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Future Tenses in English

The document discusses various ways to refer to future actions and events in English, including the future simple tense, be going to tense, future continuous, future perfect, and future perfect continuous. It provides examples of how each construction is used, such as using the future simple for predictions and promises, and be going to for plans and intentions. Exercises are included to practice forming sentences using the different future tense forms.

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Alejandra Ferreyra
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255 views5 pages

Future Tenses in English

The document discusses various ways to refer to future actions and events in English, including the future simple tense, be going to tense, future continuous, future perfect, and future perfect continuous. It provides examples of how each construction is used, such as using the future simple for predictions and promises, and be going to for plans and intentions. Exercises are included to practice forming sentences using the different future tense forms.

Uploaded by

Alejandra Ferreyra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Future time

We can refer to future actions with the Future Simple tense, Be Going To tense, Future Continuous, Future
Perfect, Future Perfect Continuous and, as seen before, the Present Simple and the Present Continuous
tenses.

Future Simple
● Predictions about the future, especially with the verbs THINK, BELIEVE, EXPECT, etc. The prediction is based on
what we think, believe or imagine. We also use this tense with the expressions BE SURE, BE AFRAID, etc. and the
adverbs PERHAPS, PROBABLY, CERTAINLY, etc.
❏ His parents think he will become an artist one day.
❏ I believe we will manage without any major problems.
● For on the spot decisions and offers
❏ It’s your birthday today, so I’ll pay for dinner.
❏ Don’t worry, I’ll help you with that when the time comes.
● For actions / events / situations which will definitely happen in the future and which we cannot control
❏ Sammy will be four next April.
❏ Winter will set in early this year.
● For promises, usually with the verbs PROMISE, SWEAR, GUARANTEE, etc. Also for threats, warnings, requests
and hopes.
❏ I hope pollution levels will drop soon.
❏ I promise I will call you as soon as I get there.
❏ Factories must stop polluting the air or else we won’t be able to breathe.

Be Going To
● Plans and intentions or ambitions we have for the future
❏ I’m going to employ more staff. (intention/plan)
❏ I’m going to expand my company. (intention / plan / ambition)
● Predictions based on present evidence, because what we can see or know now. We have now a clear indication
of what is happening in the near future.
❏ Look at him! He’s going to win the race. (now he’s ahead of the other runners)
❏ Look out! There’s a bus coming! It’s going to hit us! (I can see the bus coming in my direction now)

Future Continuous
● To describe a situation in the future at a particular time.
❏ This time next week we’ll be eating lunch on the plane!
● To predict a future state or habit at a particular time in the future
❏ In ten years’ time I expect I’ll be living in London.
❏ Next year, I’ll probably be cycling to work.
● To ask politely about someone’s plans for the near future, in order to see if our wishes fit in with tier plans
❏ Will you be going to the dentist this afternoon? Because if you are, then I’ll ask a little favour from you.
❏ You won’t be using your laptop today, will you?
Future Perfect
● For an action which will be finished before a stated future time
❏ They will have finished their meeting by four o’clock this afternoon. (the meeting will finish before 4 o’clock)
❏ By the time we get there, the film will have started. (the film will start before we get there)
● This tense is used with this time expressions: BY, BY THE TIME, BEFORE, UNTIL, BY THEN, etc. However, notice
that after these expressions we use the present simple.
❏ I will have tidied up BY THE TIME you get back.
❏ BY THE TIME she finished work, we will have arrived.

Future Perfect Continuous


● To emphasise the duration of an action up to a certain time in the future
❏ By the time rick retires, he will have been working for the same company for thirty years..
❏ Emily graduates next year. She will have been studying Economics for six years by then.

Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of WILL or BE GOING TO and the verb in brackets.

1. A-Why are buying flour and eggs?


2. B-because I(1)____________________ (make) a cake.
3. A-I have decided what to buy Mum for her birthday.
4. B-Really. What (2)____________________ (buy) for her?
5. A-Did you ask Jackie to the party?
6. B-Oh no! I forgot! I(3)____________________ (ask) her tonight.
7. A-Could I speak to Jim, please?
8. B-Wait a minute. I (4)____________________ (get) him for you.
9. A-what are your plans for the weekend?
10. B-I (5)____________________ (spend) some time with my friends.
11. A-What are you doing on Friday night?
12. B-Oh, I (6)____________________ probably (7)____________________ (stay) at home with my family.
13. A-Have you tidied your room yet?
14. B-No. But I promise I (8)____________________ (do) it his afternoon.
15. A-Look at that boy!
16. B-Oh yes! He (9)____________________ (climb) the tree.
17. A-Jason is very clever for his age.
18. B-Yes. He says he (10)____________________ (become) a doctor when he grows up.
19. A-I’m too tied to cut the grass.
20. B-Don’t worry! I (11)____________________ (cut) it for you.

Put the verbs in brackets into the PRESENT SIMPLE or the FUTURE SIMPLE.

1. A-I’m going to the gym tonight.


B-Well, while you are (be) there, I will do (do) the shopping.
2. A-Will you call (call) me when you get (get) home?
B-Yes, of course.
3. A-As soon as John comes (come) in, tell him to come to my office.
B-Certainly, sir.
4. A-I’m exhausted!
B-Me too. I wonder if David will come (come) to help tonight.
5. A-Are you going to visit Aunt Mabel this afternoon?
B-Yes, I will visit (visit) her before I do (do) the shopping.
6. A-Is George going to eat dinner with us?
B-No, by the time he gets (get) home it will be (be) very late.
7. A-When will you pay (pay) the rent?
B-When I get (get) my pay cheque.
8. A-What are your plans for the future?
B-I want to go to university after I finish (finish) school.
9. A-If you pay for dinner I will pay (pay) for the theatre.
B-Ok, that’s a good idea.
10. A-Can you give this message to Mike, please?
B-Well, I’ll try, but I doubt if I will see (see) him today.

Put the verbs in brackets into the FUTURE SIMPLE or the FUTURE CONTINUOUS.

Kevin Shall we go to the beach tomorrow?

Alison Well, I’m working in the morning, but I (1)______________ (phone) you when I finish.

Kevin Shall I ask Ben and Linda to come with us?

Alison Yes, I (2)______________ (see) Linda at work in the morning, so I (3)______________ (ask) her then.

Kevin If they want to come, I (4)______________ (pick) you up from work, and we can all go together.

Alison Great! We will be swimming (5)______________ (swim) in the sea this time tomorrow! I can’t wait!

Put the verbs in brackets into the FUTURE PERFECT or the FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS.

1. By three o’clock she (1)_________________________ (study) for six hours.

2. By the end of next month, Sam (2)_________________________ (finish) the project.

3. He (3)_________________________ (start) painting the kitchen before Tuesday.

4. By the time she arrives in Paris, she (4)_________________________ (travel) for four hours.

5. I hope I (5)_________________________ (buy) my own house by the time I’m thirty-five.

6. By Saturday, Lisa (6)_________________________ (diet) for two weeks.

7. Hopefully, they (7)_________________________ (learn) everything by the time they sit the exam.

8. By four o’clock, I (8)_________________________ (sit) in the hairdresser’s for three hours.

9. By Christmas, I w(9)_________________________ (work) for this company for 18 months.


10. By next weekend, Brian (10)_________________________ (move) house.

11. Hopefully, the builders (11)_________________________ (finish) building the house by next month.

12. By Tuesday, Alan (12)_________________________ (sail) for two weeks.

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