Quickly remember 3 common future tenses in English

Future Simple Tense

Definition: The future simple in English is used when there is no plan or decision to do anything before we speak. We make spontaneous decisions at the time of speaking.

Formula

How to use

1. The future simple is used to express a decision or a momentary intention that occurred at the time of speaking. There are signal words indicating time in the future.

Ex: I miss my grandmother so much. I will drop by her house after working tomorrow. (I miss my grandmother so much after work tomorrow I will visit her.)

2. The future simple is used to express an unfounded prediction

Ex: I think she won’t come and join our party. (I don’t think she’ll come to our party.)

3. The future simple is used to make requests, suggestions, and invitations

Ex: Will you go out for dinner with me? (Can you go to dinner with me?)

4. Simple future tense is used to express promises

Ex: I promise I will write to her every day. (I promise I will write to her every day.)

5. The future simple is used to express a warning or threat

Ex: Stop talking, or the teacher will send you out. (Don’t talk anymore, or the teacher will kick you out of the class.)

6. The future simple is used to ask for help.

Ex: Shall I carry the bags for you, Dad? (Let me carry these bags for you, Dad.)

7. The future simple is used to give some suggestions

Ex: Shall we play football? (Shall we play soccer?)

8. The future simple is used to ask for advice

Ex: We’re lost. What shall we do? (We’re lost. What should we do?)

9. Simple future tense is used in conditional sentences of type I, expressing a possible hypothesis in the present and future.

Ex: If she learns hard, she will pass the exam. (If she studies hard, she will pass the exam.)

Recognizing signs

To recognize the simple future tense, we need to pay attention to some of the following signs.

Adverbs of time: In + time (for how long), tomorrow (tomorrow), next day/ next week/ next month/ next year (next day, next week, next month, next year), soon ( soon).

Verbs of opinion: think/ believe/ suppose/ assume, promise, hope, expect.

Adverbs of opinion: perhaps/ probably/ maybe (perhaps), supposedly

Future Continuous Tense

Definition: The future perfect is used to describe an action or event that will be completed by a specific time in the future.

Formula

How to use

The future perfect tense is easily confused with other future tenses, so the usage of this tense below will help you distinguish them better.

Describes an action that will be completed before a certain time in the future.

Ex: I will have completed my military service next year. (I will complete my military service next year.)

Describes an action or event that will be completed before another action or event in the future.

Ex: I’ll have finished my work report before my boss calls me. (I’ll finish my work report before my boss calls me.)

Recognizing signs

You can identify the future perfect by phrases such as:

by + future time (by 10am, by tomorrow, by next month,..)

by the end of + future time (by the end of next week,..)

by the time + simple present tense conjugation clause (by the time I get up,…)

before + future events/times (before 2022, …)

period + from now (2 weeks from now,…)

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Definition: The future perfect continuous is used to describe an action or event that will happen and happen continuously before a certain time in the future.

Formula

How to use

The future perfect continuous emphasizes the continuity of one action over another in the future.

Ex: My mom will have been doing housework for 2 hours by the time my dad comes home. (My mother will do the housework for 2 hours before my father comes home.)

The future perfect continuous describes an action or event that will continue until a certain time in the future.

Ex: I will have been working at this company for 3 months until the end of this month. (I will be working at this company for 3 months by the end of this month.)

Recognizing signs

The future perfect continuous has signs of recognition through the following phrases:

By then (Until then)

By the time + simple present tense clause

By the end of this… (At the end of this…)

Some structures related to the future tense

In addition to the 3 commonly used future tenses mentioned above, some of the following future-related structures are also widely used in exercises and real-life situations.

Structure Be going to (Near Future)

Definition: The near future tense is used to express a specific plan or intention with a calculation in the not-too-distant future. However, actions in the near future are planned, purposeful, and have specific intentions.

Formula

How to use

Used to express an intention, a future plan

Ex: She is going to get married this year. (She is getting married this year.)

Used to express a well-founded prediction with specific evidence

Ex: Look at those dark clouds! It’s going to rain. (Look at the dark clouds! It’s going to rain.)

Recognizing signs

In sentences using the near future tense, there are often words in the future, next year, next week, next time, and soon.

The present simple structure has a future meaning

For some of the following special cases, the present simple tense has a future meaning:

When we talk about timetables, we use the present simple to talk about the future

Ex: The summer term starts in April 10th. (Summer semester will begin on April 10.)

The present simple is often used to express future ideas in subordinate clauses, such as after what, where, when, until, if, than.

Ex:  She’ll pay us back when she gets a job. (She will pay us when she has a job.)

Sometimes the present simple can be used with a future meaning when asking or giving instructions.

Ex: Where do I pay? (Where do I pay?)

Present continuous structure means future

The present continuous with a future meaning is used to describe future arrangements or plans, often with words indicating a specific time.

Ex: They’re building a new school next year. (Next year they will build a new school.)

