FUTURE TENSES

1.      Simple Future Tense

To talk about the future, we commonly use will + infinitive and be going to + infinitive.

The uses of be going to:

☺to make a prediction based on present concrete evidence

    e.g.: It is going to rain. (I can see the clouds)

☺to indicate a general plan or intention

    e.g.: Are you going to buy that car tomorrow? (Have you decided to buy it?)    

The uses of will:

☺to make a prediction based on our opinion or our past experience

    e.g.: Why not come over at the weekend? The children will enjoy seeing you again.

☺to express willingness/ volunteering or instant decision

    e.g.: A: ‘The phone is ringing.’

            B: ‘I’ll get it.’

Notes:

☺  in a formal style, we use will rather than going to to talk about future events that have been previously arranged in some details:

      e.g.: The meeting will begin at 10 am. Coffee will be available from 9.30 onwards.

☺  we can use shall (shan’t) instead of will (won’t) in statements about the future with I and we, although it is more common to use will/won’t

☺  we tend to avoid going to + go and use the present continuous form of go instead

      e.g.: Alice is going to a university next year. (rather than ‘is going to go to a …’)

☺  we use the present simple when we talk about future events that are part of some official arrangement such as timetable or program.

      e.g.: The bus leaves at three.

☺ we can use the present continuous to talk about future activities and events that are intended or have already been arranged.

      e.g.: I have an appointment with my doctor. I’m seeing him next Tuesday.

2.      Future  Continuous Tense

The functions:

● to express an activity that will be in progress at a time in the future

    e.g.: This time tomorrow, he’ll be lying on the beach.

             I’ll be working when you arrive.

             I’ll be reading Koran from eight o’clock to midnight.

● to express the future activity or event as the result of a previous decision or

   arrangement or of a routine activity.

   e.g.: He will be taking up his place at university in July. ( the result of a previous  

           decision)

           She will be performing everyday until the end of the month. (part of a schedule)

           I’ll be seeing Ms.Lina on Tuesday. That’s when we usually meet.

Notes:

● we can use either future continuous or present continuous for planned activities.

    e.g.: We’ll be leaving/are leaving for Singapore in the evening.

● compare the use of will and future continuous in these sentences:

◦ Ann will help us organize the party    (she is willing to help)	◦ Ann will be helping organize the party   (a previous arrangement)
◦  Will you come to the concert?    (an invitation)	◦ Wil  you be coming to the concert?    (Asking about a possible previous arraangement)
◦ we’ll join you in half an hour   (I have just decided)	◦ We’ll be joining you in  half an hour    (a previous arrangement)

● we can use the future continuous rather than will or the present continuous for the

    to sound particularly polite when you ask about people’s plans.

    e.g.: What time are you coming/will you be coming to baby-sit? We have to be at the

             office by 7 o’clock.

● in news reports, be to + infinitive is used to talk about future events.

   e.g.: The Indonesian parliament is to introduce a new law on safety at work.   

3.      Future Perfect Tense

  

The functions:

To express an activity that will be completed before another time or event in the future.

 e.g.: Let’s hope the volcanic eruption will have finished before we arrive on the island.

         By the end of this year, he will have taught for 45 years.

Notes:

♦ we can use other modal verbs instead of will to talk about the future in a less certain

   way.

   e.g.: By the time you get home, I will/may/should have cleaned the house.

4.      Future  Perfect Continuous Tense

The Function:

To emphasize the duration of an activity that will be in progress before another time or event in the future.

e.g.: I’m getting tired of sitting in the car. Do you realize that by the time we arrive in

        Bandung, we will have been driving for twenty straight hours?

        By the year 2047, I will have been living on this earth for 60 years.

Notes:

♦ we don’t usually use the future perfect continuous with verbs describing states.

    e.g.: next month, I will have known you for 5 years.

♦  when since or for is used, there is little or no difference in meaning between future

    Perferct and future perfect continuous.

    e.g.: He has worked/has been working for the company since he was 20 years old.