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FUTURE

Simple Future has two different forms in English: “will” and “be going to.” Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both “will” and “be going to” refer to a specific time in the future.

FORM Will: [will + verb]

Examples:

  • You will help him later.
  • Will you help him later?
  • You will not help him later.

FORM Be Going To: [am/is/are + going to + verb]

Examples:

  • You are going to meet Jane tonight.
  • Are you going to meet Jane tonight?
  • You are not going to meet Jane tonight.

USE 1 “Will” to Express a Voluntary Action

“Will” often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often, we use “will” to respond to someone else’s complaint or request for help. We also use “will” when we request that someone help us or volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we use “will not” or “won’t” when we refuse to voluntarily do something.

Examples:

  • I will send you the information when I get it.
  • I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.
  • Will you help me move this heavy table?
  • Will you make dinner?
  • I will not do your homework for you.
  • I won’t do all the housework myself!
  • A: I’m really hungry. B: I‘ll make some sandwiches.
  • A: I’m so tired. I’m about to fall asleep. B: I‘ll get you some coffee.
  • A: The phone is ringing. B: I‘ll get it.

USE 2 “Will” to Express a Promise

“Will” is usually used in promises.

Examples:

  • I will call you when I arrive.
  • If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.
  • I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.
  • Don’t worry, I‘ll be careful.
  • I won’t tell anyone your secret.

USE 3 “Be going to” to Express a Plan

“Be going to” expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future. It does not matter whether the plan is realistic or not.

Examples:

  • He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.
  • She is not going to spend her vacation in Hawaii.
  • A: When are we going to meet each other tonight? B: We are going to meet at 6 PM.
  • I‘m going to be an actor when I grow up.
  • Michelle is going to begin medical school next year.
  • They are going to drive all the way to Alaska.
  • Who are you going to invite to the party?
  • A: Who is going to make John’s birthday cake? B: Sue is going to make John’s birthday cake.

USE 4 “Will” or “Be Going to” to Express a Prediction

Both “will” and “be going to” can express the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions are guesses about what might happen in the future. In “prediction” sentences, the subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the following examples, there is no difference in meaning.

Examples:

  • The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.
  • The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting year.
  • John Smith will be the next President.
  • John Smith is going to be the next President.
  • The movie “Zenith” will win several Academy Awards.
  • The movie “Zenith” is going to win several Academy Awards.

IMPORTANT

In the Simple Future, it is not always clear which USE the speaker has in mind. Often, there is more than one way to interpret a sentence’s meaning.

No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Simple Future, Simple Present is used.

Examples:

  • When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Not Correct
  • When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

  • You will never help him.
  • Will you ever help him?
  • You are never going to meet Jane.
  • Are you ever going to meet Jane?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

  • John will finish the work by 5:00 PM. Active
  • The work will be finished by 5:00 PM. Passive
  • Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. Active
  • A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight. Passive

FUTURE PERFECT

Future Perfect has two different forms: “will have done” and “be going to have done.” Unlike Simple Future forms, Future Perfect forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Perfect with “Will” [will have + past participle]

Examples:

  • You will have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.
  • Will you have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.?
  • You will not have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

FORM Future Perfect with “Be Going To” [am/is/are + going to have + past participle]

Examples:

  • You are going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.
  • Are you going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.?
  • You are not going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

NOTE: It is possible to use either “will” or “be going to” to create the Future Perfect with little or no difference in meaning.

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Future

The Future Perfect expresses the idea that something will occur before another action in the future. It can also show that something will happen before a specific time in the future.

Examples:

  • By next November, I will have received my promotion.
  • By the time he gets home, she is going to have cleaned the entire house.
  • I am not going to have finished this test by 3 o’clock.
  • Will she have learned enough Chinese to communicate before she moves to Beijing?
  • Sam is probably going to have completed the proposal by the time he leaves this afternoon.
  • By the time I finish this course, I will have taken ten tests.
  • How many countries are you going to have visited by the time you turn 50?

Notice in the examples above that the reference points (marked in italics) are in Simple Present rather than Simple Future. This is because the interruptions are in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Future Perfect to show that something will continue up until another action in the future.

Examples:

  • I will have been in London for six months by the time I leave.
  • By Monday, Susan is going to have had my book for a week.

Although the above use of Future Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words “live,” “work,” “teach,” and “study” are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.

REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Future Perfect cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Perfect, Present Perfect is used.

