Future Time

FUTURE TIME
SIMPLE FUTURE WILL AND BE GOING TO
1. To express a PREDICTION, no difference between the two usage.

a. Be careful! You will hurt yourself.
b. Watch out! You’re going to hurt yourself
2. To express a PRIOR PLAN: use only be going to; decision was made in the past
a. I’m going to paint my bedroom tomorrow.
3. To express WILLINGNESS: use only will; no prediction, no prior plan
a. The phone is ringing. I’ll get it. (I am willing to do it)
I am going to meet Larry at Alice’s Restaurant. = I am meeting Larry at Alice’s restaurant

(prior plan can be expressed with Present Cont. as well)
EXPRESSING THE FUTURE IN TIME CLAUSES (Adverb Clause)
● Time clause: begins with words such as “when, before, after, as soon as, until, when” +
subject + verb.
When Bob comes, we will see him.
● Time clause can come at the beginning and at the end of a sentence:
○ We will see him, when he comes.
○ I will wait here until they come.
● Sometimes Present Cont. is used in a time clause to express an activity that will be in
progress:
○ While I am traveling in Europe next year, I am going to save money by staying in
youth hostels.
● Occasionally, the Present Perfect is used to emphasize the completion of the act before
the other act occurs in the future.
○ I will go to bed after I finish my work. = I will go to bed after I have finished my
work.
Examples:
While I am driving to work tomorrow, I’m going to listen to my Greek language tapes.
A: What will you do after you leave?
B: I am going to/I will return home and get a job. How about you?
A: I am going to be/I will be here for at least two more years before I return home and get a job.
USING THE PRESENT CONT. AND SIMPLE PRESENT TO EXPRESS FUTURE TIME
1. PRESENT CONT. - when the idea of the sentence concerns a planned event or a
definite intention. A verb such as “rain” is not used because it’s not a planned event. The
future meaning is indicated either by future time words or by the context.
a. My wife has an appointment with a doctor. She is seeing Dr. North next
Tuesday.
b. A: What are you going to do this afternoon?
c. B:After lunch I am meeting a friend of mine. We are going shopping. Would you
like to come along?
2. SIMPLE PRESENT - to express events that are on a definite schedule or timetable:
open, close, begin, end, start, finish, arrive, leave, come, return.
a. The museum opens at 10 tomorrow morning.
b. Classes begin next week.
Example:
I am taking 4 courses next semester. - in the future
I am taking 4 course this semester. - now
Students usually take 4 courses. - habitually
A: What are you doing after work today?

B: I’m playing tennis with Brown at the Health Club. And you?
A: I’m meeting Smith for a round of golf.
Tony will arrive at 8 tomorrow evening - in the future.

Tony is going to arrive at 8 tomorrow evening. - in the future
Tony is arriving at 8 tomorrow evening - in the future.
Tony arrives at 8 tomorrow evening - in the future.
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
1. Activity that will be in progress at a time in the future
a. I will be studying when you come.
2. The form of be going to: be going to + be + ing
a. Don’t call me at 9 because I won’t be at home. I am going to be studying at the
library.
3. Sometimes no difference between Future Cont. and Future Simple when the event will
occur at an indefinite time in the future.
a. She will be coming soon. = She will come soon.
Examples:
Two days from now I will be lying on the beach in the sun.
Look at those dark clouds. When class is over, it will probably be raining.
A: Are you going to be in town next Saturday?
B: No. I will be in Chicago visiting my aunt.
FUTURE PERFECT
1. An activity that will be completed before another time or event in the future. (By the time
introduces a time clause; the Simple Present is used)
a. I will graduate in June. I will see you in July. By the time I see you I will have
graduated.
b. I will have finished my homework by the time I go out on a date tonight.
FUTURE PERFECT CONT

1. The duration of an activity that will be in progress before another time or event in the
future.
a. I will have been sleeping for 2 hours by the time Ed gets home.
2. When Prof Jones retires next month, he will have taught for 45 years = When Prof
Jones retires next month he will have been teaching for 45 years. (same meaning, and
the activity started in the past)
EXERCISES:
1. This morning I came to class at 9:00. Right now it is 10:00 and I am still in class. I have
been sitting at this desk for an hour. By 9:30 I had been sitting at this desk for a half an
hour. By 11:00 I will have been sitting here for two hours.
2. Margaret was born in 1975. By 1995, she had lived/had been living for 20 years. By the
year 2025, she will have been living/will have lived for 50 years.
3. We have been married for a long time. By our next anniversary, we will have been
married for 43 years.
4. Tomorrow he will work at his desk until he goes to another meeting. Afterward the whole
family sit in the living room and discuss their day. By the time Bill goes to bed he will
have had a full day and will be ready for sleep.
It will rain tomorrow morning. It will probably going to rain tomorrow morning.
We washed the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen after our guests left/had left.

Future Time

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FUTURE TIME

SIMPLE FUTURE WILL AND BE GOING TO

1. To express a PREDICTION, no difference between the two usage.

I am going to meet Larry at Alice’s Restaurant. = I am meeting Larry at Alice’s restaurant

EXPRESSING THE FUTURE IN TIME CLAUSES (Adverb Clause)

A: What are you doing after work today?

Tony will arrive at 8 tomorrow evening - in the future.

FUTURE PERFECT CONT

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