Future Indefinite Tense
FORM: will + verb
AUXILIARY VERB: will
John will finish the work by 5:00 PM. [Active]
The work will be finished by 5:00 PM. [Passive]
USE:
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expresses a voluntary action |
I will send you the information when I get it. Will you make dinner? |
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decisions taken at the moment of speaking (on-the-spot decisions) |
Since it`s getting dark, I`ll turn on the light. |
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hopes, fears, threats, offers, promises, warnings, requests, comments (especially with: expect, hope, believe, I`m sure, I`m afraid, probably, etc.) |
I am afraid I`ll be a little late. |
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actions or predictions which may (not) happen in the future |
She`ll probably buy the dress. (prediction) |
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uncontrolled actions which will inevitably happen |
He will be ten next year. |
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things we are not sure about or haven’t decided to do yet |
She`ll probably be promoted. (not sure yet) |
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no future in time clauses (with conjunctions: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc.) |
When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Not Correct When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Correct
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Time expressions:
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tomorrow tonight
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in two/three etc days the day after tomorrow next week/month |
soon in a week/month |
Future Indefinite Tense
FORM: be (am, is, are) going to + verb
Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. [Active]
A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight. [Passive]
USE:
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actions intended to be performed in the near future |
She`s going to visit her parents tomorrow. |
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planned actions or intentions |
Now that they`ve settled in their new house, they`re going to have a party. |
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evidence that something will definitely happen in the near future |
Ann is going to have a baby. Look at the dark clouds in the sky! It`s going to rain. |
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things we are sure about or we have already decided to do in the near future |
He`s going to be promoted. (The boss has decided to do it.) |
Future Continuous Tense
FORM: will + be + verb + -ing/
to be (am/is/are) + going to be + present participle (verb + -ing)
At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dishes. [Active]
At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being washed by John. [Passive]
USE:
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actions in progress at a stated future time |
He`ll be sunbathing in Hawaii this time next week. |
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actions which are the result of a routine |
I`ll be seeing John tomorrow. (We work in the same office so we`ll definitely meet.) |
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when we ask politely about people`s arrangements to see if they can do something for us or because we want to offer to do something for them (be going to) |
Will you be going to the supermarket? Can you buy me some tea? |
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interrupted action in the future |
They will be watching TV when she arrives tonight. I am going to be staying at the Madison Hotel, if anything happens and you need to contact me. He will be studying at the library tonight, so he will not see Jennifer when she arrives. |
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specific time as an interruption in the future |
Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to be eating dinner. I will be in the process of eating dinner. At midnight tonight, we will still be driving through the desert. We will be in the process of driving through the desert. |
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parallel actions in the future |
I am going to be studying and he is going to be making dinner. Tonight, they will be eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time. |
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atmosphere in the future |
When I arrive at the party, everybody is going to be celebrating. Some will be dancing. Others are going to be talking. A few people will be eating pizza, and several people are going to be drinking beer. They always do the same thing. |
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no future in time clauses (present continuous) |
While I am going to be finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Not Correct While I am finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Correct |