13. Future Forms

The English language has several forms that can refer to the future: will (do)/ be going to (do)/ the Present Continuous tense, the Future Continuous tense and some others.

E.g. I will return next spring.

She is going to study Spanish.

They are coming to our place tonight.

She will be doing the washing-up tomorrow afternoon.

1. Future Simple
	I, WE, YOU, HE, SHE, IT, THEY
Positive	I will (shall) work.
Negative	They will not (won’t) work.
Questions	Will they work? Yes, they will. No, they won’t. Where will they work?

Will is more common than shall.

The Future Simple tense is used to show future time. It expresses a future fact or prediction. The following words and expressions may be signals of the future simple tense: tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next week (year, etc.), in a few days (two, three days, etc.), one of these days, etc.

E.g. It will be hot and sunny tomorrow.

Next week she will be in Rome.

Note: after if, when, after, before, while, until / till, as soon as we don’t use the Future Simple tense.

E.g. He won’t return until you leave.

He will be angry if you don’t come on time.

We often use the Future Simple tense to express a decision or intention made at the moment of speaking.

E.g. I’ll call you back in a minute.

2. Be going to (do)

	I	WE, YOU, THEY	HE, SHE, IT
Positive	I am going to travel.	We are going to travel.	He is going to travel.
Negative	I am not going to travel.	We aren’t going to travel.	He isn’t going to travel.
Questions	Am I going to travel? Yes, I am. No, I am not. When am I going to travel?	Are we going to travel? Yes, we are. No, we aren’t. When are we going to travel?	Is he going to travel? Yes, he is. No, he isn’t. When is he going to travel?

Be going to (do) is used to talk about an intention made before the moment of speaking.

E.g. I am going to sell my car.

He is going to stay with his friends in Paris.

Also be going to (do) is used to talk about things which we see are certain to happen.

E.g. I am going to be late. (My work starts at eight. There’s only 5 minutes left and I am still at home.)

That child is going to fall. (He is standing on the edge of a cliff…)

3. Present Continuous1 with a future meaning.

The Present Continuous tense is used to speak about personal arrangements for the nearest future.

E.g. I am visiting the Browns tonight.

What are you doing this week-end?

4. Present Simple with a future meaning.

The Present Simple tense is used to speak about timetables, programmes, etc. (for example for public transport, theatres, etc.).

E.g. The train leaves Moscow at 9 a.m. and arrives in Tver at 11.30 a.m.

What time does the play begin?

The Present Continuous tense is more common for personal arrangements.

E.g. I am meeting my chief tomorrow at 2 p.m.