Present Simple
Present Continuous
Past Simple
Past Continuous
Present Perfect tenses
Past Perfect tenses
Present Continuous
Going to
Future Simple
Future Continuous
Future Perfect
Other future forms
 
 
 
FUTURE TENSES
Present continuous + TIME WORD
Form:
  • AM / IS / ARE + V-ing
Use:
  • plans arranged for a particular time in the future
Be going to
Form:
  • AM / IS / ARE + GOING TO + V
Use:
  • planned future action
  • to talk about the results of things happening now (predictions based on present evidence)
  • for neutral statements about the future
Simple Present

Form:

 

  • base form of the verb (3rd person singular +-s/-es)
  • auxiliary DO / DOES for negatives and questions
Use:
  • to describe an organized future timetable
  • clauses of time and condition
  • combined with the future simple (WHEN + simple present)
 
Future Simple
Form:
  • WILL + V
Use:
  • certain / uncertain statements about the future (predictions)
  • sudden decision (=/= going to)
  • to show willingness
  • offers and promises
Future Continuous
Form:
  • WILL + BE + V-ing
Use:
  • actions / events that will be in progress at some time in the future
  • activity / state that covers the whole of a future time
  • future event that is already arranged or which is part of a regular routine
  • to refer to the present (guessing what people are doing)
Future Perfect Simple
Form:
  • WILL + HAVE + past participle
Use:
  • to look ahead to a time in the future when an expected event will be in the past
Future Perfect Continuous
Form:
  • WILL + HAVE + BEEN + V-ing
Use:
  • with FOR and SINCE for a period of time which precedes a point in the future
  • for an activity which leads to a point in the future
Other future forms
  • WAS / WERE + GOING TO + V
  • I THOUGHT I WOULD + V
Use:
  • for a planned future action that did not happen or did not come trueFuture in the past
  • BE LIKELY TO + V
Use:
  • an action will probably happen
  • BE BOUND TO + V / BE SURE T + V
Use:
  • an action will certainly happen
  • BE ABOUT TO + V
Use:
  • something is going to happen very soon (very near future)
Adapted from various sources
  
 
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© Olga Godoy Giménez, 2002 - 2005