Tenses And The Example

Future plan

In addition to the simple future we can talk about future events by using either:

• the present continuous, or
• to be (in the simple present) + going to +verb.

These two forms are used to talk about future plans. There are, however, some differences between the two forms.

1. The present continuous for future plans:

The present continuous is used when we say what we have planned and arranged to do at a specific time in the future. These are fixed plans with definite time and/or place.

Examples:

• I'm doing my homework this evening.
• I'm starting university in September.
• Sally is meeting John at seven o'clock this evening in a restaurant downtown.

2. To be + going to + verb:

A. We use 'going to' to express the future when we intend to do something or have decided to do something but did not arrange it. It is just an intention.

Example:

• A: The windows are dirty.
  B: Yes I know. I'm going to clean them later.
   = I've decided to clean them ,but I haven't arranged to clean them.

B. We also use 'going to' to make predictions.

• Watch out! you are going to break the glass.
• It's so cloudy! I think it's going to rain.

The simple future tense:

This page will present the simple future tense:

• its form
• and its use.

The forms of the simple future:

The simple future is formed as follows:

will / 'll + verb

will = 'll

The affirmative form of the simple future:

I, you, he, she, it, we, they

will / ''ll

go.

Examples:

• I think I'll buy a new computer.
• I will open the door. Someone is ringing the bell.

The interrogative form of the simple future:

Will

I, you, he, she, it, we, they

go?

Examples:

• Will you buy a computer?
• Will you go to the party?

The negative form of the simple future:

I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will not	go.
	won't

will not = won't

Examples:

• I will not stay at home if I finish the homework.
• I won't visit Big Ben if I go to London.

The use of the simple future:

• We use the simple future for instant decisions.
  Example: "I've left the door open; I'll close it."
• We use the simple future , when we predict a future situation:
  Example: "She'll pass the exam. She's hardworking"
• We use the simple future with: "I (don't) think...", "I expect...", "I'm sure...", "I wonder...", "probably".
  Example: "It will probably rain tonight" , "I wonder what will happen?
• We use the simple future in conditional sentences type one. (More on conditional sentences here):
  Example: "If I have enough time, I'll watch the film."

Things to remember:

1. We don't use the simple future to say what somebody has already decided or arranged to do in the future. We use instead either the present continuous or "going to + verb" (Future plan) :

• Ann is traveling to New York next week. (NOT, "Ann will travel ")
• Are you going to watch television? (NOT "will you watch").

2. You can use shall instead of will for I and we:

• I shall play football.(Or, I will play ...)
• We shall play football. (Or, we will play ...)

3. 'll is the short form of will. You can say either:

• I will go, or
• I 'll go.

4. Won't is the short form of will not. You can say either:

• I will not go, or
• I won't go.