Ways of Referring to the Future
The following table summarizes the different structures we use to describe the future:
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| will | I’ll get the door for you. | a decision made at the moment of speaking |
| will | You’ll catch a cold if you don’t put a coat on. | a prediction based on feeling or experience |
| be going to | I’m going to see a movie tonight. | 1- a strong personal intention 2- planned event |
| be going to | The cup is going to fall off of the table. | a prediction based on what you can see now (evidence) |
| Present Continuous | We’re having lunch together tomorrow. | fixed plans / arrangements for things we can control (often used for meetings) |
| Present Simple | The bus comes at 9:03am. | an arrangement or fact based on an unchangeable schedule |
| will + continuous | I’ll be sleeping if you call when you finish work. | an action that will be in progress at a specific time in the future |
| will + continuous | I’ll be living with her until the end of the month. | an activity that will be happening during a period in the future |
| will + continuous | She’ll be arriving soon. | an activity that will happen because it is regular or pre-arranged |
| will + perfect | I will have graduated from school in 2016. | an event that will be finished before a specified time in the future |
| will + perfect continuous | We will have been living together for six years next month. | to describe an activity in progress for a period up to a specified time in the future |
| be + to + infinitive verb | 1- You are to arrive at no later than 6am. 2- President Johnson is to retire by week’s end. 3- If we are to buy a house, we simply have to start saving rather than spending what we earn. |
1- an official arrangement or order 2- commonly used in news reports to describe things that will likely happen in the near future 3- used with if - clauses to say something must be done first (in the main clause) for something to happen (the if - clause) in the future |
Will in Time Clauses and If Clauses
Will is not commonly used in time clauses or if clauses:
- When I will wake up tomorrow, I’ll give you a call.
- When I wake up tomorrow, I’ll give you a call.
- The game will be cancelled if it will be raining.
- The game will be cancelled if it is raining.
Unlock full access by logging in. Registered users can explore the entire lesson and more.