Expressing the future time in English is particularly problematic not only because there are so many different forms to choose from, but also because the distinction between them is not always clear.

Here are the different forms and their uses:

Will

Form

There should be no problem in making this particular form of the future tense since will does not change with the subject and the main verb is the form that you would find in a dictionary and so does not change either.

Meanings

This is the form that most people immediately associate with the future tense, but it is in fact restricted in its use. It has two main functions.

• the first is to talk about unplanned or spontaneous future events;
• the second is for predictions that are not based on current evidence.

Some examples should help to clarify the different meanings:

(The telephone rings) I’ll get it.

I’ll make us a cup of coffee.

In these two cases the speaker is deciding what to do on the spur of the moment without prior consideration. You may have noticed that they act as offers. This is also true of promises or threats like:

• I’ll give you the money back next week.
• I’ll kill you!
• For predictions, we may hear or read sentences like:
• I think it’ll rain tomorrow.
• There’s no way that we will lose the game.
• You will meet a tall, dark, handsome stranger.

Going to

Form

This is an unusual compound form since it is made up of the Present Continuous tense of the verb go with to + the main verb, so it is easy to confuse this with a normal Present Continuous.

Meanings

There are two main functions of this tense; the first is to refer to premeditated intentions. Examples of this are:

• I’m going to take a few days off.
• We’re going to visit my parents at the weekend.

The meaning that the speakers want to get across here is that I/we hope that these events will take place, but they are always subject to change if needs be or if some unforeseen obstacle arises. There is a sense of an arrangement, but it has a rather indefinite feel to it.

The second use of this form is for talking about predictions based on present or past evidence. You may remember we said that will is used for referring to predictions that are not reliant on current evidence - going to, on the other hand, is used for those predictions where we can rely on present evidence or past experience. For example:

• Look at those clouds - it’s going to rain.
• Have you heard that Jenny’s going to have a baby?
• Getting up at 4:00 in the morning is going to be a problem.

In the first sentence there is clear, visible evidence that my prediction is likely to come true. It would be, at best, unusual to use any other of the future forms in this situation and, at worst, incorrect. The prediction in the second example is based on information that I have heard directly from Jenny herself or from someone who already had the information. The final sense seems to be based on my past experience of getting up early in the morning.

Present Continuous

Form

We have already met the Present Continuous when talking about present, temporary events and actions, so, it is perhaps rather surprising to find that it can also be used to refer to events that have not even started yet. In fact, this is a very important use of this tense.

Meanings

While the going to future form is often used to discuss intentions (possibly prearranged), the Present Continuous is used more for referring to solid arrangements and plans. For example, we are more likely to prefer this form when we have made a booking at a restaurant or theatre or have bought tickets for a train/plane journey. This tense is often accompanied by a time adverbial such as next month, in July etc.

• Next holiday we’re staying in a five-star hotel. (the reservation has been made)
• They’re all taking the day off on the 7th.
• I’m spending Christmas in the Bahamas.

Present Simple

Form

Just as the use of the Present Continuous to refer to future time may have been surprising, the Present Simple may, at first sight at least, seem the most unlikely candidate for talking about future events. The form is as before:

Meanings

The foremost use of this tense form to indicate future time is almost certainly after time conjunctions such as after, before, when, if, until, as soon as and so on. A few examples should demonstrate this:

• She’ll get in touch as soon as she has the information.
• If I see Michael, I’ll give him the message.
• When you finish the report, put it on my desk.

Perhaps not quite so obvious is its use in referring to programmes, timetables, itineraries and public events that we have no direct control over.

• I’m spending Christmas in the Bahamas. The plane leaves on the 20th.
• When does the film start?
• Often precise times are given.

Future Continuous

Form

There are two more commonly used tenses with more complex forms that are used to refer to the future, the first consisting of will + be + the present participle and the second consisting of be going to + be + the present participle. The full forms are given in the following tables:

Meanings

There are two basic functions for these two forms and the difference in meaning between them is, for our purposes, negligible. Firstly, we use the Future Continuous to talk about predicted or planned events that start at some unspecified time in the future and are still occurring at a given time in the future. In this sense it is often used with time adverbials beginning this time next… or a precisely specified time. Since this sounds rather complicated it may be better to illustrate this with a diagram and a couple of examples.

• This time next week I’ll be lying on a beach in Hawaii.