nap, you will feel a lot better. (or have taken)
16. I’m sorry but you need to stay in the office until you have finished your work. (or finish)
17. I will buy the cigarettes from the corner shop when it opens.
18. I will let you know the second the builders have finished decorating. (or finish)
19. Before we start our lesson, we are going to have a review. (or will have)
20. We will wait in the shelter until the bus comes.
21. I’m very sorry Dr. Jones won’t back in the clinic until 2pm.
22. This summer, I will have been living in Jogja for four years.
23. I don’t think you will have any problems when you land in Bali. (or are going to have)
24. The baby should be due soon, next week she will have been pregnant for nine months.
25. By the time we get home, they will have been playing football for 30 minutes.
26. In three years I am going to live in a different country. (or will live)
27. When you get off the train, I will be waiting for you by the ticket machine.
28. Are you going to take your children with you to Singapore?
29. This time next week I will be travelling in Raja Ampat!
30. Now I will check my answers. (or am going to)