Methods of forming the future tense in English. Ways of expressing the future tense in English

Today's article will be entirely devoted to the rules of use. But learning the rules is too boring, so today we will dilute the boring sets of words with visual illustrations and examples. Believe me, you will love learning the important basics of English this way.

Let's look at the following picture.

This is a short and visual summary of how you can talk about the future tense in English. Please note that the diagram also shows the Present Simple and the Present Continuous, which indicate the present tense. But they can also be used to describe actions in the future, just like constructs going + to do and will + verb infinitive .

WILL

Structure

We use the design will + infinitive (without the to particle) . Usually in conversations and informal situations will is shortened to ‘ll.

Affirmative form:

We will go to the cinema tomorrow. - Tomorrow we will go to the cinema.
I 'll pick you up at 8am. - I'll pick you up at 8 am.

Negative form:

We won't get there on time. - We won't get there in time.

Will you be long? No, I won't. - Are you for long? No, not for long.
Won't you need an umbrella? Yes, I'll need one. - Won't you need an umbrella? Yes, you will need it.

Usage:

Forecasts and fixed facts

Over the next decade there will be a big increase in the use of nuclear power. - The next decade will see a large increase in nuclear energy consumption.

Spontaneous decisions and thoughts that come to mind during a conversation

I'll have the fish, please. - Bring me fish (I will fish), please.

Tell him I’ll call him in the morning. - Tell him I'll call him in the morning.

Promises

I’ll give you a hand with the report tomorrow. Don't worry. - I'll give you the report tomorrow. Don't worry.

Help offer

I’ll give you a lift to the station later. - I'll drop you off at the station later.

Confidence that something works or doesn't work

The car won't start. - The car won't start.

BE GOING TO

Structure

Be + going to + verb infinitive

Positive form:

I am going to go to the shops tomorrow. - Tomorrow I'll go shopping.
I 'm going to buy a lottery ticket. - I'm going to buy a lottery ticket.

Negative form:

I 'm not going to go out today. - I'm not going anywhere today.

Question form and short answers:

Aren’t you going to go and welcome your guests? Yes, I am. - Are you coming to greet your guests? Yes, I'm coming.
Are we going to see your parents later? No, we are not/aren’t. - Will we see your parents later? No, we won't see.

Use:

Forecast based on obvious facts in the present

Be careful! The glass is going to fall. - Carefully! The glass is about to fall. (I see that he is on the edge of the table.)

Intentions are what we have already decided to do.

I'm going to call her in the morning. - I'll call her in the morning.
She’s going to monitor the situation closely. - She will monitor the situation closely.

WILL or BE GOING TO?

There are many cases where both forms can be used. Will is more often used when writing, while be going to more common in speech. Native English speakers are more likely to use be going to, how will. Here are some examples:

I’ll talk/ I’m going to talk about three main areas in my presentation. - I will talk about three main points in my presentation.(In this case, the speaker can view this as a fact (will) or intention (going to)).

Are decisions instantaneous or already made?

Great idea! I'll do it first thing tomorrow. - Great idea! I'll do it first thing tomorrow (instant solution).
Yes, I know. I'm going to do it tomorrow. - Yes, I know. I'll do it tomorrow (intention or plan).

Forecasting events - general hopes for the future or in connection with obvious facts in the present

I'm sure you'll love the movie. I'm sure you'll enjoy the movie. (general hope or opinion)
This year we’re going to make a profit for the first time in five years. This year we will make a profit for the first time in five years. (I have numbers - obvious point in the present)

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Present Continuous is used when we talk about things that we have already agreed to do. Almost always it is about the future tense that is spoken here. Such arrangements or agreements are often social arrangements or meetings.

Comment: Perhaps what is not entirely correct in the topmost diagram is that it indicates “planned actions” and “near future”. It is better to replace “actions” with “arrangements” and add the word “fixed” to this combination.

"A planned, fixed arrangement" could be next week or next year, so it doesn't have to be near future.

I’m seeing my dentist on July 4. - I'm going to the dentist on July 4th.
I’m going on on holiday in September. - I will go on vacation in September.
HSBC are moving offices next year. - HSBC is moving to new offices next year.

