Future Tenses

There are several different ways of expressing the future in English. However, we can’t choose among them at random, but
have to use certain tenses depending on the situation.

It’s the last lesson at school today. The lesson finishes at half past two, so it lasts another 20 minutes.
Jack is thinking about the end of the school day. This afternoon he is playing football with his friends. Last time he did not
play well and his team lost because of him. He is going to play better today. And the weather forecast says that it will be a
sunny afternoon.
The teacher has just asked a question and Fiona is going to answer it. She has already raised her hand.
But then the teacher thinks, “I will ask Jack. Otherwise he will probably fall asleep.”
As Jack has been daydreaming the whole time, he does not know the answer. But he promises that he will pay attention in
the future.

tense usage

 event that cannot be influenced (weather) ---- “It will be a sunny afternoon.”
 supposition about the future --- “Otherwise he will probably fall asleep.”
Wil  promise --- “He promises that he will pay attention in the future.”
 spontaneous decision --- “But then the teacher thinks, “I will ask Jack.”

 someone has set plans for the future --- “He is going to play better today.”
 something indicates that a certain action is about to take place = prediction based on
Going To evidence.
“Fiona is going to answer the question. She has already raised her hand.”

 a set or determined time plan (train schedule or timetable, class schedule, etc.)---
Present Simple “The lesson finishes at half past two, so It lasts another 20 minutes.”

Present  Set plans, intentions and arrangements for the near future. ---
Continuous “This afternoon he is playing football with his friends.”
 WILL

Introduction

The future with will in English expresses a spontaneous decision, a supposition or a future event that cannot be altered.
 Oh, what a mess in here! Come on, I’ll helpyou sort the files.
 It’s okay, I’ll do it tomorrow. It’ll raintomorrow anyway.
 You won’t finish it in just one day.
 If I need help, I will tell you.

Usage
 spontaneous decision
Example:
Come on, I will help you sort the files.
 opinion, hope, uncertainty, or assumption regarding the future
Example:
You won’t finish it in just one day.
It will rain tomorrow anyway.
 promise
Example:
I will do it tomorrow.
 if-clause type I (situation that could potentially arise)
Example:
If I need help, I will tell you.

Construction
We need the auxiliary verb will and the main verb in its basic form.
positive negative question
all forms are the same I will speak I will not speak Will I speak?

Contractions
Especially in spoken English, we like to combine pronouns with certain verbs in order to sound more natural. These
combinations are called contractions.
long form contraction example
Will …’ll they’ll
will not …’ll not/… won’t I’ll not/I won’t
To Note
The negated contractions, in which the verb and not are combined, can always be used (no matter what kind of word
comes before them).
Example:
He won’t finish it in just one day.
My colleague/Phil won’t finish it in just one day.
In writing, all the other contractions can only be used after pronouns, not after other words.
Example:
He’ll not finish it in just one day.
(but not: My colleague’ll/Phil’ll not finish it in just one day.)

Signal Words
 I think
 probably
 perhaps

GOING TO

Introduction
The future I with going to in English expresses a logical conclusion or a previously planned/prepared future action.
Mrs Lucky is going to meet a friend in town.
She has just looked out of the window. The sky is blue – it is not going to rain. So Mrs Lucky is going to leave her umbrella
at home.

Usage
 previously planned or prepared future action
Example:
Mrs Lucky is going to meet a friend in town.
 logical conclusion regarding the future
Example:
The sky is blue – it is not going to rain. So Mrs Lucky is going to leave her umbrella at home.

Construction
We need be + going to and the main verb in its basic form.
positive negative question
I I am going to speak. I am not going to speak. Am I going to speak?
you/we/they You are going to speak. You are not going to speak. Are you going to speak?
he/she/it He is going to speak. He is not going to speak. Is he going to speak?

Contractions
Especially in spoken English, we like to combine pronouns with certain verbs in order to sound more natural. These
combinations are called contractions.
long form contraction example
am (not) …’m (not) I’m (not) (not: I amn’t)
Are …’re you’re
are not …’re not/… aren’t we’re not/we aren’t
Is …’s he’s
is not …’s not/… isn’t she’s not/she isn’t
To Note
In writing, the contraction of are can only be used after pronouns, not after other words.
Example:
They’re going to meet in town.
(but not: The women’re going to meet in town.)

Signal Words
 in one year, next week, tomorrow

PRESENT SIMPLE

Introduction
We use the simple present (also: present simple, present tense) to express actions in the present that take place once or
repeatedly, happen one after the other, have general validity, or are determined by a time table or schedule.
Colin likes football. He is a forward. A forward tries to score goals for his team.
Colin plays football every Tuesday. His training starts at five o’clock. After school Colin goeshome, packs his bag, puts on
his football shirt and then he goes to football training. He has to take the bus. The bus leaves at half past four.