Examples:

  • I am going to see a movie when I will have finished my homework. Not Correct
  • I am going to see a movie when I have finished my homework.Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

  • You will only have learned a few words.
  • Will you only have learned a few words?
  • You are only going to have learned a few words.
  • Are you only going to have learned a few words?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

  • They will have completed the project before the deadline. Active
  • The project will have been completed before the deadline.Passive
  • They are going to have completed the project before the deadline.Active
  • The project is going to have been completed before the deadline. Passive

FUTURE PERFECT

Future Perfect has two different forms: “will have done” and “be going to have done.” Unlike Simple Future forms, Future Perfect forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Perfect with “Will” [will have + past participle]

Examples:

  • You will have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.
  • Will you have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.?
  • You will not have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

FORM Future Perfect with “Be Going To” [am/is/are + going to have + past participle]

Examples:

  • You are going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.
  • Are you going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.?
  • You are not going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

NOTE: It is possible to use either “will” or “be going to” to create the Future Perfect with little or no difference in meaning.

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Future

The Future Perfect expresses the idea that something will occur before another action in the future. It can also show that something will happen before a specific time in the future.

Examples:

  • By next November, I will have received my promotion.
  • By the time he gets home, she is going to have cleaned the entire house.
  • I am not going to have finished this test by 3 o’clock.
  • Will she have learned enough Chinese to communicate before she moves to Beijing?
  • Sam is probably going to have completed the proposal by the time he leaves this afternoon.
  • By the time I finish this course, I will have taken ten tests.
  • How many countries are you going to have visited by the time you turn 50?

Notice in the examples above that the reference points (marked in italics) are in Simple Present rather than Simple Future. This is because the interruptions are in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Future Perfect to show that something will continue up until another action in the future.

Examples:

  • I will have been in London for six months by the time I leave.
  • By Monday, Susan is going to have had my book for a week.

Although the above use of Future Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words “live,” “work,” “teach,” and “study” are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.

REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Future Perfect cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Perfect, Present Perfect is used.

Examples:

  • I am going to see a movie when I will have finished my homework. Not Correct
  • I am going to see a movie when I have finished my homework.Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

  • You will only have learned a few words.
  • Will you only have learned a few words?
  • You are only going to have learned a few words.
  • Are you only going to have learned a few words?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

  • They will have completed the project before the deadline. Active
  • The project will have been completed before the deadline.Passive
  • They are going to have completed the project before the deadline.Active
  • The project is going to have been completed before the deadline. Passive

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Future Perfect Continuous has two different forms: “will have been doing “ and “be going to have been doing.” Unlike Simple Future forms, Future Perfect Continuous forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Perfect Continuous with “Will”

[will have been + present participle]

Examples:

  • You will have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.
  • Will you have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives?
  • You will not have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.

FORM Future Perfect Continuous with “Be Going To”

[am/is/are + going to have been + present participle]

Examples:

  • You are going to have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.
  • Are you going to have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives?
  • You are not going to have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.

NOTE: It is possible to use either “will” or “be going to” to create the Future Perfect Continuous with little or no difference in meaning.

USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Future

We use the Future Perfect Continuous to show that something will continue up until a particular event or time in the future. “For five minutes,” “for two weeks,” and “since Friday” are all durations which can be used with the Future Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous and the Past Perfect Continuous; however, with Future Perfect Continuous, the duration stops at or before a reference point in the future.

Examples:

  • They will have been talking for over an hour by the time Thomas arrives.
  • She is going to have been working at that company for three years when it finally closes.
  • James will have been teaching at the university for more than a year by the time he leaves for Asia.
  • How long will you have been studying when you graduate?
  • We are going to have been driving for over three days straight when we get to Anchorage.
  • A: When you finish your English course, will you have been living in New Zealand for over a year? B: No, I will not have been living here that long.

Notice in the examples above that the reference points (marked in italics) are in Simple Present rather than Simple Future. This is because these future events are in time clauses, and you cannot use future tenses in time clauses.

USE 2 Cause of Something in the Future

Using the Future Perfect Continuous before another action in the future is a good way to show cause and effect.

Examples:

  • Jason will be tired when he gets home because he will have been jogging for over an hour.

  • Claudia’s English will be perfect when she returns to Germany because she is going to have been studying

    English in the United States for over two years.

Future Continuous vs. Future Perfect Continuous

If you do not include a duration such as “for five minutes,” “for two weeks” or “since Friday,” many English speakers choose to use the Future Continuous rather than the Future Perfect Continuous. Be careful because this can change the meaning of the sentence. Future Continuous emphasizes interrupted actions, whereas Future Perfect Continuous emphasizes a duration of time before something in the future. Study the examples below to understand the difference.

Examples:

  • He will be tired because he will be exercising so hard.

    This sentence emphasizes that he will be tired because he will be exercising at that exact moment in the future.

  • He will be tired because he will have been exercising so hard.

    This sentence emphasizes that he will be tired because he will have been exercising for a period of time. It is possible that he will still be exercising at that moment OR that he will just have finished.

REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Future Perfect Continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Future Perfect Continuous, Present Perfect Continuous is used.

Examples:

  • You won’t get a promotion until you will have been working here as long as Tim. Not Correct
  • You won’t get a promotion until you have been working here as long as Tim. Correct

AND REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Future Perfect Continuous with these verbs, you must use Future Perfect .

