Übersicht - Unregelmäßige Verben - das Verb "to be" - Intensive Grammar Course
Past Perfect - Past - Present Perfect - Present - Future
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There are many ways to express that something will happen in the future. The most important future tenses are the ‘will’-future and the ‘going to’-future, but the English language also frequently requires other future tenses. By the way: modal verbs (can, may, must…) always require present simple tense, even though they may refer to some future action!
"will" future simple - "will" future progr. - "going to" future simple - "going to" future progr.
present progressive as future tense - present simple ("timetable future") - future perfect
form:
will + base form | will not = won’t
use:
simple descriptions of an action in the future or general statement about something in the future;
spontaneous decisions
-Come on, I will help you.
-I have just decided that I will go to the movies tonight.
predictions & weather report
-The test won't be easy.
-They say that the storm will reach Florida on Tuesday morning.
-Tomorrow the weather will be cloudy, and it will rain in most parts of the country later in the afternoon.promises & agreements
-I will take out the dustbin tonight, but you will look after the baby.
-I promise, I will never do something like that again.
uncertainty concerning the future, probability
-They will probably come at 5 or 6 in the evening.
-We’ll call unless we forget it.
“if”-clauses (conditional I)
-If you don’t go to bed now, you will be tired tomorrow.
-They will kill me if I don’t tell them who stole the car.
time indicators:I promise, I have just decided that, come on, probably, maybe, possibly, it may be that, it isn’t sure that...
form:
will + be + “ing”-Form
use:
descriptions of a longer action that will be happening at a certain point of time in the future
-Next year this time I will be sitting in Brazil enjoying the warm weather.
-I think that they will be playing cards when we come home.time indicators:
next year this time, in three months time, ...
form:
am/are/is + going to + base form
use:
plans for the future
-I am going to visit my uncle next week.
-They are going to sing a song at the prom. They have been rehearsing a lot.predictions for which there is evidence; things that are obviously going to happen
-The test is going to be difficult; the teacher has told everyone to study hard.
-Look at those dark clouds! It’s going to rain soon!intentions
-She has been reading a lot about piercings lately, so I suppose she is going to buy a piercing soon!
-I am going to buy a new car, because my old one doesn’t really work any more.certainty about the future
-They are certainly going to come.
-We’re going to call you as soon as we arrive at the airport.time indicators:
certainly, surely, definately; look!; we have already decided that...
note:
in colloquial English, especially in American English, „going to” often turns into „gonna“
form:
am/are/is + going to be + “ing”-Form
use:
The „going to“-Future Progressive is hardly ever used. It can describe longer actions that are certainly going to happen in the future.
-Next week they are going to be writing a 3-hour test.
-Telling from the clouds in the sky I’m sure it’s gonna be raining all night long.
Present Progressive as Future Tense
form:
am/are/is + “ing”-Form
use:
descriptions and actions in the future that have been fixed, planned and arranged
-We are staying at the Hilton. I’ve already called the hotel and they will reserve a room for us.
-They are performing in the big hall. They’ve already arranged everything.Often "going to"- Future can be used instead of Present Progressive as Future Tense; however, this leads to a slight change of meaning in the sentence
- Present Progressive expresses that something is absolutely sure
- "going to" expresses that something is quite certain
Present Simple –“Timetable” Future
form:
„base form“ (3rd person "s")
use:
official time indications, timetables
-The train leaves at 5:34. (It leaves whether I’m in it or not…)
-They broadcast the news at 10pm.NOTE: Official predictions (which do not simply indicate a time) normally require „will“-Future
-The president will give his speech tomorrow morning.
-The Queen will open the celebrations.
form:
will have + Base Form
use:
something that will have already happened at a certain point in the future. (An action before another action in the future)
-This time next year we will have had all our final exams already.
-They will have arrived at the station by 9 or 10 in the evening.
DOWNLOADS:
Intensive Grammar Course - Tenses (rightclick to download)
Intensive Grammar Course - key to exercises (rightclick to download)
short overview of all future tenses (rightclick to download)