BE GOING TO or PRESENT CONTINUOUS?

There is often very little difference between plans and agreements. However be going to basically suggests that an agreement has not yet been reached (not established), and Present Continuous can mean that an agreement has already been established.

I’m going to see my lawyer next month. - I'm going to see my lawyer next month. (just a plan - time and place not set)
I’m seeing my lawyer next month in London. - I will see my lawyer next month in London. (set meeting at a set place)

PRESENT SIMPLE for FUTURE

We use the simple present tense (not will), to express the future tense in the following situations:

With expressions denoting time

To denote the future tense, we use the Present Simple (or Present Perfect) after the words: when, before, after, in case, unless, as soon as, the next time, until, by the time.

When Sally arrives, I will tell her to come and see you. - When Sally arrives, I'll tell her to come see you.
We’ll talk about the budget plans as soon as I return from Munich. - We'll talk about budget plans as soon as I get back from Munich.
Unless I am mistaken, there won’t be a meeting next week. - If I'm not mistaken, there will be no meeting next week.
You can wait here until she arrives. - You can wait until she arrives.

Notice that the first three sentences in the second part use WILL.

When there is a fixed schedule and schedule

Present Simple or Present Continuous can be used when talking about the future if it is based on a schedule or calendar:

My plane leaves (is leaving) at 1.20pm. - My plane leaves at 1.20 pm.
Our CEO retires (is retiring) in December. - Our director is retiring in December.
I have a meeting with the Sales team tomorrow at 4pm. - I have a meeting with the sales team tomorrow at 4pm.

To better understand how to speak about the future tense in English, you need to understand more about the context. Reading in English is one of the best ways to understand how English tenses are used and in what cases. Even words cannot express how important it is to see the English language in context.

So read as much as you can. No matter what you read, just keep doing it.

You are viewing the subcategory entitled " Future forms".
Future tense forms express actions taking place in the future tense, but in slightly different time periods.
It is recommended to study Future Simple first, then Future Continuous, Future Perfect and at the very end Future Perfect Continuous.
Don't forget that at the end of each article there is a small test for practice and better understanding.

Simple future tense (Future Simple or Simple Future or The Future Indefinite) – used to describe actions, events that should occur once (1-2 examples) or regularly (3-4) in the future and much less frequently to describe sequential actions in the future tense.

1. I will go for a walk tomorrow → I'm tomorrow I'll go for a walk.
2. They will watch TV tonight → They will watch TV tonight.

3. It will rain every day → Rain will go every day.
4.I will always help you → I always will help you.

To determine how long certain events will occur - once or regularly, time markers (more on them below) and adverbs - tomorrow, tonight, always, ever, never, etc. usually help.

Translation. Auxiliary " Will"often for some reasons (for accuracy, expressiveness, etc.) is not translated literally into Russian. For example:

They will watch TV tonight
They they'll look TV tonight (instead of - They will watch...).

Time form Future Simple is the basic, one of the most frequently used tense forms of the English language - its knowledge is mandatory for all beginners in learning English. But before studying it, you need to master other basic tenses - and.

Future continuous tense (Future Continuous or Future Progressive) – used to describe an action or event that will take place for some time certain period of time in the future. It is implied that the action will begin before this certain period of time and Maybe will continue to happen after him, but the emphasis falls only on the process of action.

If you have mastered time well, then understanding Future Continuous will not be difficult for you - they are similar in meaning: the main difference is in the time period.

I will be do ing exercises
I I will do exercises.

They will be hav ing dinner from 7 to 8 pm.
They will have dinner from 7 to 8 pm.

Anna is going to be punishment.
Anna will punished.

They are going to be home after 10 minutes.
They will home in 10 minutes.

Future Perfect usually used to talk about an action that will end at a certain point in time in the future. At what exact moment can be understood from the context. Usually they say when the action will end (let me remind you, in the future).

Future perfect tense formed with will have and the ending ed at the end, (or 3rd form

English grammar is quite multifaceted. I thought for a long time about how to title this article. On the one hand, it provides the most complete information on the topic future tense in English, but in this context it is more common to consider the times of the Future group. Therefore, here we will talk specifically about future action. Remember that the exact tense of a verb cannot always be determined by its grammatical form. For example, ways of expressing future action are manifested not only in tenses of the Future group with the use of will, but also in such tenses as Present Simple, Present Continuous and the phrase going to.

