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The Simple Future has two different forms in English, "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.
FORM Will
[WILL] + [VERB]
EXAMPLES:
I will help him later.
I will never help him.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Simple Future (will help), adverbs usually come between the first part and the second part (will never help).
FORM Be Going To
[AM / IS / ARE] + [GOING TO] + [VERB]
EXAMPLES:
He is going to meet Jane tonight.
He is definitely going to meet Jane tonight.
NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Simple Future (is going to meet), adverbs usually come between the first part and the second part (is definitely going to meet).
IMPORTANT No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when", "while", "before", "after", "by the time," "as soon as," "if" and "unless." In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.
EXAMPLES:
When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Correct
When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Not Correct
USE 1 "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action
"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often we use "will" to respond to someone else's complaint or request for help.
EXAMPLES:
A: I'm really hungry.
B: I'll make some sandwiches.
A: I'm so tired. I'm about to fall asleep.
B: I'll get you some coffee.
A: The phone is ringing.
B: I'll get it.
USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise
"Will" is usually used in promises.
EXAMPLES:
I will call you when I arrive.
If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.
I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.
USE 3 "Be going to" to Express a Plan
"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future.
EXAMPLES:
He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.
We are going to meet each other tonight at 6:00 PM.
A: Who is going to make John's birthday cake.
B: Sue is going to make John's birthday cake.
USE 4 "Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction
Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions are guesses about what might happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the following examples there is no difference in meaning.
EXAMPLES:
The year 2000 will be a very interesting year.
The year 2000 is going to be a very interesting year.
John Smith will be the next President.
John Smith is going to be the next President.
The movie "Zenith" will win several Academy Awards.
The movie "Zenith" is going to win several Academy Awards.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Future, it is not always clear which USE the speaker has in mind. Often, there is more than one way to interpret a sentence's meaning.
ACTIVE / PASSIVE FORMS Simple Future
EXAMPLES:
John will certainly finish the work by 5:00 PM. ACTIVE
The work will certainly be finished by 5:00 PM. PASSIVE
Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. ACTIVE
A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight. PASSIVE
IMPORTANT No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Future Continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when", "while", "before", "after", "by the time", "as soon as", "if" and "unless". In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.
EXAMPLES:
While I am finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Correct
While I will be finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner. Not Correct
FORM Future Continuous
[WILL BE] + [VERB+ing]
EXAMPLE:
When your plane arrives tonight, I will be waiting for you.
[AM / IS / ARE] + [GOING TO] + [VERBing]
EXAMPLE:
When your plane arrives tonight, I am going to be waiting for you.
NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "going to" to create the Future Continuous with little or no difference in meaning.
USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Future
Use the Future Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the future will be interrupted. The interruption is usually an action in the Simple Future. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
EXAMPLES:
I will be watching TV when she arrives tonight.
I will be waiting for you when your bus arrives.
While I am working, Steve will make dinner. (NOTICE "am working" because of "while.")
I am going to be staying at the Madison Hotel, if anything happens and you need to contact me.
He will be studying at the library tonight, so he will not see Jennifer when she arrives.
NOTE: No future tenses can be used in Time Clauses therefore you must say "While I am working... ." See the warning at the top of the page.
USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption
In USE 1, described above, the Future Continuous is interrupted by an action in the Simple Future. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.
EXAMPLES:
Tonight at 6 p.m., I am going to be eating dinner.
At midnight tonight, we will still be driving through the desert.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Future a specific time is used to show the time an action will begin. In the Future Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
EXAMPLES:
Tonight at 6 p.m., I am going to eat dinner.
I am going to start eating at 6 p.m.
Tonight at 6 p.m., I am going to be eating dinner.
I am going to start earlier and I will be in the process of eating dinner at 6 p.m.
USE 3 Parallel Actions
When you use the Future Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions will be happening at the same time. These are Parallel Actions.
EXAMPLES:
I am going to be studying while he is making dinner.
While Ellen is reading, Tim will be watching television.
Tonight, they will be eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.
USE 4 Atmosphere
In English we often use a series of Parallel Actions to describe atmosphere in the future.
