Future tenses
There are
several different ways in English that you can talk about the future. This page
is an introduction to the most important ones:
- Predictions,
simple statements of fact or spontaneous decision
- Plans,
arrangements or Intentions
- Scheduled events
Predictions, simple
statements of fact or spontaneous decision
The auxiliary
verb will is
used in making predictions or simple statements of fact about
the future.
The sun will rise at
6.30 tomorrow.
Lunch break
today will be
10 minutes longer than usual.
In the year
2050 all students will
have their own computers in school.
If you help me,
I will help
you.
Do you think
she will come
soon?
You won't
pass your exams if you don't start working harder.
I know my
parents won't let me go to the party.
Will it snow for Christmas?
I know she's
sick, but will
she be back in school tomorrow?
Teacher: It’s hot here. Student: I will open the windows, teacher!
Plans, arrangements
or Intentions
Future with going
to or Present
Continuous are used in talking about plans, arrangements or Intentions.
An intention is a plan for the future that you have already
thought about.
An arrangement is a plan for the future that you have already
thought about and discussed with someone else.
We're going to buy
a new car next month. (We are buying a new car next month)
I'm going to work
in a bank when I leave school. (I'm working in a
bank when I leave school.)
In the new year
I'm going
to stop eating so much junk. (In the new year I'm stopping eating
so much junk.)
I'm not going to watch
TV anymore. (I'm not watching TV anymore.)
Are you going
to play basketball after school? (Are you playing
basketball after school?)
Scheduled
events
The present
simple tense is usually used to refer to future events that are scheduled (and
out of our control).
Hurry up! The
train departs in 10 minutes.
I leave
Frankfurt at 5 o'clock in the morning and arrive in New York
at midnight the
next day.
She has
an appointment with the headmaster after school today.
There's no need
to hurry. The train doesn't leave for another 30 minutes.
When does
the meeting begin?
I
have a doctor's appointment at 8 o'clock
on Monday.
