📚 What is Future Tense?
The future tense is used to talk about actions or states that will happen later - things that haven't happened yet.
I will study tomorrow.
She is going to visit her grandma next week.
The party starts at 7 PM tonight.
🎯 Ways to Express Future
1. Will + Base Verb
Use for predictions, promises, spontaneous decisions, and offers
Predictions:
It will rain tomorrow.
She will be a great doctor someday.
Promises:
I will help you with your homework.
We will be there on time.
Spontaneous Decisions:
I'm thirsty. I will get some water.
The phone is ringing. I will answer it.
Offers:
I will carry that for you.
We will wait for you.
💡 Contractions:
will not → won't
I will → I'll, you will → you'll, she will → she'll
2. Be Going To + Base Verb
Use for plans, intentions, and predictions based on evidence
Plans and Intentions:
I am going to study medicine.
They are going to travel to Europe next summer.
She is going to learn Spanish.
Predictions Based on Evidence:
Look at those dark clouds! It is going to rain.
Watch out! You are going to fall!
She didn't study. She is going to fail the test.
3. Present Continuous for Future
Use for definite arrangements and plans (especially with time/place mentioned)
I am meeting Sarah at 3 PM.
We are flying to New York tomorrow.
She is having a party on Saturday.
They are visiting us next week.
4. Simple Present for Future
Use for scheduled events (timetables, calendars)
The train leaves at 8:00 AM.
The concert starts at 7:30 PM.
School begins on Monday.
The store opens at 9:00 AM tomorrow.
📊 Will vs. Be Going To
Will
- Spontaneous decisions
- Promises
- Predictions (general)
- Offers and requests
I'll help you! (spontaneous)
I think it'll be sunny. (prediction)
Be Going To
- Planned intentions
- Predictions with evidence
- Things already decided
I'm going to study law. (plan)
Look! It's going to rain! (evidence)
⏰ Future Continuous
Use will be + verb-ing for actions in progress at a specific future time
Formation: will be + verb-ing
This time tomorrow, I will be flying to Paris.
They will be studying all night.
We will be waiting for you at the station.
At 8 PM tonight, I will be watching TV.
✅ Future Perfect
Use will have + past participle for actions completed before a specific future time
Formation: will have + past participle
By next year, I will have graduated.
She will have finished the project by Friday.
They will have arrived by 6 PM.
We will have lived here for ten years next month.
🕐 Time Words for Future Tense
- tomorrow - I'll see you tomorrow.
- next (week/month/year) - We're going to visit next summer.
- tonight - The movie starts tonight.
- soon - She will arrive soon.
- in (time period) - They're leaving in two hours.
- later - I'll call you later.
- this (evening/weekend/summer) - We're traveling this weekend.
✏️ Practice Exercise
Choose the best future form. Click to reveal!
1. Look at those clouds! It (rain) soon.
Look at those clouds! It is going to rain soon.
Prediction based on evidence
2. I'm tired. I (go) to bed early tonight.
I'm tired. I will go to bed early tonight.
Spontaneous decision
3. We (visit) our grandparents next weekend. We already bought tickets.
We are going to visit our grandparents next weekend.
Planned intention
4. The train (leave) at 9:00 AM.
The train leaves at 9:00 AM.
Scheduled event - simple present
5. I (help) you with your homework. I promise!
I will help you with your homework.
Promise
6. This time tomorrow, I (fly) to Hawaii.
This time tomorrow, I will be flying to Hawaii.
Future continuous - action in progress at specific future time
🎯 Key Takeaways
- Will + base verb: predictions, promises, spontaneous decisions, offers
- Be going to + base verb: plans, intentions, predictions with evidence
- Present continuous: definite arrangements with time/place
- Simple present: scheduled events (timetables)
- Future continuous: will be + verb-ing (action in progress in future)
- Future perfect: will have + past participle (completed before future time)
- Choose the form based on how certain and planned the future action is