1. Learn
  2. Quick Notes
  3. List
  4. Tenses : Mixed
Back

Future Tense

 
  Verb 'to be'  
 

1. The present continuous tense is used for plans:

The present continuous is used when we say what we have planned and arranged to do at a specific time in the future. These are fixed plans with a definite time and/or place.

Examples:

  • I'm doing my homework this evening.
  • I'm starting university in September.
  • Sally is meeting John at seven o'clock this evening in a restaurant downtown.

2. To be + going to + verb:

A. We use 'going to' to express the future when we intend to do something or have decided to do something but did not arrange it. It is just an intention.

Example:

  • A: The windows are dirty.
    B: Yes, I know. I'm going to clean them later.
     = I've decided to clean them, but I haven't arranged to clean them.

B. We also use 'going to' to make predictions.

  • Watch out! You are going to break the glass.
  • It's so cloudy! I think it's going to rain.
  
     
 
 
1.1  Future Simple Tense

 

  Affirmative Form  
 

I/ you/ we/ they/ she/ he/ it will/ ’ll go.

Examples:

I think I will/ ’ll buy the latest merch.

They will/ ’ll attend the party.

  
     

 

  Interrogative Form  
 

Will I/ you/ we/ they/ she/ he/ it go?

Examples:

Will you accompany me to the party?

Will they forgive me for my mistakes?

  
     

 

  Negative Form  
 

I/you/we/they/she/he/it will not/ won’t go.

Examples:

I told you already, I will not/ won’t meet them!

They will not/ won’t stay for long.

  
     

 

  The use of future simple tense  
 
  • We use the simple future for instant decisions.
    Example: "I've left the door open; I'll close it."
     
  • We use the simple future when we predict a future situation:
    Example: "She'll pass the exam. She's hardworking."
     
  • We use the simple future with: "I (don't) think...", "I expect...", "I'm sure...", "I wonder...", "probably".
    Example: "It will probably rain tonight", "I wonder what will happen?
     
  • We use the simple future in conditional sentences type one.
    Example: "If I have enough time, I'll watch the film."
  
 

Things to remember:

1. We don't use the simple future to say what somebody has already decided or arranged to do in the future. We use instead either the present continuous or "going to + verb"(future plan)

  • Ann is travelling to New York next week. (NOT, "Ann will travel ")
  • Are you going to watch television? (NOT "will you watch").

2. You can use shall instead of will for I and we:

  • I shall play football. (Or, I will play ...)
  • We shall play football. (Or, we will play ...)
  
     
 
 
1.2  Future Continuous Simple Tense
 
  The form  
 

Will + Be + Verb-ing

  
     

 

  Affirmative Form  
 

Examples:

I will be/ I’ll be watching TV.

  
     

 

  Interrogative Form  
 

Examples:

Will you be looking at the sunset?

  
     

 

  Negative Form  
 

Examples:

I will not/ won’t be listening to the radio.

  
     

 

  The use of future continuous simple tense  
 

1. Used to indicate an action that will be taking place at some time in the future.

Examples:

  • I will be watching a football match next Sunday afternoon.
  • We'll be working on our project this morning.
  • When you arrive, I'll be sleeping.
  • I will be leaving in a few minutes.
  • We will be working tomorrow morning.
  
     
 
1.3  Future Perfect Simple Tense
 
  The form  
 

Will + Have + Verb in the past participle

  
     

Examples:

Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I will / I'll have finished. I will not / won't have finished. Will you have finished?
 

 

  The use of future perfect simple tense  
 

The Future Perfect tense shows that something will occur before:

  1. another action occurs in the future
  2. or before a specific time in the future.

Examples:

  • By the end of this weekend, I will have revised my lessons.
  • By the time her husband arrives home, she will have prepared dinner.
  • I won't have finished this task by the end of June.
  
     
 
 
1.4  Future Perfect Continuous Tense
 
  The form  
 

Will + Have + Been + Verb-ing

  
 
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I will have been teaching. I will not/won't have been teaching. Will you have been teaching?
 
     

 
  The use of future perfect continuous tense  
 

1. Used to show that an event will continue until a particular event or time in the future. It is mostly used with an expression such as:

  • for five minutes
  • for two weeks

These expressions indicate durations.

Examples:

  • She will have been working for over 8 hours by the time her children arrive.
  • He will have been studying English for three years next month.
  
     
The views expressed in the notes here are those of the contributor and don’t necessarily represent the views of Pandai.

