Future Tenses With Examples, Rules, Usage

Throughout this section of the course, you’ll gain comprehensive insights into the English Future tense. The future tense in English comprises the following:

• Future continuous tense
• Future perfect tense
• Future perfect continuous tense

In this article, we’re going to learn about all the types of future tense. You’ll get a clear idea of when and how to use each one. There are also exercises to help you practice and understand these tenses better.

What Are Tenses?

Tenses in grammar indicate the time of an action. There are three main types: past, present, and future.

Simple Future Tense

The future tense is a verb tense used to describe actions or states that will happen in the future. It is used to express predictions, promises, plans, scheduled events, and intentions. In English, the simple future tense is typically formed using the auxiliary verb “will” (or “shall” in more formal contexts) followed by the base form of the main verb.

Formation of Simple Future Tense

• Subject + will/shall + verb(1st form) + object.
• Subject + will/shall + not + verb(1st form) + object.
• Shall/Will + subject + verb (1st form) + object?

In any of the tenses, you can form positive, negative, or interrogative (a question) sentences.

 Uses of Simple Future Tense:

The simple future tense is used to express actions or situations that will happen at some point in the future. Here are some common uses of the simple future tense:

1. Predictions:
   • It will rain tomorrow.
   • He will win the championship.
2. Promises and Intentions:
   • I will help you with your homework.
   • We will meet at the coffee shop.
3. Scheduled Events:
   • The train will depart at 5 PM.
   • The concert will start at 7:30 PM.
4. Planned Actions:
   • She will visit her grandparents next weekend.
   • I will finish the report by Friday.
5. Expressions of Certainty or Probability:
   • She will probably arrive before noon.
   • They will likely attend the conference.
6. Spontaneous Decisions:
   • Oh no, I forgot my umbrella. I will buy one on the way home.
   • I’m tired; I think I will take a nap.
7. Offers and Requests:
   • I will carry your bags for you.
   • Will you help me with this?
8. Conditions and Hypothetical Situations:
   • If it rains, we will stay indoors.
   • I will help you if you need assistance.

Future Continuous Tense

The future continuous tense, also known as the future progressive tense, is a verb tense used to express actions or events that will be ongoing at a specified time in the future. It combines the future tense (using will or shall) with the continuous aspect (using be + present participle).

Formation of  Future Continuous Tense

• Subject + will be/shall be + verb(1st form) ing + object.
• Subject + (will/shall) not + be + verb(1st form) ing + object.
• Will/shall + subject + be + verb (1st form) ing + object?

In any of the tenses, you can form positive, negative, or interrogative (a question) sentences.

In the Future Continuous Tense, the construction involves will (or shall) + be + the present participle of the main verb (-ing form). This tense is used to describe actions that will be ongoing at a specific time in the future.

Uses of Future Continuous Tense with Examples

The future continuous tense is used to express actions or situations that will be ongoing at a specific time in the future. Here are common uses of the future continuous tense:

1. Actions in Progress at a Future Time:
   • This time tomorrow, I will be studying for my exam.
   • At 8 PM tonight, they will be celebrating the New Year.
2. Predictions with Duration:
   • In a few years, we will be living in a different city.
   • By next summer, she will be working for a multinational company.
3. Plans and Arrangements:
   • This weekend, we will be attending a music festival.
   • At this time next year, they will be traveling through Europe.
4. Polite Inquiries and Offers:
   • Will you be joining us for dinner?
   • Shall I prepare some coffee while you wait?
5. Expressions of Probability:
   • They will probably be waiting for us when we arrive.
   • By the time we get there, the concert will likely be starting.
6. Predictions Based on Current Evidence:
   • Look at those dark clouds! It will be raining soon.
   • She’s wearing a coat, so she will be going outside.
7. Interrupted Actions in the Future:
   • At 2 PM tomorrow, I will be giving a presentation unless something unexpected happens.
   • By the time you arrive, we will be finishing lunch.

Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect tense is a verb tense used to describe an action that will be completed at some point in the future before another action takes place. It is formed by using the future tense of the auxiliary verb will or shall along with the past participle of the main verb.

Formation of  Future Perfect Tense

• Subject + will have/shall have + verb(3rd form) + object.
• Subject + will/shall + not + have + verb(3rd form) + object.
• Will/shall + subject + have + verb (3rd form) + object?

In any of the tenses, you can form positive, negative, or interrogative (a question) sentences.

In the Future Perfect Tense, the construction involves will (or shall) + have + the past participle of the main verb. This tense is used to express an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future.

