Expressing the future in English

1. FUTURE SIMPLE
1.1. Form
1.1.1. Affirmative
SUBJ. + AFF form of AUX. will +
base form of the verb

(1) I will study English.

(2) He will probably get married.

1.1.2. Negative
SUBJ. + NEG. form of AUX. will +
base form of the verb

(3) I wont study English.

(4) He will not get married.

1.1.3. Interrogative
AUX. will + SUBJ. + base form of
the verb

(5) Will you study English?

(6) Will she buy a house by the river?

1.2. Uses
To talk about future happenings and situations (predicting the future)
e.g. I think the weather will be nice this afternoon.
When we decide to do something at the time of speaking
e.g. Oh no, I forgot. I will phone her now.
1.3. Helpful Hints
Expressions generally appearing in combination with the future simple: probably, I
expect, (Im) sure, (I) think, (I) wonder, (I) dont think...
Shall or the negative shall not (shant) can be used instead of will with the pronouns I and
we. However, shall is more frequently used in questions.

2. FUTURE CONTINUOUS
2.1. Form
2.1.1. Affirmative
SUBJ. + AFF. form of AUX. will +
BE + present pple. (verb + ing)

(7) I will be watching TV.

(8) They will be having lunch.

2.1.2. Negative
SUBJ. + NEG. form of AUX. will + BE
+ present pple. (verb + ing)

(9) They wont be studying.

(10) He wont be doing the laundry.

2.1.3. Interrogative
AUX. will + SUBJ. + BE + present pple.
(verb + ing)

(11) Will you be driving?

(12) Will your father be cooking at
this time tomorrow evening?

2.2. Uses
To describe an action or situation that you will be in the middle of at a given point in the
future, e.g. This time next week Ill be on holiday. Ill be lying on the beach.

3. FUTURE PERFECT
3.1. Form
3.1.1. Affirmative
SUBJ. + AFF. form of AUX. will +
HAVE + past pple.

(13) I will have finished my project.

(14) He will have arrived home.

3.1.2. Negative
SUBJ. + NEG. form of AUX. will +
HAVE + past pple.

(15) They wont have left the office.

(16) He wont have cleaned the house.

3.1.3. Interrogative
AUX. will + SUBJ. + HAVE + past
pple.

(17) Will the film have finished?

(18) Will she have saved enough money?

3.2. Uses
To talk about an action which will already be complete before a time in the future, e.g.
Were late. The film will have started by the time we get to the cinema.

3.3. Helpful Hints

Expressions generally appearing in combination with the future simple: by the time,...

4. BE GOING TO
4.1. Form
4.1.1. Affirmative
SUBJ. + corresponding AFF. form of
AUX. be + GOING TO + base form of
the verb

(19) Im going to study Medicine.

(20) He is going to paint his house.

4.1.2. Negative
SUBJ. + corresponding NEG. form of the
AUX. be + GOING TO + base form of
the verb

(21) Im not going to go to the cinema.

(22) He isnt going to meet his friends.

4.1.3. Interrogative
Corresponding form of AUX. be +
SUBJ. + GOING TO + base form of the
verb

(23) Are you going to travel by train?

(24) Is she going to book a table at the
new restaurant?

4.2. Uses
To talk about something we have already decided to do. We intend to do it, however, we
might not have arranged the specific details yet, e.g. I hear Sarah has won some money.
What is she going to do with it?
To say that something is going to happen in the future, when we have evidence that
such thing is going to happen e.g. Look at those black clouds! Its going to rain.

5. PRESENT CONTINUOS
5.1. Uses

We use the Present Continuous with a future meaning when we have already decided and
arranged to do something in a near future, e.g. What are you doing on Saturday evening?
Im going to the theatre.

5. PRESENT SIMPLE
5.1. Uses

We use the Present Simple to talk about timetables, programmes, etc. E.g. The train
leaves at 11.30, so I need to be at the station by 11.15.