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Learning Materials/Grammar and Punctuation/ Tenses/1.12 FUTURE tense OVERVIEW .doc

FUTURE TENSE OVERVIEW

A summary of all the forms used in the future tense.

A.

FUTURE ACTIONS

If you want to write or speak about a FUTURE ACTION, there are four
main ways in which to do this.
1)

If you want to write or talk about arrangements made for the future
you use the PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense.

The PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense

VERB: TO DO
Im doing
Youre doing
He/she/it is doing
We are doing
They are doing

VERB: TO GO
Im going
Youre going
He/she/it is going
We are going
They are going

VERB: TO SEE
Im seeing
Youre seeing
He/she/it is seeing
We are seeing
They are seeing

Examples:
Next week Im going to the theatre.
When are you getting married?
He is seeing his mother on Tuesday
She is travelling to York at the weekend.

To practise this, ask the Study Skills tutor for:

Learning Materials/Grammar & Punctuation/1. Tenses/1.13 FUTURE action Present
Continuous Exercises

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2)

Learning Materials/Grammar and Punctuation/ Tenses/1.12 FUTURE tense OVERVIEW .doc

For timetables , programmes etc. the PRESENT SIMPLE is used.

The PRESENT SIMPLE tense

VERB: TO DO
I leave
You leave
He/she/it leaves
We leave
They leave

VERB: TO START
I start
You start
He/she/it starts
We start
They start

VERB: TO BEGIN
I begin
You begin
He/she/it begins
We begin
They begin

Examples:
What time does the train leave for London? It leaves at seven oclock.
Hurry! We dont want to be late for the film. It starts at eight oclock.
I start my Spanish course next week.
On the course, you begin by learning the keyboard. The following week
you start typing whole sentences. When you leave the course, you
should be able to type competently.
What time does the session begin? It begins at 9.00.
They leave for Caracas next Tuesday.

To practise this, ask the Study Skills tutor for:

Learning Materials/Grammar & Punctuation/1. Tenses/1.14 FUTURE action the Present
Simple tense (timetables etc.) Exercises

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Learning Materials/Grammar and Punctuation/ Tenses/1.12 FUTURE tense OVERVIEW .doc

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3.

When somebody has already decided to do something in the future

the form GOING TO + THE INFINITIVE OF THE VERB is
used.

GOING TO + THE INFINITIVE OF THE VERB

I am going to .. e.g. make, take, help, seem, etc.
You are going to e.g. make, take, help, seem, etc.
He/she/it is going e.g. make, take, help, seem, etc.
We are going to .. e.g. make, take, help, seem, etc.
They are going to . e.g. make, take, help, seem, etc.
Examples:
Im going to go to University next year. (going to + infinitive: to GO)
You are going to visit Paris next week (going to + infinitive: to VISIT)
He is going to see his sister on Tuesday (going to + infinitive: to SEE)
We are going to work in Amsterdam in June (goingto+ infinitive:to WORK)
I think it is going to rain (going to + verb: to RAIN)
They are going to refuse to accept his apology (going to + infinitive: to
REFUSE)
It is going to make all the difference. (going to + infinitive: to MAKE)

To practise this, ask the Study Skills tutor for:

Learning Materials/Grammar & Punctuation/1. Tenses/1.15 FUTURE going to + infinitive verb

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Learning Materials/Grammar and Punctuation/ Tenses/1.12 FUTURE tense OVERVIEW .doc

The final way in which future actions are talked about is when we
decide or agree to do something at the time of speaking. This is
different from the previous case when the action had already been
decided upon (see picture below and the previous page going to + infinitive verb) .
In this situation WILL ( LL) + the VERB

WILL + VERB
I will (or Ill) .
e.g. stay, take, have, etc.
You will (or Youll) .. e.g. stay, take, have, etc.
He/she/it will (or Hell, shell, itll ) e.g. stay, take, have, etc.
We will (or Well) .. e.g. stay, take, have, etc.
They (or Theyll ) e.g. stay, take, have, etc.
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Learning Materials/Grammar and Punctuation/ Tenses/1.12 FUTURE tense OVERVIEW .doc

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Examples:
A

I want you to leave the flat right now!

O.K. Ill go in five minutes time

You look sad. Ill try to cheer you up.

If you tell me any of your dreadful jokes, Ill walk out!

Ive just decided ! Ill phone up Jim and Ill end our relationship.

If you do, Ill open a bottle to celebrate!

It will take you all day to travel there. You will not have time to see
the exhibition.

Never mind, Ill go another time, when Ill be more relaxed and
itll be more enjoyable.

Notice that, in all of these examples, the speakers are deciding what to do
at the time of speaking.

To practise this, ask the Study Skills tutor for:

Learning Materials/Grammar & Punctuation/1. Tenses/1.16 FUTURE will + verb

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B.

Learning Materials/Grammar and Punctuation/ Tenses/1.12 FUTURE tense OVERVIEW .doc

FUTURE HAPPENINGS AND SITUATIONS

WILL is most often used to talk about future happenings (something

will happen)
I dont think Geeta is happy here, I think she will leave soon.
This time next year I will be in America.
I will be married in a weeks time.
The negative of will is will not, often shortened to wont.
I wont be at home when you call.
She wont pass her exams if she doesnt work hard
Will is often used in the following situations:

Offering to do something.
That case looks heavy. Ill help you with it. ( not I help)

Agreeing to do something
A.
B.

Can you give me a lift to the station?

Of course I will.

Promising to do something
I promise that I will keep your secret. No one will ever know the truth.

Asking someone to do something

Will you please open the door ?
Will you post this letter for me?

To practise this, ask the Study Skills tutor for:

Learning Materials/Grammar & Punctuation/1. Tenses/1.17 FUTURE happenings and situations

Learning Materials/Grammar and Punctuation/ Tenses/1.12 FUTURE tense OVERVIEW .doc

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C. FUTURE CONTINUOUS -WILL BE DOING, WILL BE ING

This is used to indicate that you will be in the middle of doing
something,
Example:
This time next week Ill be lying on a beach and doing nothing.
Dont phone me this evening as well be having a meeting.

To practise this, ask the Study Skills tutor for:

Learning Materials/Grammar & Punctuation/1. Tenses/1.18 FUTURE continuous

D.

FUTURE PERFECT - WILL HAVE DONE

This is used to say that something will already be complete.

Examples:
The film ends at 6pm. So by 6.30 the film will have ended.
David always leaves for work by 8 so he will not be at home at 9. He will
have left for work
In August, Jenny and Jonathan will have been married for 25 years.

To practise this, ask the Study Skills tutor for:

Learning Materials/Grammar & Punctuation/1. Tenses/1.19 FUTURE perfect

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E.

Learning Materials/Grammar and Punctuation/ Tenses/1.12 FUTURE tense OVERVIEW .doc

THE PRESENT TENSE IS USED AFTER when/ as soon/

as/ if/ while/ before etc.

Examples:
I hope to see you before I go.
Do come and have supper with us when you are in London
If we dont leave now, well be late.
Rosa said, While youre in South America, come and visit us.
As soon as you read this exercise, you will be able to understand it.

To practise this, ask the Study Skills tutor for:

Learning Materials/Grammar & Punctuation/1. Tenses/1.20 FUTURE Present tense after
when, as soon as, if, while, before + present tense