There are many ways of talking about the future in English. Which way you choose depends on how you see the future. Is the future event planned or unplanned, a schedule, or a prediction?
Making predictions in English
You can use both will and going to to make predictions.
For example, "I think the Labour party will lose the next election." Or "I think the Labour party are going to lose the next election."
If you can make a prediction based on what you see now, we use going to.
For example, "You're driving too fast, you're going to hit the car in front!"
Future plans and arrangements
If something has already been planned, use going to with the verb, or the Present Continuous tense.
"I'm going to take my exams next month."
"He's visiting a client on Tuesday."
Unplanned future
When we decide to do something at the moment of speaking, we use will.
"The phone's ringing – I'll answer it."
(You only answer the phone when it starts ringing.)
Future schedules
When we want to talk about a schedule, we use the Present Simple tense.
"The plane leaves in half an hour – we'd better hurry."
"Next week I fly to Italy, then on Tuesday, I'm in Spain."
Events in progress at a time in the future
To talk about something that will be in progress at a time in the future, use will be doing.
"For example, "This time next week, I'll be sitting on a plane."
We can also use this form to make polite requests.
"Will you be using the car tomorrow?"
(If you won't, can I use it?)
Events that will be completed by a time in the future
If you want to say that something will be completed by a time in the future, use will have done.
"I'll have finished the report by this afternoon."
Final tip
Many learners of English overuse will and going to. Try using all the different future forms so that you become more confident.
39 comments on “Using future forms”
what is the future perfect
The future perfect is the "I'll have done" form. (See above.)
will have done means that there will be two future actins/events,that one of which will be completerd or finished before the other.
example:i will have eaten an apple when he calls.(means that i will eat the apple and finish it before he calls.when he calls i am done eating the apple)
In the future perfect tense can we make the short form like that:
example: I'll've done my homework….
No. You can only make the short form with "I will":
I'll have done my homework…
nest week i fly to Italy, then on Tuesady i am in Spain. it's a schedule but we can also consider it as a plan and say: next week i'll fly to Italy, then on Tuesday i'll be in Spain. can't we?
The problem with overusing "will" is that it sounds too much like a prediction. In the example above, we're more likely to talk about a schedule, or even a future arrangement: "I'm flying to Italy, then I'm going to Spain".
In each of the following sentences one future form is possible I have problem in choosing correct form
This time next week we'll just be arriving/we'll just arrive in America!
The first one. (This will be happening at a specific time in the future.)
As you can see from the satellite pictures,it will rain/it is raining in all parts of the country later this after noon.
The first one: a prediction
Ok,well if you're getting a pizza,I'll have/I'll be having one too.
The first one: deciding at the moment of speaking
Which tense is perfect for future arrangements?
e.g.
I am going to meet my boss tomorrow. or
I am meeting my boss tomorrow.
The present continuous (your second sentence) is better for future arrangements.
Nasrin says: ,,As you can see from the satelite pictures, it will rain/it is raining in all parts of the country later this afternoo".
You sey: ,,The first one: a prediction", but earlier you said: ,,If you can make a prediction based on what you see now, we use going to.
For example, "You're driving too fast, you're going to hit the car in front!"
In Nasrin sentence the satelite pictures show that is very possibile to be rainy in the afternoon, that means we could say …it is going to rain.., or may be I am wrong, because weather forecast is never predictable. However,… please,comment!
It should be "It will rain" or "It is going to rain" (not "It is raining").
Should you use the present progressive or future progressive for present action continuing into future + followed by UNTIL:
ex:
What is your plan for today?
We are studying until the end of the day.
We will be studying until the end of the day.
Also:
The students will be taking exams throughout the month of December.
The students are taking exams throughout the month of December.
(it is December now)
Daria » For both your examples, I'd use the future progressive, as you are talking about activities that will be progress in the future.
If you want to focus on these events being fixed appointments (particularly for the second example) you can also use the present continuous.
