This article is for intermediate to advanced English learners who would like to deepen their understanding of future forms.

Basic Contrasts: Will, Be Going To & Present Continuous

Future form	Meanings	Examples
Will	– known facts (ex.1) – what we suppose to be true (ex.2) – assumptions (ex.3) – immediate decisions (ex.4) – promises (ex.5) – threats (ex.6)	1) New Year’s Day will fall on a Monday next year. 2) The meeting will be scheduled for the first Monday of the month. 3) The holiday weekend will start on Friday, given that the national holiday is on the 15th and it’s a public holiday. 4) Don’t get up. I’ll open the door. 5) I will always love you. 6) I’ll kill you!
Be going to	– intentions/plans (at the moment of speaking, the plans have already been made) (ex.1) – an event whose cause is present or evident (ex.2)	1) I’m going to wait here until Amanda gets back. 2) Look at that tree! It‘s going to fall.
Present Continuous (am/is/are + Ving)	– fixed arrangements, especially social and travel arrangements (a time reference is usually included) (ex.1)	1) I’m seeing my doctor at 9 am tomorrow. (I’m going to see my doctor at 9 am tomorrow communicates the same message, so the two future forms – be going to and present continuous – are very similar in this sense.)

Future Continuous (will be + Ving)

This tense describes an even which will be happening at a future point. For example:

1. Come round in the morning. I’ll be painting in the kitchen. (right at the time when I expect you will come)
2. At 8 p.m. tonight, we’ll be watching the new movie at the theater. (the exact future point is given)

Future Continuous can also describe events which are going to happen anyway, rather than events which we choose to make happen. For example:

1. I won’t bother to fix a time to see you, because I’ll be calling into the office anyway several times next week.
2. In the next few days, the construction workers will be finishing up the new building.

In some contexts future continuous also sounds more polite than will. For example:

1. Will you be going shopping later? If you go, could you get me some milk?
2. I’ll be looking into your request and get back to you shortly.
3. Will you be needing any assistance with that?
4. Will you be staying for the entire event?

Future Continuous can also be used to refer to fixed arrangements and plans. For example:

1. The band will be performing live in Paris this summer.
2. During the summer, our team will be working on the new marketing campaign.
3. Throughout the holiday season, the store will be offering special discounts.

Future Perfect

This tense has both simple (will have + V3) and continuous forms (will have been + V3), and refers to time which we look back at from a future point. For example:

1. In two year’s time I’ll have finished the book. (Future Perfect emphasizes that the completion of the book will occur before or by that future time.)
2. By the end of the month, I’ll have been working for this firm for a year. (Future Perfect Continuous emphasizes the ongoing nature and duration of the action up until the specific future time.)

Future Perfect can also be used to express an assumption on the part of the speaker. For example:

1. You won’t have heard the news, of course. (= I assume you have not heard the news.)
2. By now, she will have finished her presentation. (= I assume she has finished the presentation.)

Other Ways of Referring to the Future

Form	Meaning	Examples
Is/are to + V	formal arrangements	1) All students are to assemble in the hall at 9.00. 2) The meeting is to be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Am/is/are about to + V	Something is going to happen in the immediate future.	1) I’m about to leave the house. 2) The show is about to start.
Am/is/are on the point of	Something is going to happen in the immediate future.	1) The company is on the point of announcing a major new product. 2) We are on the point of finalizing the agreement.
Am/is/are due (to + V)	scheduled times	1) The play is due to start in 5 minutes. 2) Ann’s flight is due at 6:20.
Just (used with Present Continuous)	Something on the point of happening.	1) Hurry up! The train is just leaving. 2) The plane is just departing from the gate.
Just about to + V	Something on the point of happening.	1) She is just about to start her presentation. 2) The movie is just about to begin.
Present Simple*	future time in future time clauses	1) When we get there, we’ll have dinner. 2) I’ll be happy as long as you are with me.
Present Perfect	used instead of Present Simple when the completion of the event is emphasized	1) When we’ve had a rest, we’ll go out. 2) I’ll give you a call when I’ve finished the report.
Hope** + present/future verb form	a desire or wish for a particular outcome	1) I hope it doesn’t rain.  2) I hope it won’t rain.
Shall + V The use of shall for first person (I and we) in future reference is generally considered to be restricted to British English and possibly declining in use. For some speakers, shall is used in formal speech and in written language.	formal speech or legal documents (ex.1), traditional/formal invitations (ex.2), formal proposals (ex,3), formal agreements (ex.4)	1) We shall comply with the regulations as specified in the contract. 2) Shall we have the pleasure of your company at our annual dinner party? 3) Shall we discuss the details of the project over lunch? 4) We shall ensure that all deadlines are met as agreed upon.

*Present Simple is also used to describe fixed events which are not simply the wishes of the speaker (ex.1 below). Calendar references also use Present Simple (ex.2 below):

1. Tom retires in three years.
2. Christmas is on a Tuesday next year.

**Aside from ‘hope,’ there are other verbs commonly followed by ‘will,’ such as ‘think,’ ‘expect,’ ‘believe,’ and ‘doubt.’ For example:

1. I think it will be great.
2. I expect the show will be a success.
3. He truly believes he will be able to enter that university.
4. We doubt you will be invited to the party.

To practice the future forms, click the link here.

📚 Materials used for writing this article: “Advanced Language Practice” by M. Vince and P. Sunderland (Macmillan, 2003)

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