Future Simple and Future Perfect

Future Simple and Future Perfect

Future Simple

The Future Simple tense is often called the "will tense" because we make the Future Simple with the modal auxiliary will.

How do we make the Future Simple tense?

The structure of the Future Simple tense is:

Subject + will + main verb

For negative sentences in the Future Simple tense, we insert not between the auxiliary verb and main verb:

Subject + will not + main verb

For question sentences, we exchange the subject and auxiliary verb:

Will + Subject + main verb

Contraction with Future Simple

When we use the Future Simple tense in speaking, we often contract the subject and auxiliary verb: I will, I'll - you will, you'll - he will, he'll...

In negative sentences, we contract with won't, like this: I will not, I won't - you will not, you won't - he will not, he won't...

We use the Future Simple tense when there is no plan or decision to do something before we speak. We make the decision spontaneously 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 stay in and watch television tonight.

We often use the Future Simple tense with the verb to think before it:

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

• I think I will have a holiday next year.

• I don't think I'll buy that car.

We often use the Future Simple tense 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?

Future Perfect

We use the future perfect simple (will/won't have + past participle) to talk about something that will be completed before a specific time in the future:

The guests are coming at 8 p.m. I'll have finished cooking by then.

On 9 October we'll have been married for 50 years.

Will you have gone to bed when I get back?

Structure

The future perfect is made with the future simple of 'have' (will have) and the past participle:

[subject + will have + past participle]

We use the future perfect with a future time word, (and often with 'by') to talk about an action that will finish before a certain time in the future, but we don't know exactly when:

• By 10 o'clock, I will have finished my homework. (= I will finish my homework some time before 10, but we don't know exactly when.)

• By the time I'm sixty, I will have retired. (= I will retire sometime before I'm sixty. Maybe when I'm fifty-nine, maybe when I'm fifty-two.)

We use the future perfect to say 'how long' for an action that starts before and continues up to another action or time in the future:

• When we get married, I'll have known Robert for four years.

• At 4 o'clock, I'll have been in this office for 24 hours.