Future forms

We can refer to future actions with 1) the Future Simple, 2) be going to,

3) the Present Continuous, 4) the Present Simple, 5) the Future Continuous, 6) the Future Perfect, 7) the Future Perfect Continuous.

The Future Simple

Positive Form	Negative Form	Question Form
I/you/he/she/it/we/ they’ll (=will) call	I/you/he/she/it/we/they won’t (=will not ) call	Will I/you/he/she/it/we/ they call?

1. The Future Simple is used in predictions about the future usually with

think, believe, be afraid, probably, etc.

His parents think he will become an artist one day.

2 For promises, threats, warnings, requests, hopes, etc.

Stop talking or I’ll send you out of the class.

3 For on-the-spot decisions or offers.

It’s late. I’ll take a taxi home.

4. For actions/events/situations which will definitely happen in the future

and which we cannot control.

Winter will set early this year.

Going to, planning to

Positive Form	Negative Form	Question Form
I’m going to / planning to buy a car	I’m not going to / planning to buy a car	Am I going / planning to buy a car?
You / we / they’re going to / planning to buy a car.	You / we / they’re not going to / planning to buy a car.	Are you /we /they going to / planning to buy a car?

Going to, planning to is used for plans, intentions or ambitions.

He’s going to buy a sports car.

Going to is used in predictions when there is evidence that something will happen in the near future.

Look at those clouds. It’s going to rain.

The Present Continuous

The Present Continuous is used for fixed arrangements in the near future.

He’s flying to Turkey next month. He has already booked his flight.

The Present Simple

The Present Simple is used for timetables / programmes.

The ferry leaves at eight o’clock tomorrow morning.

The Future Continuous

Positive Form	Negative Form	Question Form
I’ll (=will) + be + -ing	I won’t (=will not) + be + -ing	Will you be + -ing?
I’ll be flying.	I won’t be flying.	Will you be flying?

1 The Future Continuous is used for actions which will be in progress at a

stated future time.

This time next week he’ll be flying to Spain.

2 For actions which will definitely happen in the future, as a result of a

routine or arrangement. I’ll be seeing Jim at work later on today.

3 When we ask politely about someone’s plans for the near future, in order

to see if our wishes fit in with their plans.

‘Will you be going to the dentist this afternoon?’ ‘Yes. Why?’

‘Can you make an appointment for me to see him.’

The Future Perfect

Positive Form	Negative Form	Question Form
I’ll (=will) + have + done	I won’t (=will not) + have + done	Will you + have + done?

The Future Perfect is used for actions which will be finished before a stated future time. We will have returned home by Sunday afternoon.

The Future Perfect Continuous

Positive Form	Negative Form	Question Form
I’ll (=will) + have + been + working	I won’t (=will not) + have + been +wor -ing	Will you + have + been + - ing?
I’ll have been working.	I won’t have been working.	Will you have been working?

The Future Perfect Continuous is used to emphasize the duration of an action up to a certain time in the future.

By the end of this week, she will have been working here for six years.

NOUNS

Nouns can be countable or uncountable.Countable nouns are nouns which we can count. They have singular and plural forms. e.g. a key, two keys.

The plural is formed as follows:

Regular Plurals		Irregular Plurals
jacket	jackets	child	children
watch	watches	man	men
tomato	tomatoes	woman	women
baby	babies	foot	feet
toy	toys	tooth	teeth
leaf	leaves	mouse	mice
cliff	cliffs	sheep	sheep

Uncountable nouns are nouns which cannot count. They do not have different plural forms. Uncountable nouns include:

many types of food:	spaghetti, yoghurt, cheese, flour, butter, meat, etc.
liquids:	water, coffee, soda, lemonade, oil, petrol, tea, etc
materials:	silver, wood, crystal, plastic, porcelain, etc.
abstract nouns:	freedom, love, justice, beauty, help, education, knowledge, etc.
others:	news, advice, information, weather, furniture, luggage, baggage, hair, accommodation, behaviour, equipment, fun, research, rubbish, litter, etc.

Countable nouns

1 Can take singular or plural verbs.

The book is on the table. The books are on the table.

2 Always go with a/an/the/my, etc. in the singular.

I bought an umbrella. (NOT: I bought umbrolla.)

3 Can be used alone or with some/any/many/few in the plural.

I love carrots. // I'm going to buy some carrots.

Uncountable nouns

1 Always take singular verbs.

Sugar is fattening.

Honey comes from bees.

2 Do not go with a/an/one, two, etc.

I like to drink milk. (NOT: I like to drink a milk.)

3 Can be used alone or with some/any/much/little/the/my etc.

Remember to buy (some) cheese.

Note: We can use a/an, one/two, etc. with uncountable nouns such as coffee, tea, lemonade, etc. when we are referring to a cup, glass, bottle, etc. of a certain liquid.

Can we have two coffees and two teas, please? (= two cups of coffee and two cups of tea)