Future Forms

Future Forms

adv 4

There are a number of different ways of referring to the future in English. It is important to remember that we are expressing more than simply the time of the action or event. Obviously, any 'future' tense will always refer to a time 'later than now', but it may also express our attitude to the future event.

All of the following ideas can be presented using different tenses:

• Simple prediction

• Arrangements

• Plans and intentions

• Time-table events

• Prediction based on evidence

• Willingness

• etc

Multiple Choice

There will be snow in many areas tomorrow.

• Simple prediction

• Arrangement

• Obligation

• Takes place immediately

Multiple Choice

I'm meeting Jim at the airport.

• arrangement

• obligation

• matter of routine

• time-tabled events

Multiple Choice

We're going to spend the summer abroad

• plans and intentions

• obligation

• projecting onto the future

• simple prediction

Multiple Choice

The plane takes off at 3 am.

• time-tabled event

• willingness

• matter of routine

• simple prediction

Multiple Choice

I think it's going to rain.

• prediction based on evidence

• action in progress in the future

• matter of routine

• simple prediction

Multiple Choice

We'll give you a lift to the movies.

• willigness

• time-tabled event

• matter of routine

• simple prediction

Multiple Choice

This time next week I'll be sunbathing!

• action in progress in the future

• time-tabled event

• matter of routine

• simple prediction

Multiple Choice

You'll be seeing John in the office tomorrow, won't you?

• matter of routine

• willingness

• plans and intentions

• simple prediction

Multiple Choice

You are to travel directly to London

• obligation

• willingness

• plans and intentions

• simple prediction

Multiple Choice

The train is about to leave

• Action that will take place immediately

• willingness

• plans and intentions

• simple prediction

Multiple Choice

A month from now he will be finished with his exams.

• Projecting onto the future and looking back on an action

• willingness

• plans and intentions

• simple prediction

It is clear from these examples that several tenses are used to express the future. The future tense section shows the form and function of each of these uses of future tenses.

There are four verb tenses in english

• Simple future

• Future Continuous

• Future Perfect

• Future perfect continuous

Simple future

The simple future refers to a time later than now, and expresses facts or certainty. In this case there is no 'attitude'.

The simple future is used to:

• Predict a future event

• Express a spontaneous decision (with I or We)

• Express willingness

• Give orders

• Invite

• Etc...

Future continuous

The future continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a time later than now. The future continuous is used for quite a few different purposes.

The future continuous is used to:

• Project ourselves into the future

• Predicting or guessing future events

• Ask politely for information

• Refer to continuous events that we expect to happen in the future

• When combined with still, the future continuous refers to events that are already happening now and that we expect to continue some time into the future.

Future Perfect

The future perfect tense refers to a completed action in the future. When we use this tense we are projecting ourselves forward into the future and looking back at an action that will be completed some time later than now. It is most often used with a time expression.

Some examples

• I will have been here for six months on June 23rd.

• By the time you read this I will have left.

• You will have finished your report by this time next week.

• Won't they have arrived by 5:00?

• Will you have eaten when I pick you up?

Future perfect continuous

Like the future perfect simple, this form is used to project ourselves forward in time and to look back. It refers to events or actions that are currently unfinished but will be finished at some future time. It is most often used with a time expression.

Some examples

• I will have been waiting here for three hours by six o'clock.

• By 2001 I will have been living in London for sixteen years.

• When I finish this course, I will have been learning English for twenty years.

• Next year I will have been working here for four years.

• When I come at 6:00, will you have been practicing long?