Future: Forms
Introduction
In
English, there are many ways of talking about events in the future. Many
students find it difficult to decide which form to use in a particular
situation. This page explains the differences between main forms which we use
when talking about future time.
In grammar, a future tense is a verb form
that generally marks the event described by the verb as not having happened
yet, but expected to happen in the future. An example of a future tense form is the French aimera, meaning "will
love", derived from the verb aimer ("love"). English does not have a future tense formed by
verb inflection in this way, although it has a number
of ways of expressing futurity, particularly the construction with the auxiliary
verb will or shall,
and grammarians differ in whether they describe such constructions as
representing a future tense in English, one and all.
The
"future" expressed by the future tense usually means the future
relative to the moment of speaking, although in contexts where relative tenseis used it
may mean the future relative to some other point in time under consideration.
Future tense can be denoted by the glossing abbreviationfut.
1. Basic meanings of the forms
Most
students know that “will” and “going to” are used to talk about future time in
English. However, we also use the present progressive (“be” + ING) and the
present simple tense. Here are the basic rules.
|
Form
|
Meaning
/ Usage
|
Example
|
|
“Will”
|
volunteering
to do something
deciding at the time of speaking to do something |
Angelo: I
need a pencil.
Sarah: I'll lend you mine. |
|
“Going
to”
|
talking
about something that is already decided
|
Angelo: Have
you registered for the class yet?
Sarah: Not yet. I'm going to register tomorrow. |
|
Present
Continuous
|
talking
about something that is already arranged
|
Angelo: Do
you want to go to the movies tonight?
Sarah: Sorry, I can't. I'm playing soccer. |
|
Present
simple
|
talking
about a schedule, timetable or program
|
Angelo: What
time does the next bus leave?
Sarah: It leaves at six. |
2. Predicting the future
When
you are predicting what you think will happen in the future, you should choose
the form based on how certain you are. If you're not too sure, it's fine to use
“will”, but if you're nearly certain about something, it's best to use “going
to”.
I think it will rain.
(I'm not sure, but it looks like it might.)
It's going to rain.
(I'm sure it's going to rain — I can see black clouds in the sky.)
(I'm not sure, but it looks like it might.)
It's going to rain.
(I'm sure it's going to rain — I can see black clouds in the sky.)
Simple Future
Simple Future has two different forms in English:
"will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can
sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different
meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with
time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and
"be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.
FORM Will
[will + verb]
Examples:
·
You will help him later.
·
Will you help him
later?
·
You will not help him later.
FORM Be Going To
[am/is/are + going to + verb]
Examples:
·
You are going to meet Jane tonight.
·
Are you going
to meet Jane tonight?
·
You are not going to meet Jane tonight.
USE 1
"Will" to Express a Voluntary Action
"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do
something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for
someone else. Often, we use "will" to respond to someone else's
complaint or request for help. We also use "will" when we request
that someone help us or volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we use
"will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily do
something.
Examples:
·
I will send you the information when I get
it.
·
I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can
read it.
·
Will you help me
move this heavy table?
·
Will you make dinner?
·
I will not do your homework for you.
·
I won't do all the housework myself!
·
A: I'm really hungry.
B: I'll make some sandwiches.
B: I'll make some sandwiches.
·
A: I'm so tired. I'm about to fall asleep.
B: I'll get you some coffee.
B: I'll get you some coffee.
·
A: The phone is ringing.
B: I'll get it.
B: I'll get it.
USE 2
"Will" to Express a Promise
"Will" is usually used in promises.
Examples:
·
I will call you when I arrive.
·
If I am elected President of the United States, I will
make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.
·
I promise I will not tell him about the
surprise party.
·
Don't worry, I'll be careful.
·
I won't tell anyone your secret.
USE 3 "Be going
to" to Express a Plan
"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan.
It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future. It
does not matter whether the plan is realistic or not.
Examples:
·
He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.
·
She is not going to spend her vacation in
Hawaii.
·
A: When are we going to meet each
other tonight?
B: We are going to meet at 6 PM.
B: We are going to meet at 6 PM.
·
I'm going to be an actor when I grow up.
·
Michelle is going to begin medical school
next year.
·
They are going to drive all the way to
Alaska.
·
Who are you going to invite to
the party?
·
A: Who is going to make John's birthday
cake?
B: Sue is going to make John's birthday cake.
B: Sue is going to make John's birthday cake.
USE 4
"Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction
Both "will" and "be going to" can express
the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions are guesses
about what might happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the
subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do
not apply. In the following examples, there is no difference in meaning.
Examples:
·
The year 2222 will be a very interesting
year.
·
The year 2222 is going to be a very
interesting year.
·
John Smith will be the next President.
·
John Smith is going to be the next
President.
·
The movie "Zenith" will win several
Academy Awards.
·
The movie "Zenith" is going to win several
Academy Awards.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Future, it is not always clear which USE the
speaker has in mind. Often, there is more than one way to interpret a
sentence's meaning.
Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in
clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by
the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Simple Future, Simple Present is
used.
Examples:
·
When you will arrive tonight, we will go out
for dinner. Not Correct
·
When you arrive tonight, we will go out for
dinner. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs
such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
·
You will never help him.
·
Will you ever help him?
·
You are never going to meet Jane.
·
Are you ever going to meet Jane?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
·
John will finish the work by 5:00 PM. Active
·
The work will be finished by 5:00 PM. Passive
·
Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner
tonight. Active
·
A beautiful dinner is going to be made by
Sally tonight. Passive
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