To refer to the future in English we use:
- Future Simple: 'will' plus the bare infinitive, for example "I will go."
- Future Continuous: 'will' + 'be' + the -ing form of the verb, for example: "I will be going."
Future Simple |
AFFIRMATIVE |
NEGATIVE |
INTERROGATIVE |
|
Long Form |
Contracted Form |
|
I will go |
I will not go |
I won't go |
Will I go? |
You will go |
You will go |
You won't go |
Will you go? |
He/she/it will go |
He/she/it will go |
He/she/it won't go |
Will he/she/it go? |
We will go |
We will go |
We won't go |
Will we go? |
You will go |
You will go |
You won't go |
Will you go? |
They will go |
They will go |
They won't go |
Will they go? |
Future Continuous |
Affirmative |
Negative |
Interrogative |
|
Long Form |
Contracted Form |
|
I will be going |
I will not be going |
I won't be going |
Will I be going? |
You will be going |
You will not be going |
You won't be going |
Will you be going? |
He/she/it will be going |
He/she/it will not be going |
He/she/it won't be going |
Will he/she/it be going? |
We will be going |
We will not be going |
We won't be going |
Will we be going? |
You will be going |
You will not be going |
You won't be going |
Will you be going? |
They will be going |
They will not be going |
They won't be going |
Will they be going? |
- The future simple is used :
- for predictions : what you think will happen or what is certain to happen.
- You are going on a long flight. You can say :
"I will be tired after my long journey."
- You have found a new job. You can say:
"I'll be nervous the first day!"
- for spontaneous decisions or offers (a decision made at the time of speaking).
- While you're having dinner with your family the phone rings : You can say :
"I'll answer it!"
- You want to help someone who has a lot to carry. You can say:
"I'll carry one of your bags for you."
- The future continuous is used to refer to a continuous action at a future time.
- You are going on a long flight. You can say :
"In two hours' time I will be having lunch on the plane."
"I will be flying over London."
"I will be watching a film."