Intermediate
Time Expressions: Future Tenses
Posted on: 23 Nov, 2009 05:29 PM GMT
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Time Expressions for the Future
Time Expressions: Future Tenses
One of the keys to correct tense usage is understanding which time expressions or indicators are used with which tenses. This post focuses on time expressions used with future tenses including the future simple, future with 'going to', present continuous for future events, future continuous, as well as the future perfect and future perfect continuous.
The following three future tenses are used with the same time expressions. I have provided an example in each tense for each of the time expressions.
Future Simple
The future simple is composed of 'will' + verb. It is used to make future predictions, and to speak generally about the future. It is commonly used with the future time expressions listed below.
Future with 'Going to'
The future with 'going to' is used to express a planned future event, or future intention. It is also used with the future time expressions listed below.
Present Continuous for Future Scheduled Events
The present continuous can also be used for future scheduled events and takes the time expressions listed below.
next week / month / year / April, June, etc.
There will be plenty of snow in the mountains next month.
They are going to make a large investment in research and development next June.
I'm having lunch with Peter next week.
in + year / month
Peter will find out in March.
Jane is going to leave for Miami in January.
Note: The present continuous is not generally used for scheduled events this far into the future.
on + day of the week
Note: This usage depends on context. In a conversation, it is common to use this form as it is often understood which 'Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.' is meant.
It will rain on Saturday. I just know it!
They are going to celebrate their anniversary on Saturday.
We're discussing the project on Wednesday at two o'clock.
tomorrow / tomorrow afternoon / tomorrow evening / tomorrow morning
tomorrow night
the day after tomorrow
We will know the answer tomorrow.
Henry is going to make his decision the day after tomorrow.
Henry is making the presentation tomorrow afternoon.
in + period of time + (time)
The senate will probably decide in three weeks time.
Sam is going to study Russian at college in four months.
We are meeting with Smith and Sons in four weeks.
Future Continuous
The future continuous is used to express what will be happening at a specific point in time in the future.
at + time
Jennifer will be giving her presentation at three o'clock.
Susan will be studying for her test at seven o'clock.
this time tomorrow / next Tuesday, Wednesday, etc. / next week / next month, April, July, etc. / next year
Note: this form is often used to emphasize how things will be different at a certain point in the future.
I'll be sitting on the beach drinking a cocktail this time next week.
They'll be working in New York this time next month.
while
Note: This form takes two clauses with the future continuous to express what will be happening at the same future moment in time.
They'll be discussing the situation while we are drawing up the terms of agreement.
I'll be lying on the beach while you will be working hard. Sorry!
Future Perfect
The future perfect describes what will have been done up to a future moment in time.
Future Perfect Continuous
The future perfect continuous describes how long an action will have been continuing up to a future moment in time.
Note: Both the future perfect and future perfect continuous take these time expressions. The important difference between the two forms is that the future perfect expresses how much will have happened up to a certain moment in the future, the future perfect expresses how long the action will have been continuing up to the point in time in the future.
by + time
Peter will have finished the book by tomorrow afternoon.
They will have been studying for five hours by six o'clock.
by the time + clause
Thomas will have passed all his exams by the time the school year finishes.
William will have been working for ten hours by the time you finish that assignment.
Submitted by Kenneth on 04 Jan, 2010 04:30 PM GMT
Thank You Kenneth, It has been a very useful lesson for me to undertand when i have to use the future tenses. However, I have a question: What's the difference in use between Present continuos and future continuos if both of them refer to a certain future moment?
For instance, in the sentence you've suggested:
"Jennifer will be giving her presentation at three o'clock"
"Henry is making the presentation tomorrow afternoon"
Could I switch the future tenses (future continuos to present continuos in the first sentence; viceversa in the second one)??? I'm asking for this because both sentences seem to me referring to a scheduled future or, at least, to a specific point (not so far away) in time in the future. So, which of the following sentences are correct? (hopefully there is one)
A) I'm leaving for Rome tomorrow at 7 o'clock
B)I will be leaving for Rome tomorrow at 7 o'clock
Excuse me for any mistakes I've made in the post, but this is my first one.
Many thanks, again!
Bye
Maurizio
Hi Maurizio,
You are absolutely correct. Both the present continuous and future continuous can refer to a specific scheduled event in the future. The difference in usage is usually in the purpose of the statement. If the statement were a simple description of a future event, then the present continuous would be more common:
Ah, look at the program. Tom is making a presentation at 10 o'clock.
The future continuous might be used in a more specific question context:
What's Tom doing tomorrow? - Oh, I think he will be giving a presentation at 10 o'clock.
In any case, both forms are used interchangeably, but the present continuous is certainly more common.
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Submitted by Kidstardust on 03 Jan, 2010 09:28 PM GMT
Thank You Kenneth, It has been a very useful lesson for me to undertand when i have to use the future tenses. However, I have a question: What's the difference in use between Present continuos and future continuos if both of them refer to a certain future moment?
For instance, in the sentence you've suggested:
"Jennifer will be giving her presentation at three o'clock"
"Henry is making the presentation tomorrow afternoon"
Could I switch the future tenses (future continuos to present continuos in the first sentence; viceversa in the second one)??? I'm asking for this because both sentences seem to me referring to a scheduled future or, at least, to a specific point (not so far away) in time in the future. So, which of the following sentences are correct? (hopefully there is one)
A) I'm leaving for Rome tomorrow at 7 o'clock
B)I will be leaving for Rome tomorrow at 7 o'clock
Excuse me for any mistakes I've made in the post, but this is my first one.
Many thanks, again!
Bye
Maurizio
- Reply to Comment >
Submitted by Kenneth on 24 Nov, 2009 05:39 PM GMT
Hi Kenneth,
Thanks for such an educational post.
I have a question here about the present continuous
for future scheduled events.
in + year / month
Peter will find out in March.
Jane is going to leave for Miami in January.
Note: The present continuous is not generally
used for scheduled events this far into the
future.
Does this NOTE mean the present continuous is
not used (absolutely?) for future scheduled events?
What about "I'm taking an exam in December?"
Is this sentence right?
Hi Teabag,
Good point. Yes, the present continuous can be used in these cases. It just tends to not be used when the future scheduled event is very far into the future. For example, If my company is going to hold a conference in July of 2010, I'd probably say: "We're going to hold a conference in July 2010." rather than, 'We're holding a conference in July 2010.' (although that is possible).
The present continuous tends to be used for scheduled work events in the relatively near future.
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Submitted by Teabag on 23 Nov, 2009 06:23 PM GMT
Hi Kenneth,
Thanks for such an educational post.
I have a question here about the present continuous
for future scheduled events.
in + year / month
Peter will find out in March.
Jane is going to leave for Miami in January.
Note: The present continuous is not generally
used for scheduled events this far into the
future.
Does this NOTE mean the present continuous is
not used (absolutely?) for future scheduled events?
What about "I'm taking an exam in December?"
Is this sentence right?
- Reply to Comment >
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