"I'm going to take my exams next month."
Shall we consider exams personal arrangements? So, we use "be going to", Or they're part of a schedule wherein we should use the continuous form? " I'm taking my exams next month"
Would you please clarify this point?
a Guest from Morocco » Which form you choose depends on how YOU see the future event:
I'm going to take my exams next month = intention (already planned) about a future event
I'm taking my exams next month = future arrangement, in my diary.
Both are correct (and often the going to future and present continuous future are interchangeable) but there are slight differences in emphasis between the two.
?
I just happen to know there are many ways of talking about future
Talking about future I always use WILL and BE GOING TO like you said
Now I'll do my best to use the new ways
TKS
"I am sending the report with this mail". Is this correct? Or have to use "I sent the report with this mail"?
The first one is correct.
i am looking my freind on monday.is correct?
It sounds a bit strange. Use present continuous to talk about future arrangements.
"I'm meeting my sister on Monday" is a good example – you and your sister have already arranged to meet.
thanks very mach for the site
i have a question that in your example "the labour party are going to lose next election"
tha labour party is singular . so, can't we use "are going " in that example,can?
In British English, we can use a plural verb with collective nouns such as "Labour party" and "government".
"Be going to do sth" and "Be doing sth", both are used for future arrangements as mentioned above. Then, why using present continuous is better than the other as in explanation to Amir Shoomro?
Could Clare please give more clarification?
When we mention the time, we often use the present continuous.
"What are you doing tomorrow at 3pm?" (Rather than "What are you going to do…." which would make it sound more like an intention than a planned future arrangement).
Any of the following are fine:
They will have two more schools built in the coming year.
They are having two more schools built in the coming year.
They are going to have two more schools built in the coming year.
CLARE,What are you doing tomorrow at 3pm?
why did you not use future tense.What will you do tomorrow at 3pm?
Because when we talk about future arrangements, we tend to use the present continuous. We use will to talk about predictions, or spontaneous decisions.
another way to express future form , we use " about to " example :I am about to travel to Paris.
(that means after few minutes, Iam going to travel to Paris ) .
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES ARE MORE CORRECT?
" THE GIRL WAS DROWNING AND HER MOTHER CALLED FOR HELP'
OR
THE GIRL WAS DROWNING AND HER MOTHER WAS CALLING FOR HELP.
Both are fine. In the first her mother called once, while in the second, she called many times.
HELLOW,
I AM GOING TO MEET MY FRIEND ON MONDAY?
IS IT CORRECT
Yes.
Dear clare:
thank you so very much for answering my question about the girl who was drowning and her mother etc, etc.
It's good to have a friend like you who can answer my doubts since i'm very obssesed with English grammar and the way it works. whenever I have a doubt like this: I can't sleep!
I send you my best regards from MENDOZA( ARGENTINA ) AND GOD BLESS YOU.
how to decide whether to use will you or would you ?
In what situation?
dear clare,
pls check this sentence. it's true or not
thanx
i'll process this project through tender, after we inform to BIDDER that the process will be changing through tender
I'm afraid I don't understand your sentence, as it's not clear what the sequence of activities is. Can you give me the list of activities as they happen in chronological order?
hi clare,
1) i am going to get back my baby from daycare.
2)i am going to bring back my baby from daycare.
which sentences is correct?
pls differ get back,bring back
I'm going to pick up my baby from daycare.
hi, clare..how r u doing?
i'm a new comer..
i've got a problme with this statement and to find out which is the correct anwer. can you help me. here is the satements. "oh, dear. it's already 4 o'clock. we ___________late."
a. will be
b. have been
c. are
i chose b(have been) is it correct? somehow, i think all of the answers are right. am i right? what must i do. i am really confused. thanks for your help.
a and c are correct.
should it be will?? or can??? .. enforceable consequenses can/will foster acdemic, social,and emotional well being
It depends how stong your view is. If you think that they will happen, use "will". If you're talking about possible results, use "can".