EXAMPLE:
When I arrive at the party everybody is going to be celebrating. Some will be dancing. Others are going to be talking. A few people will be eating pizza and several people are going to be drinking beer. They always do the same thing.
IMPORTANT Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any "continuous" tenses. Also, certain "non-continuous" meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in "continuous" tenses. To express the idea of Future Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Future.
EXAMPLES:
Jane will be being at my house when you arrive. Not Correct
Jane will be at my house when you arrive. Correct
ACTIVE / PASSIVE FORMS Future Continuous
EXAMPLES:
At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dog. ACTIVE
At 8:00 PM tonight, the dog will be being washed by John. PASSIVE
NOTE: Passive forms of the Future Continuous are not common.
IMPORTANT No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Future Perfect cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when," "while," "before," "after," "by the time," "as soon as," "if" and "unless". In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.
EXAMPLES:
I am going to see a movie when I have finished my homework. Correct
I am going to see a movie when I will have finished my homework. Not Correct
FORM Future Perfect
[WILL HAVE] + [PAST PARTICIPLE]
EXAMPLE:
I will have perfected my English by the time I come back from the U.S.
[AM / IS / ARE] + [GOING TO HAVE] + [PAST PARTICIPLE]
EXAMPLE:
I am going to have perfected my English by the time I come back from the US.
NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "going to" to create the Future Perfect with little or no difference in meaning.
USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Future
The Future Perfect expresses the idea that something will occur before another action in the future. It can also show that something will happen before a specific time in the future.
EXAMPLES:
By next November, I will have received my promotion.
By the time he gets home, she is going to have cleaned the entire house.
USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-continuous Verbs)
With Non-continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Future Perfect to show that something will continue up until another action in the future.
EXAMPLES:
I will have been in London for six months by the time I leave.
By Monday, Susan is going to have had my book for a week.
ACTIVE / PASSIVE Past Perfect
EXAMPLES:
The Post Office will have returned my package before I can pick it up. ACTIVE
My package will have been returned by the Post Office before I can pick it up. PASSIVE
IMPORTANT No Future in Time Clauses
Like all future forms, the Future Perfect Continuous cannot be used in clauses beginning with "when," "while," "before," "after," "by the time," "as soon as," "until," "if" and "unless". In this lesson, all verbs in Time Clauses are italicized.
EXAMPLES:
I won't tell the student the answer until he has been working on the math problem for more than an hour. Correct
I won't tell the student the answer until he will have been working on the math problem for more than an hour. Not Correct
FORM Present Perfect Continuous
[WILL HAVE BEEN] + [VERB+ing]
EXAMPLE:
I will have been waiting for two hours when her plane finally arrives.
[AM / IS / ARE] + [GOING TO HAVE BEEN] + [VERB+ing]
EXAMPLE:
I am going to have been waiting for two hours when her plane finally arrives.
NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "going to" to create the Future Perfect Continuous with little or no difference in meaning.
USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Future
We use the Future Perfect Continuous to show that something will continue up until a particular event or time in the future. "For five minutes," "for two weeks" and "since Friday" are all durations which can be used with the Future Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous and the Past Perfect Continuous, however the duration stops in the future.
EXAMPLES:
They will have been talking for over an hour by the time Tony arrives.
She is going to have been working at that company for three years when it finally closes.
James will have been teaching at the University for more than a year by the time he leaves for Asia.
USE 2 Cause of Something in the Future
Using the Future Perfect Continuous before another action in the future is a good way to show cause and effect.
EXAMPLES:
Jason will be tired when he gets home because he will have been jogging for over an hour.
Claudia's English will be perfect when she returns to Germany because she is going to have been studying English in the United States for over two years.
IMPORTANT
If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since Friday", many English speakers choose to use the Future Continuous. There is also a difference in meaning. Compare the examples below.
EXAMPLES:
I will be reading when my roommate returns.
The reading will be interrupted.
I will have been reading for an hour when my roommate returns.
The reading will stop just before my roommate returns.
ACTIVE / PASSIVE Future Perfect Continuous
EXAMPLES:
The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is finished. ACTIVE
The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time it is finished. PASSIVE
NOTE: Passive forms of the Past Perfect Continuous are not common.