Future

Simple future

Functions of the simple future tense

The simple future refers to a time later than now, and expresses facts or certainty. In this case there is no 'attitude'.

The simple future is used:

• To predict a future event:
  It will rain tomorrow.
  
  
• With "I" or "We" to express a spontaneous decision:
  I'll pay for the tickets by credit card.
  
  
• To express willingness:
  1- I'll do the washing-up.
  2- He'll carry your bag for you.
  
  
• In the negative form, to express unwillingness:
  1- The baby won't eat his soup.
  2- I won't leave until I've seen the manager!
  
  
• With "I" in the interrogative form using "shall", to make an offer:
  Shall I open the window?
  
  
• With "we" in the interrogative form using "shall", to make a suggestion:
  Shall we go to the cinema tonight?
  
  
• With "I" in the interrogative form using "shall", to ask for advice or instructions:
  What shall I tell the boss about this money?
  
  
• With "you" to give orders:
  You will do exactly as I say.
  
  
• With you in the interrogative form, to give an invitation:
  1- Will you come to the dance with me?
  2- Will you marry me?

Note 

In modern English will is preferred to shall. Shall is mainly used with I and we to make an offer or suggestion, or to ask for advice (see examples above). With the other persons (you, he, she, they) shall is only used in literary or poetic situations, e.g. "With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, She shall have music wherever she goes."

Forming the simple future

The simple future tense is composed of two parts: will / shall + the infinitive without to

Subject	+will	+infinitive without "to"
Affirmative
I	will	go
I	shall	go
Negative
They	will not	see
They	won't	see
Interrogative
Will	she	ask?
Interrogative negative
Won't	they	try?

Contractions

I will = I'll
We will = we'll
You will = you'll
He will = he'll
She will = she'll
They will = they'll
Will not = won't

The form "it will" is not normally shortened.

To see: simple future tense

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative	Interrogative negative
I will see	I won't see	Will I see?	Won't I see?
*I shall see		*Shall I see?
You will see	You won't see	Will you see?	Won't you see?
He will see	He won't see	Will he see?	Won't he see?
We will see	We won't see	Will we see?	Won't we see?
*We shall see		*Shall we see?
They will see	They won't see	Will they see?	Won't they see?

*Shall is dated, but it is still commonly used instead of "will" with the affirmative or interrogative forms of I and we in certain cases (see above).

Future continuous

Form

The future continuous is made up of two elements:
the simple future of the verb "to be" + the present participle (base+ing)

Subject	+ simple future of the verb "to be"	+present participle
You	will be	watching
I	will be	staying

To stay, future continuous

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative	Negative interrogative
I will be staying.	I won't be staying.	Will I be staying?	Won't I be staying?
You will be staying.	You won't be staying.	Will you be staying?	Won't you be staying?
He will be staying.	He won't be staying.	Will he be staying?	Won't he be staying?
She will be staying.	She won't be staying.	Will she be staying?	Won't she be staying?
It will be staying.	It won't be staying.	Will it be staying?	Won't it be staying?
We will be staying.	We won't be staying.	Will we be staying?	Won't we be staying?
They will be staying.	They won't be staying.	Will they be staying?	Won't they be staying?

Functions

The future continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a time later than now. The future continuous is used for quite a few different purposes.

The future continuous can be used to project ourselves into the future.

Examples

• This time next week I will be sun-bathing in Bali.
• By Christmas I will be skiing like a pro.
• Just think, next Monday you will be working in your new job.

The future continuous can be used for predicting or guessing about future events.

Examples

• He'll be coming to the meeting, I expect.
• I guess you'll be feeling thirsty after working in the sun.
• You'll be missing the sunshine once you're back in England.

In the interrogative form, the future continuous can be used to ask politely for information about the future.

Examples

• Will you be bringing your friend to the mosque today?
• Will Jim be coming with us?
• Will she be going to the party tonight?
• Will I be sleeping in this room?

The future continuous can be used to refer to continuous events that we expect to happen in the future.

Examples

• I'll be seeing Jim at the conference next week.
• When he is in Australia he will be staying with friends.
• I'll be eating with Jane this evening so I can tell her.

When combined with still, the future continuous refers to events that are already happening now and that we expect to continue some time into the future.

Examples

• In an hour I'll still be ironing my clothes.
• Tomorrow he'll still be suffering from his cold.
• Next year will she still be wearing a size six?
• Won't stock prices still be falling in the morning?
• Unfortunately, sea levels will still be rising in 20 years.

Future perfect

Form

The future perfect is composed of two elements

the simple future of the verb "to have" (will have) + the past participle of the main verb

Subject	+ will have	+ past participle of the main verb
He	will have	finished.
I	will have	finished.

To arrive, future perfect tense

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative	Negative interrogative
I will have arrived	I won't have arrived	Will I have arrived?	Won't I have arrived?
You will have arrived	You won't have arrived	Will you have arrived?	Won't you have arrived?
He will have arrived	He won't have arrived	Will he have arrived?	Won't he have arrived?
We will have arrived	We won't have arrived	Will we have arrived?	Won't we have arrived?
They will have arrived	They won't have arrived	Will they have arrived?	Won't they have arrived?

Function

The future perfect tense refers to a completed action in the future. When we use this tense we are projecting ourselves forward into the future and looking back at an action that will be completed some time later than now. It is most often used with a time expression.

Examples

• I will have been here for six months on June 23rd.
• By the time you read this I will have left.
• You will have finished your report by this time next week.
• Won't they have arrived by 5:00?
• Will you have eaten when I pick you up?

Future perfect continuous

Form

The future perfect continuous is composed of two elements
the future perfect of the verb "to be" (will have been) + the present participle of the main verb (base + ing)

Subject	+ will have been	+ present participle
He	will have been	playing.
I	will have been	playing.

To live, future perfect continuous tense

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative	Negative interrogative
I will have been living	I won't have been living	Will I have been living?	Won't I have been living?
You will have been living	You won't have been living	Will you have been living?	Won't you have been living?
He will have been living	He won't have been living	Will he have been living?	Won't he have been living?
We will have been living	We won't have been living	Will we have been living?	Won't we have been living?
They will have been living	They won't have been living	Will they have been living?	Won't they have been living?

Function

Like the future perfect simple, this form is used to project ourselves forward in time and to look back. It refers to events or actions that are currently unfinished but will be finished at some future time. It is most often used with a time expression.

Examples

• I will have been waiting here for three hours by six o'clock.
• By 2001 I will have been living in London for sixteen years.
• When I finish this course, I will have been learning English for twenty years.
• Next year I will have been working here for four years.
• When I come at 6:00, will you have been practicing long?