Future Tense indicates an action that will happen in the future. Explore our comprehensive guide regarding future tense definition structure types uses and examples.
Future Tense describes an action in the Future time. For Example,
- I shall visit the temple tomorrow.
- He will get a prize for bravery.
In this sentence, the action words are ‘visit’ and ‘get’, and ‘shall‘ and ‘will‘ are added before them to indicate future time. so, those sentences are in the Future Tense.
Structure of Future Tense
The simple formula or structure of the Future tense is as follows.
Subject + shall/will + Verb (present form) + Object.
| Subject | shall/will | Verb (present form) | Object/remaining part |
| He | will | work | very hard. |
| I | shall | accept | her proposal. |
| We | shall | inform | you. |
Usage of Future Time Reference
Reference to the Future Tense can be made in different ways. There are various forms that can be used to talk about the Future.
Usage 1
- For making promises
- For making predictions
- For talking about future events in a general way
Forms
shall/will + verb (present form)
Examples
- I will surely help you.
- Man will reach Mars soon.
- Markets will remain closed on Monday.
Usage 2
- to predict that the present situation will cause something in future
- to state an intention
Forms
am/is/are + going to + verb (present form)
Examples
- He is going to visit the zoo tomorrow.
- I am going to buy an umbrella.
Usage 3
- Talk about events planned for the near future
Forms
am/is/are + verb + ing + time expression
Examples
- I am visiting my doctor tomorrow.
Usage 4
- For talking about events happening according to a schedule ( e.g. programs, time-tables, etc) in the future
Forms
simple present tense + time reference
Examples
- The president visits the city tomorrow.
- The period gets over at 10:30.
Usage 5
- suggesting possibility
- making a suggestion
- expressing a necessity
Forms
modals + main verb
Examples
- She may shift to a new house next month.
- You should change your job by October.
- you must finish the project by Monday.
Types of Future Tense
Future Tense can be categorized into four types as we performed actions in the future time.
Simple Future Tense/Future Indefinite Tense
We use Future Indefinite Tense or Simple Future Tense to talk about an action that will take place in the future. For example,
- The program will be held at Netaji Auditorium.
- The driver will not drive the car.
- Will you want this book?
- Will she not attend the meeting?
Structure
Subject + Shall / Will + Verb + Object.
| Subject | Shall / Will | Verb (present form) | Object. |
| Riya | will | drive | the car. |
| My father | will | give | me chocolate. |
Use
- express an action that will take place in the future: They will come again next month.
- talk about unplanned action: I will help you to do the work.
- predict the future: It will rain tomorrow.
- talk about promises or commands: I will take you to the fair tomorrow.
Future continuous tense
Future Continuous Tense is used to talk about something happening at a given point in the future.
- The fisherman will be catching fish.
- The driver will not be driving the car.
- Will you be doing it?
- Will she not be singing tomorrow?
Structure
Subject + Shall be / Will be + Verb+ Ing + Object.
| Subject | Shall be / Will be | Verb+ing | Object. |
| They | will be | playing | cricket. |
| I | shall be | reading | book. |
Use
to talk about something happening at a given point in the future: They will be playing football.
Future perfect tense
Future perfect tense refers to an action that has already been completed in the past.
- The fisherman will have caught fish.
- The driver will not have driven the car.
- Will you have done the sum?
- Will not John have finished the homework?
Structure
Subject + Shall/Will + Have + Verb ( Past-Participle Form) + Object.
| Subject | shall have/will have | Verb ( Past-Participle Form) | object. |
| The fishermen | will have | caught | fish. |
| She | will have | done | the work. |
Use
to indicate an action that will be completed within a certain point of time in the future: We shall have done the work by next week.
to indicate an action will have been completed before another action within a certain time in the future: I shall have not gone before you came.
Future perfect continuous tense
Future Perfect Continuous tense is used to express an action that is in progress for a certain period of time and will be finished in the future.
- By the next February, we shall have been living here in New York for two years.
- When Sumona gets her degree she will have been studying for five years.
Structure
Subject + shall/will + Have + been + Verb + Ing + Object.
| Subject | shall/will | Have | been | verb+ing | Object. |
| She | will | have | been | catching | fish. |
| I | shall | have | been | doing | the work. |
Use
to indicate an action that has been happening for a certain period of time but the action will be completed in the future: They will take a rest after they will have been working for five hours
Examples
(a) They will work hard
(b) They will not play football.
(c) Will he not play football?
(d) Will we not be honest?
(a) The fisherman will be catching fish.
(b) The driver will not be driving the car.
(c) Will you be telling lie?
(d) Will she not be singing today?
(a) He shall have played football.
(b) Students will have made noise before the teacher came.
(c) John will have done the work before he fell asleep.
(d) We will have gone to school.
(a) He will have been playing football for two hours.
(b) Students will have been making noises.
(c) John will have been doing the work for four hours.
(d) We will have been chanting the mantras for half an hour.
(a) I shall eat rice.
(b) Ravi will play the piano.
(c) We shall come back from school at 4 PM tomorrow
(d) I will be going to market.
(e) I shall be happy to see it.
(f) I shall have done my duty.
(g) He will have been suffering from a fever for seven days.