Future Tenses in English: A Comprehensive Guide

A Robotic World

Future Simple

Form

Affirmative

• I/you will allow
• He/She/It will allow
• We/You/They will allow

Negative

• I/you will not (won't) allow
• He/She/It will not (won't) allow
• We/You/They will not (won't) allow

Interrogative

• Will I/you allow?
• Will he/she/it allow?
• Will we/you/they allow?

Uses

• A prediction
• A timetable
• A spontaneous decision

Examples

• Robots will be more developed in the future.
• The science lesson will start at 2 o'clock.
• The phone is ringing. I will get it.

Time Expressions

This evening, in an hour, at 2 o'clock, later, tomorrow, next month/year, soon, in a few weeks, in the future, on 1st May.

Form

• Affirmative: subject + will + the base form of the main verb.
• Negative: subject + will not (or won't) + the base form of the main verb.
• Interrogative: will + subject + the base form of the main verb.

Uses

• To make predictions or announce future actions.
• To speak about a timetable.
• To express a spontaneous decision, something we decide to do while we are speaking.

Be Going To

Form

Affirmative

• I am going to buy
• You are going to buy
• He/She/It is going to buy
• We/You/They are going to buy

Negative

• I am not going to buy
• You are not (aren't) going to buy
• He/She/It is not (isn't) going to buy
• We/You/They are not (aren't) going to buy

Interrogative

• Am I going to buy?
• Are you going to buy?
• Is he/she/it going to buy?
• Are we/you/they going to buy?

Uses

• A planned action for the future.
• An action that is about to happen.

Examples

• Mark is going to visit the robot exhibition this evening.
• Be careful! You are going to burn your finger!

Time Expressions

This evening, in an hour, at 4 o'clock, later, tomorrow, soon, next month/year, in a few weeks, on 8th May.

Form

• Affirmative: subject + am/is/are + going to + the base form of the main verb.
• Negative: subject + am/is/are + not (or n't) + going to + the base form of the main verb.
• Interrogative: am/is/are + subject + going to + the base form of the main verb.

Uses

• To express future intentions, decisions, or planned actions.
• To say that something is about to happen because there is evidence for it.

Present Continuous with Future Meaning

He is going to present his new invention next month. (Intention)

He is presenting his new invention tomorrow. (Arranged plan)

Present Continuous (Form)

Affirmative

• I/you will be traveling
• He/She/It will be traveling
• We/You/They will be traveling

Negative

• I/you will not (won't) be traveling
• He/She/It will not (won't) be traveling
• We/You/They will not (won't) be traveling

Interrogative

• Will I/you be traveling?
• Will he/she/it be traveling?
• Will we/you/they be traveling?

Use

• An action in progress at a certain future time.

Examples

• At this time tomorrow, Jenny and Lynda will be working in their new lab.

Time Expressions

At this time tomorrow/next..., on Thursday, in the next decade.

Form

• Affirmative: subject + will be + main verb ending in -ing.
• Negative: subject + will not (or won't) + be + the main verb ending in -ing.
• Interrogative: Will + subject + be + the main verb ending in -ing.

Use

• To express what will be happening at a certain moment in the future.