THE FUTURE TENSES IN ENGLISH

TENSE USES
EXAMPLES RULES
SIMPLE FUTURE FUTURE PERFECT Signal words: next year OTHER WAYS
REFERRING TO
She will come today. They’ll have built their FUTURE FUTURE
new house by September
She will not/won’t
2011.
CONTINUOUS
come.  BE TO
Will she come today? 8 referring to an action that will
FUTURE PERFECT be in progress at a certain or
Won’t she come today? The Queen is to meet the
CONTINUOUS stated time in the future
Prime Minister.
BE GOING TO She’ll have been Signal words: this time next
 BE ABOUT TO
teach- week, etc.
She is going to apply. ing here for 8 years
9 for planned, expected future She is about to go.
She isn’t going to next month.
apply. events or for an action that will
_____________________  DUE TO
definitely takes place in the
Is she going to apply? USES/RULES future as a part of a routine or
Isn’t she going to _____________________ The bus is due to arrive at
as a result of an arrangement.
apply? FUTURE SIMPLE 8:30.
Signal words: later, at lunch
It’s going to rain. 1an immediate,  BE SURE / CERTAIN/
It isn’t going to rain. spontaneous decision BOUND TO
Is it going to rain? FUTURE PERFECT
Signal words: just, imme He is sure to/bound
diately, right/straight away 10 an action that will come to to/certain to
PRESENT an end before a stated future leave.
CONTINUOUS 2 future general time.
predictions Signal words: by, by then THE FUTURE
He is leaving tonight. by the time, until/till IN THE PAST
He isn’t leaving Signal words: this year,
tonight. today, tomorrow, maybe, Note: with time expressions
perhaps. I think, I’m sure. introcing time clauses such as Ms Taylor was to/was
Is he leaving tonight? going to/ was due
Problably before, until, by the time, we
Isn’t he leaving to/was about to leave,
use Present Simple.
tonight? 3 for promises, hopes, but. He was on the point
offers, requests, warnings, FUTURE PERFECT of/ verge of crying but…
PRESENT threats.
CONTINUOUS
SIMPLE 4 showing willingness and
SIGNAL
intentions Won’t, on the 11 to stress on the duration of WORDS
We open our new office other hand, can express an action up to a stated future
in London next year. refusals: He won’t talk. time.
Signal words: by, for Verbs with rule no. 1
The train leaves in half
an hour Signal words: tomorrow,
next year, next time, etc. PRESENT SIMPLE think, believe, guess,
Does the meeting start expect, certain, not certain,
at 8am tomorrow? be sure
BE GOING TO 12 for official future plans,
timetables, programmes, etc. ■ Probably, may be,
FUTURE 5 plans, firm intentions perhaps
CONTINUOUS for the future. PRESENT ■ this Monday, Tuesday,
next week
CONTINUOUS
Don’t phone in the Signal words: one day
13 for fixed arrangements and Verbs with rule no. 3
evening I’ll be 6 predicting future by
washing my car. personal plans, get-together,
using present evidence date, etc. to be carried out in hope, assure, promise,
This time next week I’ll swear
the near future
be sitting on a plane to Signal words: soon,
…..
Don’t worry. I’ll tell her 7 for actions we have al-
cos I’ll be seeing her in ready committed oneself
to do in the near future
the office anyway.