Future Tenses in English - contrasted

Future Tenses
will-future
going to-future
Simple Present
Present Progressive
Future Progressive
Future Perfect
Past Tenses in English - contrasted
Present Tenses in English - contrasted
Exercises
1) Use
will-future going to-future Simple Present
Present
Progressive
Future
Progressive
Future Perfect
prediction,
assumption;
spontaneous
action;
action happens
without the
speakers's
intention
planned action in
the future;
logical consequence
(sth. is going to
happen)
future action is fixed
(e.g. timetable)
planned action in the
near future
action will definitely
happen (it usually
happens)
sth. will already
have happened
before a certain time
in the future
There is often very little difference between the future tenses. It often depends where you live
(in Britain or the USA) and when you use the sentence (in spoken or written communication).
In newsapapers we often use the will-future, when the going to-future is used in oral
communication.
newspaper:
The headmaster will close the old gym.
oral:
The headmaster is going to close the old gym.

We can substitute the going to-future with the Present Progressive when using an expression
of time.
She is going to see Frank at the airport at 8.30.
She is seeing Frank at the airport at 8.30.
2) Signal words
There are no unambiguous signal words for the future tenses. That's why watch the actions
carefully and then define the tense.
3) Form
will-future going to-future Simple Present
Present
Progressive
Future Progressive Future Perfect
will + infinitive
to be
(am, are, is)
+going
to +infinitive
infinitive
3rd person singular
(he, she,
it)infinitive + -s
to be
(am, are, is)
+infinitive + -ing
will + be +infinitive + -
ing
will + have + past
participle
4) Examples
will-future going to-future Simple Present
Present
Progressive
Future
Progressive
Future Perfect
4-1 Affirmative sentences
He will carry this
bag for you.
We are going
tofly to Leeds in
summer.
The train leaves at
6.45.
I am going to a
party tonight.
They will
beplaying football
on Sunday
afternoon.
She will
havewritten the
letter by tomorrow.

will-future going to-future Simple Present
Present
Progressive
Future
Progressive
Future Perfect
4-2 Negative sentences
He will
not carrythis bag
for you.
We are not going
to fly to Leeds in
summer.
The train does
notleave at 6.45.
I am not going to a
party tonight.
They will not
beplaying football
on Sunday
afternoon.
She will not
havewritten the
letter by tomorrow.

will-future
going to-
future
Simple Present
Present
Progressive
Future Progressive Future Perfect
4-3 Questions
Will he carry this
bag for you?
Are we going
tofly to Leeds
in summer?
Does the
trainleave at
6.45?
Am I going to a
party tonight?
Will they beplaying football
on Sunday afternoon.
Will she havewritten the
letter by tomorrow.