Future Tense

 
  Verb 'to be'  
 

1. The present continuous tense is used for plans:

The present continuous is used when we say what we have planned and arranged to do at a specific time in the future. These are fixed plans with a definite time and/or place.

Examples:

  • I'm doing my homework this evening.
  • I'm starting university in September.
  • Sally is meeting John at seven o'clock this evening in a restaurant downtown.

2. To be + going to + verb:

A. We use 'going to' to express the future when we intend to do something or have decided to do something but did not arrange it. It is just an intention.

Example:

  • A: The windows are dirty.
    B: Yes, I know. I'm going to clean them later.
     = I've decided to clean them, but I haven't arranged to clean them.

B. We also use 'going to' to make predictions.

  • Watch out! You are going to break the glass.
  • It's so cloudy! I think it's going to rain.
  
     
 
 
1.1  Future Simple Tense

 

  Affirmative Form  
 

I/ you/ we/ they/ she/ he/ it will/ ’ll go.

Examples:

I think I will/ ’ll buy the latest merch.

They will/ ’ll attend the party.

  
     

 

  Interrogative Form  
 

Will I/ you/ we/ they/ she/ he/ it go?

Examples:

Will you accompany me to the party?

Will they forgive me for my mistakes?

  
     

 

  Negative Form  
 

I/you/we/they/she/he/it will not/ won’t go.

Examples:

I told you already, I will not/ won’t meet them!

They will not/ won’t stay for long.

  
     

 

  The use of future simple tense  
 
  • We use the simple future for instant decisions.
    Example: "I've left the door open; I'll close it."
     
  • We use the simple future when we predict a future situation:
    Example: "She'll pass the exam. She's hardworking."
     
  • We use the simple future with: "I (don't) think...", "I expect...", "I'm sure...", "I wonder...", "probably".
    Example: "It will probably rain tonight", "I wonder what will happen?
     
  • We use the simple future in conditional sentences type one.
    Example: "If I have enough time, I'll watch the film."
  
 

Things to remember:

1. We don't use the simple future to say what somebody has already decided or arranged to do in the future. We use instead either the present continuous or "going to + verb"(future plan)

  • Ann is travelling to New York next week. (NOT, "Ann will travel ")
  • Are you going to watch television? (NOT "will you watch").

2. You can use shall instead of will for I and we:

  • I shall play football. (Or, I will play ...)
  • We shall play football. (Or, we will play ...)
  
     
 
 
1.2  Future Continuous Simple Tense
 
  The form  
 

Will + Be + Verb-ing

  
     

 

  Affirmative Form  
 

Examples:

I will be/ I’ll be watching TV.

  
     

 

  Interrogative Form  
 

Examples:

Will you be looking at the sunset?

  
     

 

  Negative Form  
 

Examples:

I will not/ won’t be listening to the radio.

  
     

 

  The use of future continuous simple tense  
 

1. Used to indicate an action that will be taking place at some time in the future.

Examples:

  • I will be watching a football match next Sunday afternoon.
  • We'll be working on our project this morning.
  • When you arrive, I'll be sleeping.
  • I will be leaving in a few minutes.
  • We will be working tomorrow morning.
  
     
 
1.3  Future Perfect Simple Tense
 
  The form  
 

Will + Have + Verb in the past participle

  
     

Examples:

Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I will / I'll have finished. I will not / won't have finished. Will you have finished?
 

 

  The use of future perfect simple tense  
 

The Future Perfect tense shows that something will occur before:

  1. another action occurs in the future
  2. or before a specific time in the future.

Examples:

  • By the end of this weekend, I will have revised my lessons.
  • By the time her husband arrives home, she will have prepared dinner.
  • I won't have finished this task by the end of June.
  
     
 
 
1.4  Future Perfect Continuous Tense
 
  The form  
 

Will + Have + Been + Verb-ing

  
 
Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I will have been teaching. I will not/won't have been teaching. Will you have been teaching?
 
     

 
  The use of future perfect continuous tense  
 

1. Used to show that an event will continue until a particular event or time in the future. It is mostly used with an expression such as:

  • for five minutes
  • for two weeks

These expressions indicate durations.

Examples:

  • She will have been working for over 8 hours by the time her children arrive.
  • He will have been studying English for three years next month.
  
     
The views expressed in the notes here are those of the contributor and don’t necessarily represent the views of Pandai.
Chapter : Grammar and Vocabulary
Topic : Tenses : Mixed
Form 5 English
Related notes

Report this note
Homework Help

Get your homework done with live tutors’ help

Learn more
Register for a free Pandai account now
© 2025 Pandai.org All Rights Reserved

Quiz
View video m
Notes
Account