Verbs in the Present Simple form describe actions that occur regularly. But when we use this grammatical tense to describe events that will occur in the future according to an exact schedule. In other words, how confident are we in our words that we are talking about the future as a fait accompli.

The train arrives at 7 o’clock – Train will arrive at 7:00.

In the above statement, we are not interested in a specific time, not a process, not the result of a process, but the accomplished fact itself: the train will definitely arrive on schedule and will do so regularly. Consequently, the Present Simple group of verbs focuses on the regularity of an action, even if it has not yet occurred.

Present Continuous

Verbs in this tense are used to express the current action that is happening now. But in some cases it can express future action. For example, in the case of expressing precise plans in the near future.

I ‘m flying to Venice this weekend. - I I'll fly to Venice this week (assuming tickets are purchased and hotel booked).

Going to

We use the form to be going to in the following cases:

• To express plans, intentions or ambitions for the future;

Anna is going to be a singer when she grows up. – Anna is going to become a singer when she grows up.

• To express actions that we have already decided to take in the near future;

Jack is going to visit his parents this Saturday. Jack is going to visit his parents this Saturday.

• To express predictions and calculations about the future, especially when there is a significant probability that the action spoken of will occur sooner or later.

Look up! This branch is going to fall on the road. - Look up! This branch is about to fall on the road.

• To express a decision;

I'm going to build the big house. - I'm going to build a big house.

Future times

Future Simple

• To express spontaneous decisions made at the moment of conversation;

I feel ill. I will not go to school. - I feel bad. I will not go to school.

• Predictions for the future based on feelings;

I'm sure he will come. - I'm sure he will come.

• To express dreams;

I will build the best house. - I will build the best house.

• Promises, thoughts, warnings, requests, demands, wishes;

Will you help me clean the room? – Will you help me clean the room?

• Actions that will occur in the future beyond our control;

John will be seven years old. — John will be seven years old.

Future Continuous

• For actions that will develop at a designated time in the future;

At the same time next week I’ll be walking around Paris. — This time next week I will be walking around Paris.

• For actions that are certain to occur in the future as a result of an established order;

I will be going to the company next week. – I will go to the company next week.

• When we kindly ask someone about their plans for the near future;

Will you be finishing your work soon? – Will you finish your work soon?

Future Perfect

We use the future completed tense to express actions that must end before a specific time in the future.

I will have finished university by the end of this week. — I will graduate from university by the end of this week.

Scheme

In some textbooks, the use of tenses expressing future action is classified according to the degree of probability. I believe that this is not entirely correct and only applies to the topic. I propose a classification by degree determination perform an action.

The only difficulty arose with the Present Simple, because it is used in this context for schedules, event programs and commentary on sporting events.

As you can see, sentences expressing actions in the future tense are not always accompanied by will. The ways of expressing the future tense are quite multifaceted. Considering the focus and purpose of the proposal will help determine the right timing.

In any language there is present, past and future tense. English is no exception. In English there is 4 tenses for expressing future action:

1. Future Indefinite,
2. Future Perfect,
3. Future Perfect Continuous

Let's get to know them better!

Simple future tense - Future Indefinite

Method of education:

will (shall) + V (verb)

won't (shan't) + V

Used:

• The main meaning is forecasting: at such and such a moment something might happen.

! The planning of something is excluded.

Examples:

It will rain tomorrow. - It will rain tomorrow. (We forecast, but cannot plan accurately)

• It's something that will inevitably happen from us.

He will be 30 next year. — Next year he will be 30.

• Used after:

1.I hope

I believe + will + infinitive

I'm sure

2. perhaps, probably

Continuous future tense - Future Continuous

Method of education:

will be (shall be)+do ing smth (verb with -ing ending)

Method of education:

will + have been + doing(verb with -ing ending)

Shows duration!

Compare:

When they arrive, everyone will have left. “When they arrive, everyone will have already left.”

When they arrive, everyone will have been working for 2 hours already. — When they arrive, everyone will have been working for 2 hours.

