FUTURE PERFECT

Verb Tenses: Future Perfect

FUTURE PERFECT

Future Perfect: Form

The future perfect is composed of two elements: the simple future of the verb to have (will have) + the past participle of the main verb:

Subject	will have	past participle
He	will have	finished

Affirmative
I will have left

Negative
They won't have gone

InterrogativeWill we have seen?

Interrogative negativeWon't he have arrived?

Example: to arrive, future perfect

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative
I'll have arrived	I won't have arrived	Will I have arrived?
You'll have arrived	You won't have arrived	Will you have arrived?
He'll have arrived	She won't have arrived	Will it have arrived?
We'll have arrived	We won't have arrived	Will we have arrived?
You'll have arrived	You won't have arrived	Will you have arrived?
They'll have arrived	They won't have arrived	Will they have arrived?

Future perfect, function

The future perfect refers to a completed action in the future. When we use this tense we are projecting ourselves forward into the future and looking back at an action that will be completed some time later than now.
It is often used with a time expression using by + a point in future time.

Examples

• I'll have been here for six months on June 23rd.
• By the time you read this I'll have left.
• You will have finished your work by this time next week.

FUTURE WITH GOING TO

Verb Tenses: Future with Going to

FUTURE WITH GOING TO

1. Future with Going to - form

This form is composed of three elements: the appropriate form of the verb 'to be' + going to + the infinitive of the main verb:

Subject	'to be'	going to	infinitive
She	is	going to	leave

2. Future with Going to - function

The use of 'going to' to refer to future events suggests a very strong association with the present. The time is not important - it is later than now, but the attitude is that the event depends on a present situation, that we know about. So it is used:

• to refer to our plans and intentions:
  We're going to move to London next year. (= the plan is in our minds now.)
• to make predictions based on present evidence:
  Look at those clouds - it's going to pour with rain! (= It's clear from what I can see now.)

Note: In everyday speech, 'going to' is often shortened to 'gonna', especially in American English.

Plans and intentions:

• Is Freddy going to buy a new car soon?
• Are John and Pam going to visit Milan when they are in Italy?
• I think Nigel and Mary are going to have a party next week.

Predictions based on present evidence:

• There's going to be a terrible accident!
• He's going to be a brilliant politician.
• I'm going to have terrible indigestion.

NOTE: It is unusual to say 'I'm going to go to...'
Instead, we use 'going to' + a place or event:

Examples

• We are going to the beach tomorrow.
• She is going to the ballet tonight.
• Are you going to the party tomorrow night?

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

Verb Tenses:Future Continuous

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

Future continuous, form

The future continuous is made up of two elements: the simple future of the verb 'to be' + the present participle (base+ing)

Subject	simple future, 'to be'	base+ing
You	will be	watching

Affirmative
I will be asking

noun + verb
She won't be leaving

noun + adverb
Will they be retiring?

Interrogative negative
Won't we be staying?

Example: to stay, future continuous

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative
I will be staying	I won't be staying	Will I be staying?
You will be staying	You won't be staying	Will you be staying?
He, she, it will be staying	He won't be staying	Will she be staying?
We will be staying	We won't be staying	Will we be staying?
You will be staying	You won't be staying	Will you be staying?
They will be staying	They won't be staying	Will they be staying?

Future continuous, function

The future continuous refers to an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a time later than now. It is used:

To project ourselves into the future and see something happening:

• This time next week I will be sun-bathing in Bali.

To refer to actions/events that will happen in the normal course of events:

• I'll be seeing Jim at the conference next week.

In the interrogative form, especially with 'you', to distinguish between a simple request for information and an invitation:

• Will you be coming to the party tonight? (= request for information) 
  Will you come to the party? (= invitation)

To predict or guess about someone's actions or feelings, now or in the future:

• You'll be feeling tired after that long walk, I expect.

Events in progress in the future:

• When you are in Australia will you be staying with friends?
• This time next week you will be working in your new job.
• At four thirty on Tuesday afternoon I will be signing the contract.

Events/actions in normal course of events:

• I'll be going into town this afternoon, is there anything you want from the shops?
• Will you be using the car tomorrow? - No, you can take it.
• I'll be seeing Jane this evening - I'll give her the message.

Asking for information:

• Will you be bringing your friend to the pub tonight?
• Will Jim be coming with us?

Predicting or guessing:

• You'll be feeling thirsty after working in the sun.
• He'll be coming to the meeting, I expect.
• You'll be missing the sunshine now you're back in England.

Future with Present Continuous

PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE EVENTS

1. Present Continuous for the Future: Form

See notes on form in section on Present Continuous.

Subject	+ to be	+ base-ing
She	is	meeting

2. Future: Present Continuous for the Future: Function

The present continuous is used to talk about arrangements for events at a time later than now. 
There is a suggestion that more than one person is aware of the event, and that some preparation has already happened. e.g.

• I'm meeting Jim at the airport = and both Jim and I have discussed this.
• I am leaving tomorrow. = and I've already bought my train ticket.
• We're having a staff meeting next Monday = and all members of staff have been told about it.

Examples

• Is she seeing him tomorrow?
• He isn't working next week.
• They aren't leaving until the end of next year.
• We are staying with friends when we get to Boston.

Note: in example (a), seeing is used in a continuous form because it means meeting.
BE CAREFUL! The simple present is used when a future event is part of a programme or time-table. Notice the difference between:

a. We're having a staff meeting next Monday. 
b. We have a staff meeting next Monday.(= we have a meeting every Monday, it's on the time-table.)

SIMPLE PRESENT FOR FUTURE EVENTS

Verb Tenses: Simple Present for Future Events

SIMPLE PRESENT FOR FUTURE EVENTS

Simple Present for Future Events: Form

See Simple Present section.

Simple Present for Future Events: Function

The simple present is used to make statements about events at a time later than now, when the statements are based on present facts, and when these facts are something fixed like a time-table, schedule, calendar.

Examples

• The plane arrives at 18.00 tomorrow.
• She has a yoga class tomorrow morning.
• The restaurant opens at 19.30 tonight.
• Next Thursday at 14.00 there is an English exam.

Note the difference between:

• The plane leaves in ten minutes (= statement of fact)
• The plane's going to leave in ten minutes (= prediction based on present situation, meaning "...and if you don't hurry up you're going to miss it!")