Usage
 events that take place regularly or habitually (always, never, rarely, often)
Example:
He plays football every Tuesday.
 events that take place one after the other
Example:
After school Colin goes home, packs his bag, puts on his football shirt and then he goes to football training.
 something is generally valid
Example:
A forward tries to score goals for his team.
 future actions that are planned and predetermined (e.g. by a time table or programme)
Example:
The bus leaves at half past four.
His training starts at five o’clock.
 static verbs (condition) and verbs of thought/memory
Example:
Colin likes football.
He is a forward.

Construction
In positive sentences, we use the verb in its basic form. We only need to add an s in the third person singular. In negative
sentences and questions, we generally need the auxiliary verb do (or does in the third person singular). The verb itself then
remains in its basic form.
 positive negative question
I/you/we/they I speak I do not speak Do I speak?
he/she/it he speaks he does not speak Does he speak?

Exceptions in the Construction of the 3rd Person Singular

 If the verb ends with an o or a sibilant (ch, sh), we add es.
Example:
do – he does
wash – she washes
 If the verb ends with a consonant + y, we change the y to ie before we add the s. (but the y does not change after a
vowel)
Example:
worry – he worries
(but: play – he plays)
 We do not add an s to the verbs can, may, might, and must. They remain the same in all forms.
Example:
he can swim
she must go

The verbs be/have

be
The verb be is irregular in all its forms. In negative sentences and questions, we do not use it with an auxiliary verb.
positive negative question
I I am I am not Am I?
he/she/it he is he is not Is he?
you/we/they you are you are not Are you?

have
For have, we have two possible constructions: have and have got.
positive negative question
I/you/we/they I have/I have got I do not have/I have not got Do I have?/Have I got?
he/she/it he has/he has got he does not have/he has not got Does he have?/Has he got?
Usage of have got
Have got expresses possession/belonging in British English. This form is uncommon in American English.

Contractions
Especially in spoken English, we like to combine pronouns with certain verbs in order to sound more natural. These
combinations are called contractions.
long form contraction example
am (not) …’m (not) I’m (not) (not: I amn’t)
Are …’re you’re
are not …’re not/… aren’t we’re not/we aren’t
Is …’s he’s
is not …’s not/… isn’t she’s not/she isn’t
Have …’ve they’ve
have not …’ve not/… haven’t I’ve not/I haven’t
 long form contraction example
Has …’s she’s
has not …’s not/… hasn’t he’s not/he hasn’t
do not don’t you don’t
does not doesn’t it doesn’t
To Note
In writing, the contraction of are can only be used after pronouns, not after any other words.
Example:
They’re not interested in football.
(but not: The girls’re not interested in football.)

Signal Words
 always, normally, usually
 often, sometimes, seldom
 never
 every day/week/month/…

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Introduction
The present progressive (also: present continuous) is the continuous form of the present tense. We use it in English mostly
to express actions that are taking place at the present moment or that are only happening temporarily.
James is travelling around Australia. He is staying at a youth hostel in a little Australian town. The town is becoming more
and more popular because of its beautiful beaches.
James is meeting his friend Brad in town tonight. Brad is working there as a tour guide over the summer.
James is in the town centre now. Look! James is taking a picture of another tourist.

Usage
 actions that are taking place at the present moment (now)
Example:
Look! James is taking a picture of another tourist.
 predetermined plans or appointments that have been made for the near future
Example:
He is meeting his friend Brad tonight.
 actions that are only happening temporarily
Example:
James is travelling around Australia.
Brad is working there as a tour guide over the summer.
 actions that are currently happening, but not in this very moment
Example:
He is staying at a youth hostel.
 situations that are changing
 Example:
The town is becoming more and more popular because of its beautiful beaches.

Construction
We use the auxiliary verb be and the verb in its ing-form.
positive negative question
I I am speaking I am not speaking Am I speaking?
he, she, it he is speaking he is not speaking Is he speaking?
you, we, they you are speaking you are not speaking Are you speaking?

Exceptions when adding ing

 An e at the end of the word is removed (but: ee, oe and ye remain unchanged).
Example:
come – coming
(but: agree – agreeing)
 For words that have a short stressed vowel before the final consonant, we double the final consonant. (but w,
x and y are not doubled)
Example:
sit – sitting
(but: fix –fixing)
 An l as the final consonant after a vowel is always doubled in British English (but not in American English).
Example:
travel – travelling (British), traveling (American)
 An ie at the end of the word is replaced by a y.

Example:
lie – lying

Contractions
Especially in spoken English, we like to combine pronouns with certain verbs in order to sound more natural. These
combinations are called contractions.
long form contraction example
am (not) …’m (not) I’m (not) (not: I amn’t)
are …’re you’re
are not …’re not/… aren’t we’re not/we aren’t
is …’s he’s
is not …’s not/… isn’t she’s not/she isn’t
To Note
In writing, the contraction of are can only be used after pronouns, not after any other words.
Example:
They’re travelling around Australia.
(but not: The tourists’re travelling around Australia.)

Signal Words
 at the moment
 now, just now, right now
 Listen!
 Look!