WAYS OF EXPRESSING FUTURETIME

THE SIMPLE PRESENT

It expresses a definite future arrangement, thus being more impersonal than the Present
Continuous tense:
e.g. The boys start school on Monday.
The plane leaves for Rome tonight. It arrives in France 30 minutes later.
These arrangements are more official and more definite than the arrangements
expressed by the Present Continuous.

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

It expresses a definite arrangement, a personal one for the near future. It may not be
used in the case of the verbs that are not normally used in the continuous.
e.g. I’m taking my exams in October.
What are you doing next Saturday?
The neighbours are coming tonight to watch television with us. I’m not going to the
seaside any longer.

THE SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

The affirmative form: SUBJECT + SHALL (WE, I)/ WILL + VERB IN THE FIRST
FORM
e.g. We shall meet next Saturday.
They will come tonight.
The interrogative form: WILL/ SHALL + SUBJECT + VERB IN THE FIRST FORM
e.g. Shall we go out tonight?
Will they come tonight?
The negative form: SUBJECT + SHAN’T/WON’T + VERB IN THE FIRST FORM

USE:
1) It is used to express a strong volition, a strong intention or something that is sure to take
place in the near future:
e.g. I’ll pass all my exams, I’m sure of it.
They will come as soon as possible, they always do that.

2) To express speaker’s intentions, opinions, assumptions, speculations about that future, with
verbs such as: be afraid, feel sure, believe, daresay, doubt, expect, know, suppose, think,
hope, wonder and adverbs such as perhaps, surely, possibly.
e.g. I’m sure he will come back.
Perhaps we will find him at the hotel.
3) For habitual actions that we assume to take place in the future:
e.g. Spring will come again.
People will always make plans.
4) It is used with verbs not normally used in the continuous:
e.g. He’ll be here at six. Then you’ll have time for tea.
She’ll wonder where you are.
5) It is also used in newspapers, TV news, formal announcements and formal samples of
writing, instead of the GOING TO form:
e.g. The president will open the session.

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The fog will persist for the next two days.
6) WON’T is used to express stubbornness, a negative intention on the part of the speaker.
e.g. My car won’t start.
He won’t listen to anyone.

THE FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE

The affirmative form: SUBJECT + WILL + BE + VERB + ING

e.g. They will be writing this time tomorrow.
The interrogative form: WILL + SUBJECT + BE + VERB + ING?
e.g. What will they be doing this time tomorrow?
The negative form: SUBJECT + WON’T + BE + VERB + ING
e.g. They won’t be working at this time tomorrow.

USE
1) It expresses an action that will be in progress at a certain time in the future:
e.g. They will be working when the teacher comes.
At this time next week I will be going shopping.
2) To express a future action that will be accomplished without intention:
e.g. I will be shopping at this time tomorrow.
I’ll be seeing Tom tomorrow.

THE GOING TO FUTURE

The affirmative form: SUBJECT + AM/ IS/ ARE + GOING TO + VERB IN THE
FIRST FORM
e.g. I’m going to write a letter.
The interrogative form: AM/ IS/ ARE + SUBJECT + GOING TO + VERB IN THE
FIRST FORM
e.g. Why are you going to call him?
The negative form: SUBJECT + AM/ IS/ ARE + GOING TO + VERB IN THE FIRST
FORM
e.g. You are going to be here at three o’clock, aren’t you?

USE
It is used to express the speaker’s intention to perform an action. Thus this action is always
premeditated. It is also an intention and a plan that refers to the immediate or near future.
e.g I’m going to think about your proposal. I’m sure I’m going to like it very much.
Are you going to leave without paying?
He’s going to resign.

THE FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE

The affirmative form: SUBJECT + WILL + HAVE + VERB IN THE THIRD FORM
e.g. He will have come by the time you call him.
The interrogative form: WILL + SUBJECT + HAVE + VERB IN THE THIRD FORM
e.g. Will he have been here long before he gets fired?
The negative form: SUBJECT + WILL + HAVE + VERB IN THE THIRD FORM
e.g. He will not have been working here long before he gets fired.

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 This tense expresses an action that will take place in the future, before another action
in the future. This future action will end before the other future action begins.
e.g. They will have finished their work by next week.
They will have written the essay be the time we get home.
They will have come to visit us be next Saturday.

THE FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

The affirmative form: SUBJECT + WILL + HAVE + BEEN + VERB+ ING

e.g. They will have been working on that building for ten years before they finish it.
The interrogative form: WILL+ SUBJECT + HAVE + BEEN + VERB + ING
e.g. How long will they have been working before the building is finished?
The negative form: SUBJECT + WILL + NOT + HAVE + BEEN + VERB + ING
e.g They won’t have been working too long on the house before it is finished.
USE
This tense expresses an action that will be in progress before another action in the
future. The action in the Future Perfect Continuous may end at that time in the future or it
may continue even after that time in the future.
e.g. By the end of this year I will have been working here for ten years.
By next Saturday he will have studied English for ten years.

TO BE TO FUTURE
The affirmative form: SUBJECT + AM/ IS/ ARE + TO + INFINITIVE
The interrogative form: AM/ IS/ ARE + SUBJECT + TO + INFINITIVE?
The negative form: SUBJECT + AM/ IS/ ARE + NOT+ TO + INFINITIVE

It is mainly used to express an order, a command, an obligation that someone has for
the near future, something that the speaker has no control over.
e.g. You are to come here at three o’clock tomorrow.
They are to come to work every day for 8 hours.
She is to tell me everything that goes on in this house, or else she will be fired.

TO BE ABOUT TO + INFINITIVE FUTURE

TO BE ON THE POINT/ ON THE VERGE OF + VERB + ING FUTURE
They all express things that are sure to happen in the near future, that cannot be prevented
from happening.
e.g. I’m about to leave for school. (Sunt pe punctul de a pleca la scoala.)
She is on the point of/ on the verge of bursting into tears.
They are on the point of/ on the verge of telling the truth.
He is about to begin his presentation.
They are on the point of finding the solution to the problem/ about to find the solution to
this problem.