The Different Ways to Talk About the Future in English

The English language has three main verb tenses: past, present, and future. While some may argue that English only has two verb tenses, it is now widely accepted that the future tense plays a significant role in the language. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the future tense and its various uses.

Understanding the Concept of the Future Tense

The future tense is used to discuss an event, action, or state that is expected to occur in the future. Unlike the past and present tenses, which are formed by verb inflections, the future tense uses auxiliary verbs such as will, shall, and "going to". For instance, "I will see you later". Let's explore the different ways of talking about the future in more detail, with examples to illustrate.

Examples of the Future Tense

• I predict that it will rain tomorrow.
• Sara will be able to assist you with this project.
• Mark will be working all day tomorrow.
• I will answer the phone.
• It's going to snow tomorrow.
• By then, I shall have gone home.
• They will have been married for 10 years in March.

Each of these examples portrays something that is expected to happen in the future but has not yet occurred.

Common Uses of the Future Tense

The future tense is utilized to talk about future events, but it serves specific purposes, including:

• Predictions - e.g. "I think it will snow tomorrow!"
• Immediate or spontaneous actions/events - e.g. "We'll pay!" or "I'll get the phone!"
• Plans and arrangements - e.g. "I'll meet you outside at 3".
• Invitations - e.g. "Will you join me for dinner?"
• Expressing (un)willingness - e.g. "I'll give you a ride" or "She won't leave!"
• Anticipating a future event - e.g. "This time next year, I will have finished school".

The Future Continuous (Progressive) Tense

The future continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action or state in the future. It indicates that an action is expected to continue for a specific period.

To form the future continuous tense, use this formula:

Subject + will + be + present participle (root verb + -ing).

Examples:

• I will be arriving by train tomorrow.
• We will all be watching the show on Friday.
• Amy and David will be competing against each other.

The Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect tense is used to talk about an action or event that will be completed by a specific time in the future or before another event takes place.

To form the future perfect tense, use this formula:

Subject + will have + past participle.

Examples:

• I will have left by then.
• Vicky will have left by the time you get back.
• Everyone will have eaten by 8 pm.

The Future Perfect Continuous (Progressive) Tense

The future perfect continuous tense looks forward to an action or event that will happen in the future. Like the future continuous tense, we only use this verb tense with action verbs.

To form the future perfect continuous tense, use this formula:

Subject + will have + been + present participle (root form + -ing).

Examples:

• In March, we will have been dating for three years.
• Ritchie will have been working here for a month by Thursday.
• She will have been waiting for 45 minutes by five o'clock.

Although using the modal auxiliary verb "will" is the most common way to talk about the future, we can also use a combination of tenses and aspects to discuss future actions or events.

Key Takeaways about the Future Tense

The future tense expresses an action or state of being that has not yet occurred but is expected to happen in the future. It can be used to talk about plans, predictions, invitations, willingness, suggestions, anticipating future events, and more. By understanding how to form and use different types of future tenses, you can effectively communicate your thoughts and intentions about future events in English.

The future tense is created by adding the modal auxiliary verb "will" before the verb root. In some cases, we can also express the future using a combination of other tenses and aspects.

Examples of the Future Tense

An example of the future tense is the sentence "I will travel to Tokyo next month." This statement refers to a future event that is expected to happen in the near future.

Forming the Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect tense is formed by using the following structure: subject + will + have + past participle. For instance, "I will have finished my project by tomorrow."

Usage of the Future Perfect Tense in English

The future perfect tense is used to discuss an action or event that will be completed at a specific time in the future or before another action or event takes place. For example, "By the time he turns 25, John will have graduated."