Uses of Future Perfect Tense with Examples

The future perfect tense is used to describe actions that will be completed before a specific point in the future. Here are common uses of the future perfect tense:

1. Actions Completed Before Another Future Action:
   • By the time you arrive, I will have finished preparing dinner.
   • She will have completed her assignment before the deadline.
2. Expectations and Predictions:
   • By next year, he will have achieved his career goals.
   • I’m sure they will have won the championship by the end of the season.
3. Events in Progress Before a Certain Time:
   • At 9 PM tonight, they will have been traveling for six hours.
   • By the time the movie starts, I will have been waiting for an hour.
4. Expressing Duration of Time:
   • In July, they will have been married for twenty years.
   • By tomorrow, I will have worked at this company for a decade.
5. Narrating Past in the Future:
   • Tomorrow, when you ask me, I will tell you that I will have already finished the book.
   • Next week, he will have explained the entire process to the team.
6. Expressing Regret or Disappointment:
   • I’m sorry; I will have missed your call by the time I get back.
   • By the time I arrive, the party will have ended.
7. Referring to Past Events from a Future Perspective:
   • Ten years from now, they will have forgotten about the minor setbacks.
   • When we meet again, we will have been apart for a year.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense

The future perfect continuous tense is a verb tense used to describe an ongoing action that will continue up to a certain point in the future. It is a combination of the future perfect tense and the continuous (progressive) aspect. This tense is formed by using the future perfect tense of the auxiliary verb will or shall, the auxiliary verb have, and been along with the present participle of the main verb.

Formation of  Future Perfect Continuous Tense

• Subject + will have/shall have + been + verb(1st form) ing + object + since/for.
• Subject + will/shall + not + have + been + verb(1st form) ing + object + since/for.
• Will/shall + subject + have + been + verb (1st form) ing + object + since/for?

In any of the tenses, you can form positive, negative, or interrogative (a question) sentences.

In this version, since is used to specify the starting point of the ongoing action, and for is used to indicate the duration of the action.

Uses of Future Perfect Continuous Tense with Examples

The future perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions or events that will be ongoing and in progress at a specific point in the future. This tense is formed by using “will have been” followed by the present participle of the main verb. Here are some common uses of the future perfect continuous tense:

1. Duration of an action up to a point in the future:
   • By 2023, I will have been working at this company for 10 years.
   • At the end of the month, he will have been studying for his exams for six weeks.
2. Anticipation of a temporary action in the future:
   • By the time you arrive, we will have been waiting for two hours.
   • Next year, they will have been living in the new house for a decade.
3. Discussing ongoing actions that will continue up to a certain time:
   • This time next week, I will have been running the marathon for three hours.
   • By the time the concert ends, they will have been playing music for hours.
4. Events that may or may not happen in the future:
   • If she is late, I will have been waiting for her for an hour.
   • I’ll call you at 5 PM; by then, I will have been traveling all day.
5. Expressing a hypothesis about ongoing actions:
   • If he doesn’t call soon, I will have been worrying about him for days.
   • By the time we finish, they will have been rehearsing for the play for months.

Quiz:

1. By the end of the day, she __________ her report. a) will finish b) will have finished
2. In two years, I __________ my master’s degree. a) will complete b) will have completed
3. Next month, they __________ their new house for a year. a) will be living in b) will have been living in
4. At 8 PM tonight, he __________ dinner for an hour. a) will be cooking b) will have been cooking
5. By 2030, scientists __________ a cure for that disease. a) will find b) will have found
6. At this time tomorrow, I __________ the exam. a) will be taking b) will have taken
7. In five years, we __________ around the world. a) will travel b) will have traveled
8. By next summer, she __________ here for a decade. a) will live b) will have lived
9. At the party, we __________ the guests for an hour. a) will greet b) will have been greeting
10. In 2040, he __________ for 30 years. a) will work b) will have been working
11. By the end of the week, she __________ the book. a) will read b) will have read
12. Next year, they __________ in business for 20 years. a) will be b) will have been

Answers:

1. b) will have finished
2. b) will have completed
3. b) will have been living in
4. b) will have been cooking
5. b) will have found
6. a) will be taking
7. b) will have traveled
8. b) will have lived
9. b) will have been greeting
10. b) will have been working
11. b) will have read
12. b) will have been

FAQS:

Q1: What is the basic structure of the future tense?

The basic structure of the future tense is formed using “will” or “shall” followed by the base form of the verb.

Q2: When do we use the future tense?

We use the future tense to talk about actions or events that will happen at some point after the present moment.

Q3: How is the future continuous tense formed?

The future continuous tense is formed using “will be” + the present participle (base form + -ing) of the verb.

Q4: When is the future continuous tense used?

The future continuous tense is used to describe actions that will be ongoing or in progress at a specific point in the future.

Q5: What is the structure of the future perfect tense?

The future perfect tense is formed using “will have” + the past participle of the main verb.

Q6: In what situations do we use the future perfect tense?

The future perfect tense is used to express actions that will be completed before a specific point or event in the future.

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