Examples:

  • Ned will have been having his driver’s license for over two years. Not Correct
  • Ned will have had his driver’s license for over two years.Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

  • You will only have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives.
  • Will you only have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives?
  • You are only going to have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives.
  • Are you only going to have been waiting for a few minutes when her plane arrives?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

  • The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished. Active
  • The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished. Passive
  • The famous artist is going to have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished. Active
  • The mural is going to have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished. Passive

NOTE: Passive forms of the Future Perfect Continuous are not common.

REVIEW TABLES FUTURE

Simple Future Forms

Using “Will”

Positive Negative Question
I will help. I will not help. Will I help?
You will help. You will not help. Will you help?
We will help. We will not help. Will we help?
They will help. They will not help. Will they help?
He will help. He will not help. Will he help?
She will help. She will not help. Will she help?
It will help. It will not help. Will it help?

Using “Be Going to”

Positive Negative Question
I am going to leave. I am not going to leave. Am I going to leave?
You are going to leave. You are not going to leave. Are you going to leave?
We are going to leave. We are not going to leave. Are we going to leave?
They are going to leave. They are not going to leave. Are they going to leave?
He is going to leave. He is not going to leave. Is he going to leave?
She is going to leave. She is not going to leave. Is she going to leave?
It is going to leave. It is not going to leave. Is it going to leave?

Future Continuous Forms

Using “Will”

Positive Negative Question
I will be waiting. I will not be waiting. Will I be waiting?
You will be waiting. You will not be waiting. Will you be waiting?
We will be waiting. We will not be waiting. Will we be waiting?
They will be waiting. They will not be waiting. Will they be waiting?
He will be waiting. He will not be waiting. Will he be waiting?
She will be waiting. She will not be waiting. Will she be waiting?
It will be waiting. It will not be waiting. Will it be waiting?

Using “Be Going To”

Positive Negative Question
I am going to be waiting. I am not going to be waiting. Am I going to be waiting?
You are going to be waiting. You are not going to be waiting. Are you going to be waiting?
We are going to be waiting. We are not going to be waiting. Are we going to be waiting?
They are going to be waiting. They are not going to be waiting. Are they going to be waiting?
He is going to be waiting He is not going to be waiting. Is he going to be waiting?
She is going to be waiting. She is not going to be waiting. Is she going to be waiting?
It is going to be waiting. It is not going to be waiting. Is it going to be waiting?

Future Perfect Forms

Using “Will”

Positive Negative Question
I will have stopped. I will not have stopped. Will I have stopped?
You will have stopped. You will not have stopped. Will you have stopped?
We will have stopped. We will not have stopped. Will we have stopped?
They will have stopped. They will not have stopped. Will they have stopped?
He will have stopped. He will not have stopped. Will he have stopped?
She will have stopped. She will not have stopped. Will she have stopped?
It will have stopped. It will not have stopped. Will it have stopped?

Using “Be Going To”

Positive Negative Question
I am going to have stopped. I am not going to have stopped. Am I going to have stopped?
You are going to have stopped. You are not going to have stopped. Are you going to have stopped?
We are going to have stopped. We are not going to have stopped. Are we going to have stopped?
They are going to have stopped. They are not going to have stopped. Are they going to have stopped?
He is going to have stopped. He is not going to have stopped. Is he going to have stopped?
She is going to have stopped. She is not going to have stopped. Is she going to have stopped?
It is going to have stopped. It is not going to have stopped. Is it going to have stopped?

Future Perfect Continuous Forms

Using “Will”

Positive Negative Question
I will have been sleeping. I will not have been sleeping. Will I have been sleeping?
You will have been sleeping. You will not have been sleeping. Will you have been sleeping?
We will have been sleeping. We will not have been sleeping. Will we have been sleeping?
They will have been sleeping. They will not have been sleeping. Will they have been sleeping?
He will have been sleeping. He will not have been sleeping. Will he have been sleeping?
She will have been sleeping. She will not have been sleeping. Will she have been sleeping?
It will have been sleeping. It will not have been sleeping. Will it have been sleeping?

Using “Be Going To”

Positive Negative Question
I am going to have been sleeping. I am not going to have been sleeping. Am I going to have been sleeping?
You are going to have been sleeping. You are not going to have been sleeping. Are you going to have been sleeping?
We are going to have been sleeping. We are not going to have been sleeping. Are we going to have been sleeping?
They are going to have been sleeping. They are not going to have been sleeping. Are they going to have been sleeping?
He is going to have been sleeping. He is not going to have been sleeping. Is he going to have been sleeping?
She is going to have been sleeping. She is not going to have been sleeping. Is she going to have been sleeping?
It is going to have been sleeping. It is not going to have been sleeping. Is it going to have been sleeping?
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