This article is the third in the series “Tenses in English”. It is devoted to the future tense in English, as well as all possible ways of expressing it. We all know that future tense in English is a grammatical category that demonstrates that events will only happen (not before, not during, but after the conversation). In English, there are four tenses for expressing the future, as well as several constructions that serve the same purpose. Let’s try to figure out what to choose to express the future tense in English in this or that case.

How is the future tense formed in English?

Let’s take a look at and by analogy with the already mentioned present and past tenses, we determine that Future Forms in English are presented in four aspects: Future Simple(Future simple) Future Continuous(Future continuous), Future Perfect(Future perfect) and Future Perfect Continuous(Future perfect continuous). The last two are used either very rarely or not at all. The constructions of these tenses are quite cumbersome and heavy, so it is easier for the speaker to rephrase the sentence than to create an “indigestible” version.

Rules Future Tenses simple and easy to apply. The most common tenses for expressing the future remain the first two options. They differ only in that in the first case the action will not take place in the process, that is, for a long time. Basically, it's the same difference as between times And , but in the plane not of the present, but of the future.

To create a sentence in English in the future tense Future Simple we just have to remember two auxiliary verbs - shall And will, to which the infinitives of the main verbs are added. The original rule stated that will used in all persons except the first (“I” and “we”). It was said to write with them shall. Recently, the English-speaking population has become adept at using will for all persons, especially since in abbreviation that shall, What will looks like 'll, that is I'll or She'll. So if you only remember will, no big deal – put it on. When asking a question shall And will occupy a position at the beginning of a sentence. But in the negative version they add a particle to themselves not, which forms the following short forms with them: will not = won't; shall not = shan't.

Basically, this future tense in English is used in cases where:

• we want to express a one-time action that will take place in the future. Words - markers - come to our aid ( tomorrow, next week, next year, soon, some day, in two days, in a month, in a year).
  

  It will be warm in two days. - In two days it will be warm.

• we want to express regular, repeated actions in the future.
  

  I shall write to you every week. - I will write to you every week.

• we need to imagine a series of sequential actions.
  

  We'll call for you, take a taxi and go to the party. - We'll pick you up, call a taxi and go to the party.

• the decision to take an action in the future was made at the time of the conversation.
  

  Oh! Our refrigerator is empty . I’ llgo and buy some food. - ABOUT! Our refrigerator is empty. I'll go buy something to eat.

Time Future Continuous is formed somewhat more complicated: auxiliary verb to be in time Future Simple (shall be / will be), followed by the participle I of the main verb, that is, the - form ing. Therefore, if the question is only shall / will placed at the beginning of the sentence (without be), and when negating the particle not stands between shall / will And be. Take this time to heart if you strive to:

• show that an action will be in progress at a certain point in the future. The moment in the future can be a circumstance of time.
  

  In two hours we shall be writing a composition at the exam. - In two hours we will write an essay for the exam.

• show that you predict this action in the future.
  

  My husband will be worrying about me if I am late. - My husband will worry about me if I come late.

I want to say only a few words about the third and fourth times. These future tenses are not often used in English. To create Future Prefect, you will need the following manipulations: auxiliary verb have V Future Simple – shall / will have, to which we add the participle II of the semantic verb, that is, either the form in - ed, or a word from the third column. This tense represents an action that will end before a certain point in the future. For example:

By the end of the year I will have spent all the money I've earned. - By the end of the year I will have spent all the money I earned.

Future Perfect Continuous requires verb to be in the form of the previous tense, that is shall / will have been, and also plus the participle I of the main verb, that is, the form in - ing. You need to know that such a future tense is present in the English language, but still try to replace it with something else. For example, by rearranging the phrase and using one of the methods below.

As you can see, everything is simple. Usually, for those who diligently learn English, the future tense does not present any difficulty.

Other ways to express the future tense in English

Time will help you talk about the future tense in English Present Continuous, which is necessary if the action has already been planned in advance and will definitely take place in the near future.

Are you waiting for us? We are coming tonight. -Are you waiting for us? We'll arrive in the evening.

In this case, we are talking about someone's personal plans. But to express non-personal plans, but some kind of schedule, program, the simple present tense is also suitable - Present Simple.