The future tenses summary

Future tenses:
 Shall/ will + verb
 To be going to + verb
 Present continuous
 Present simple
 To be about to + verb
 Future continuous

Shall/will + verb:

We use this form to express things decided on the spot.

(It is not a fixed agreement)

Shall is used in questions with I & we.

Example: ‘’Shall I help you with that?’’

We also use ‘’will’’ in all this other situations:

 I will take the bus.

 You will listen to me.
 We will make dinner.
 They will drop by.

For questions with ‘’will’’:

We use the structure ‘’will + verb’’

Examples:
 Will he put up his tent?
 Will she celebrate her birthday?
 Will you park your bikes in the shed?

For negations with ‘’Will’’

We use the structure ‘’will+ not (= won't) + verb’’ and ‘’shall + not (= shan't) + verb’’

Examples:
 Shan't I get sunburned?
 You won't cross the road.
 It won't be easy.
 We won't make the beds.
  They won't need a passport.

To be+ going to + verb

We use this form for fixed plans made for the future. We need to know when it is going to
happen.

Examples:
 l am going to help my brother next week.
 It is going to rain tomorrow.
 We are going to cook dinner tonight.
 They are going to mark the test in an hour.

Questions with to be + going to + verb:

 Am l going to pass my exams this afternoon?

 Is she going to visit her aunt soon?
 Are they going to run the marathon next Monday?

Negations with to be + going to + verb:

 I am not going to learn it by heart this evening.

 He isn't going to buy a new computer on Tuesday.
 They aren't going to watch the telly this night.

Present continuous

We use this form for plans in the near future, we need to know when they are happening.

Examples:
 I am working this afternoon.
 He is calling her in the morning.
 We are driving down the street any minute now.

Present simple

We use this form for fixed schedules.

Examples:
 The lesson starts at half past eight.
 The bus arrives at 10 o'clock.
 The train departs from platform B.
To be about to + verb

You use this form when you are on verge of doing something. You use this for something
that can happen at minute from now.

Examples:
 The lesson is about to begin.
 -The airplane is about to take off.
 They are about to open the department store

Future continuous

You use this form when you tell someone about your future plans. Something that you will
be doing at a specific time in the future.

We use the structure ‘’shall/ will + be + verb + ing’’

Examples:
 By this time next year, I will be working at the head office.
 No they can't help you tomorrow, they will be doing their homework.