Future Tenses in English - contrasted

Future Tenses will-future going to-future Simple Present Present Progressive Future Progressive Future Perfect Past Tenses in English - contrasted Present Tenses in English - contrasted Exercises

1) Use
Present Progressive Future Progressive

will-future

going to-future

Simple Present

Future Perfect sth. will already have happened before a certain time in the future

planned action in prediction, the future; action will definitely future action is fixed planned action in the assumption; logical consequence happen (it usually (e.g. timetable) near future spontaneous action (sth. is going to happens) happen)

There is often very little difference between the future tenses. It often depends where you live (in Britain or the USA) and when you use the sentence (in spoken or written communication). In newsapapers we often use the will-future, when the going to-future is used in oral communication. newspaper: The headmaster will close the old gym. oral: The headmaster is going to close the old gym.

We can substitute the going to-future with the Present Progressive when using an expression of time. She is going to see Frank at the airport at 8.30. She is seeing Frank at the airport at 8.30.

2) Signal words
There are no unambiguous signal words for the future tenses. That's why watch the actions carefully and then define the tense.

3) Form
Present Progressive to be (am, are, is) +infinitive + -ing

will-future

going to-future to be (am, are, is) +going to +infinitive

Simple Present infinitive 3rd person singular (he, she, it)infinitive + -s

Future Progressive

Future Perfect

will + infinitive

will + be +infinitive + - will + have + past ing participle

4) Examples

will-future

going to-future

Simple Present

Present Progressive

Future Progressive

Future Perfect

4-1 Affirmative sentences He will carry this bag for you. We are going tofly to Leeds in summer. The train leaves at 6.45. I am going to a party tonight. They will beplaying football on Sunday afternoon. She will havewritten the letter by tomorrow.

will-future

going to-future

Simple Present

Present Progressive

Future Progressive

Future Perfect

4-2 Negative sentences He will not carrythis bag for you. We are not going to fly to Leeds in summer. The train does notleave at 6.45. They will not I am not going to a beplaying football party tonight. on Sunday afternoon. She will not havewritten the letter by tomorrow.

will-future 4-3 Questions

going tofuture

Simple Present

Present Progressive

Future Progressive

Future Perfect

Are we going Does the Will he carry this tofly to Leeds trainleave at bag for you? in summer? 6.45?

Am I going to a party tonight?

Will they beplaying football Will she havewritten the on Sunday afternoon. letter by tomorrow.