[Practice] 100+ compound future tense exercises

Exercise 1: Give the correct form of the verbs in brackets

1. The train __________ (to arrive) at 12:30.

2. We __________ (to have) dinner at a seaside restaurant on Sunday.

3. It __________(to snow) in Brighton tomorrow evening.

4. On Friday at 8 o’clock I __________ (to meet) my friend.

5. Paul __________ (to fly) to London on Monday morning.

6. Wait! I __________ (to drive) you to the station.

7. The English lesson __________ (to start) at 8:45.

8. Are you still writing your essay? If you __________ (to finish) by 4pm, we can go for a walk.

9. I __________ (to see) my mother in April.

10. Look at the clouds – it __________ (to rain) in a few minutes.

11. When they __________ (to get) married in March, they __________ (to be) together for six years.

12. You’re carrying too much. I __________ (to open) the door for you.

13. Do you think the teacher __________ (to mark) our homework by Monday morning?

14. When I __________ (to see) you tomorrow, I __________ (show) you my new book.

15. After you __________ (to take) a nap, you __________ (to feel) a lot better

16. I’m sorry but you need to stay in the office until you __________ (to finish) your work.

17. I __________ (to buy) the cigarettes from the corner shop when it __________ (to open).

18. I __________ (to let) you know the second the builders __________ (to finish) decorating.

19. Before we __________ (to start) our lesson, we __________ (to have) a review.

20. We __________ (to wait) in the shelter until the bus __________ (to come).

21. I’m very sorry, Dr. Jones __________ (not be) back in the clinic until 2pm.

22. This summer, I __________ (to live) in Brighton for four years.

23. I don’t think you __________ (to have) any problems when you land in Boston.

24. The baby should be due soon, next week she __________ (to be) pregnant for nine months.

25. By the time we get home, they __________ (to play) football for 30 minutes.

26. In  three years I __________ (to live) in a different country.

27. When you __________ (to get) off the train, I __________ (to wait) for you by the ticket machine.

28. __________ (to take) your children with you to France?

29. This time next week I __________ (ski) in Switzerland!

30. Now I __________ (to check) my answers.

Exercise 2: Complete the sentences with the suggested verbs

1. Do you know Sharon’s email address? I _______ to her about he wedding today. (write)

2. Don’t forget! We ________ an exhibition match in Liverpool next Friday. (play)

3. Can you lend me the book? I’m sorry, I can’t lend it to you now. I _____ it soon. (read)

4. School announcement: Easter holidays ____ on 12th April this year. (start)

5. So you are flying to the Canary Islands tomorrow night. What time ____? (leave)

6. Why are you buying so many cakes anh so much ice cream? I ____ a party. (have)

7. Please, can you say hello to Peter? Yes, of course. I _____ after lunch. (see)

8. Look at the car. It is driving too fast! Oh, no, it ______ ! (crash)

9. Ecuxse me, sir. What time ____ on Saturday and Sunday? (start)

10. Yes, I’ve bought two pizzas. And I ____ them on my own. (arrive)

11. Could you meet me at the station in the evening? The coach ____ at the Victoria Station at 7.25. (go)

12. I’m so excited! I _____ on holiday to Egypt tomorrow.

Answers to exercises

Lesson 1:

1. The train arrives at 12:30.

2. We are going to have dinner at a seaside restaurant on Sunday.

3. It will snow in Brighton tomorrow evening. (or is going to snow)

4. On Friday at 8 o’clock I am meeting my friend. (or am going to meet)

5. Paul is flying to London on Monday morning.

6. Wait! I will drive you to the station.

7. The English lesson starts at 8:45.

8. Are you still writing your essay? If you finish by 4pm, we can go for a walk.

9. I am going to see my mother in April.

10. Look at the clouds – it is going to rain in a few minutes. (or will rain)

11. When they get married in March, they will have been together for six years.

12. You’re carrying too much. I will open the door for you.

13. Do you think the teacher will have marked our homework by Monday morning?

14. When I see you tomorrow, I will show you my new book.

15. After you take a nap, you will feel a lot better. (or have taken)

16. I’m sorry but you need to stay in the office until you have finished your work. (or finish)

17. I will buy the cigarettes from the corner shop when it opens.

18. I will let you know the second the builders have finished decorating. (or finish)

19. Before we start our lesson, we are going to have a review. (or will have)

20. We will wait in the shelter until the bus comes.

21. I’m very sorry, Dr. Jones won’t be back in the clinic until 2pm.

22. This summer, I will have been living in Brighton for four years.

23. I don’t think you will have any problems when you land in Boston. (or are going to have)

24. The baby should be due soon, next week she will have been pregnant for nine months.

25. By the time we get home, they will have been playing football for 30 minutes.

26. In  three years I am going to live in a different country. (or will live)

27. When you get off the train, I will be waiting for you by the ticket machine.

28. Are you going to take your children with you to France?

29. This time next week I will be skiing in Switzerland!

30. Now I will check my answers. (or am going to)

Lesson 2:

1. am going to write

2. are playing

3. am going to read

4. start

5. are you leaving

6. am going to have

7. am seeing him

8. is going to crash

9. does the concert start

10. am going to eat

11. arrives

12. am going

Above is all the knowledge around 3 basic future tenses in English grammar in general. Hope this article will help you gain a lot of useful knowledge.