1. What is the future?
The future is time that has not happened yet.
Examples of future times:
tomorrow | tonight |
in 2 days time | at 10 o’clock |
next week | on Monday |
next month | after I get home |
in 5 years time | when I am old |
To talk about events in the future, use the future tense.
2. How to make the future tense
There are two ways to make the future tense:
- subject + will + verb
- subject + (be) going to + verb
will + verb | (be) going to + verb |
---|---|
Tomorrow the weather will be hot and sunny. | Tomorrow the weather is going to be hot and sunny. Again. |
I think Aberdeen will lose at football. | I think Aberdeen are going to lose at football. Again. |
I’m hungry. I think I will make a sandwich. | They’re going to meet us at the cinema. |
If you ask her to marry you, I’m sure she’ll say yes. | The glass is too close to the edge of the table. It’s going to fall. |
The Prime Minister will make an announcement tomorrow in which he will announce the new trade deal. | Ahhhh! We’re going to crash! |
3. Future questions
To make ‘yes/no’ future tense questions, use:
- will + subject + verb (+ future time) or
- be + subject + going to + verb (+ future time)
Question words (why, what, how, etc.) can be added to the front of the structure:
- Question word + will + subject + verb (+ future time) or
- Question word + be + subject + going to + verb (+ future time)
*Note: The future time is not always needed.
question word | will | subject | verb | future time | full question |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
where | will | he | go | tonight | Where will he go tonight? |
when | will | we | meet | When will we meet? | |
will | you | see | on Saturday | Will you see Mandy on Saturday? |
question word | be | subject | going to | verb | future time | full question |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
how | is | he | going to | go | next year | How is he going to go to Paris next year? |
why | are | they | going to | sell | Why are they going to sell their house? | |
is | Ryoko | going to | marry | soon | Is Ryoko going to marry him soon? |
4. Examples of the future tense
I will go to the zoo after school today. | Will you talk to your father about giving you a job? |
The game will be played on Saturday. | Will Mary be at the party tonight? |
We are going to eat at the expensive restaurant for my birthday. | When will the exam be? |
The movie is going to be released on May 1st. | What is the weather going to be like tomorrow? |