The future


There are several ways of talking about future:


1. SIMPLE FUTURE

will + verb (will go)

A. something that has been planned or arranged

2. PRESENT SIMPLE

verb (go, goes)

B. an action which leads up to a given point in the future but is not necessarily finished at that
point

3. PRESENT CONTINUOUS

be + verb+ing (is going)

C. talking about future after if, before, after, as soon as, when and future timetabled events

4. FUTURE CONTINUOUS

will + be + verb+ing (will be going)

D. an action that will have finished at a given point in the future

5. FUTURE PERFECT

will + have + verb in PP

(will have gone)

E. the future in general and in main clause of a first conditional sentence

6. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

 will + have + been + verb+ing

(will have been going)

F. action that will be happening at a given point in the future


Can you make an example for each of these possibilities?





























1. WILL=SIMPLE FUTURE - the future in general and in main clause of a first conditional sentence

The presentation will finish at about 4 o’clock.

If it finishes earlier, there will be more time for questions.


2. PRESENT SIMPLE - talking about future after if, before, after, as soon as, when

- future timetabled events

When he gets here, could you let me know?

Dr Carlin’s train leaves London at 1:30 and gets into Oxford at 2:10.


3. PRESENT CONTINUOUS - something that has been planned or arranged

We are sending out invitations over the next couple of weeks.


4. FUTURE CONTINUOUS - an action that will be happening at a given point in the future

This time next week, you will be flying back to the USA.


5. FUTURE PERFECT - an action that will have finished at a given point in the future

By the end of the year you will have learned enough English to be able to work in a hospital.


6. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS - an action which leads up to a given point in the future but is not
necessarily finished at that point

This is a long presentation. By five o’clock, Dr Schwartz will have been talking for an hour and
half.