Future
Comprehensive notes, formulas, and practice questions for Future.
Future
Future Tenses — Expressing What Will Happen
The Four Main Future Structures
English has no single future tense. Different structures carry different meanings:
| Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| will + base form | Prediction, offer, promise, spontaneous decision | It will rain tomorrow. |
| going to + base form | Plan decided before speaking, evidence-based prediction | She is going to visit Goa next month. |
| Present Continuous | Fixed future arrangement (date set) | We are meeting at 5 pm tomorrow. |
| Simple Present | Timetabled/scheduled event | The train leaves at 8 am. |
1. Will + Base Form
Uses:
- Prediction without evidence: "I think it will be cold tomorrow."
- Spontaneous offer: "I'll carry that bag for you." (decided at the moment of speaking)
- Promise: "I will call you tonight."
- Threat / warning: "You will regret this."
Formation:
- Positive: Subject + will + base form → She will come.
- Negative: Subject + will not (won't) + base form → He won't agree.
- Question: Will + subject + base form? → Will you help?
2. Going To + Base Form
Uses:
- Pre-decided plan: "We are going to build a new library." (plan already made)
- Evidence-based prediction: "Look at those clouds — it's going to rain." (you can see evidence)
Formation:
- Positive: Subject + am/is/are going to + base form
- Negative: Subject + am/is/are not going to + base form
- Question: Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base form?
"They are going to move to Chennai next year." (plan) "She isn't going to pass if she doesn't study." (prediction with evidence)
Will vs Going To — Key Distinction
| Situation | Use |
|---|---|
| You see dark clouds → "It ___ rain." | is going to (evidence present) |
| You suddenly offer to help → "I ___ do it." | will (spontaneous) |
| You planned a trip last week → "We ___ travel to Agra." | are going to (pre-decided) |
| You predict the future without evidence → "Prices ___ rise." | will (general prediction) |
3. Present Continuous for Future (Arrangements)
When a future event is already arranged (time, place, people fixed):
"I am flying to Delhi on Friday." (ticket booked) "They are getting married in June." (arranged)
Note: This is the same form as Present Continuous — context makes it future.
4. Simple Present for Timetables/Schedules
"The exam starts at 9 am on Thursday." (fixed schedule) "The film begins at 7 pm." (timetable)
Common Future Signal Words
soon, tomorrow, next week/month/year, in two days, by Friday, tonight, later
Common Mistakes
| Error | Fix |
|---|---|
| "She will to go" | She will go (never: will + to + verb) |
| "It going to rain" | It is going to rain (auxiliary needed) |
| "I will go to hospital tomorrow" (spontaneous? or planned?) | If planned: "I am going to go" or "I am going" |
| "The train will leave at 8" (for timetable) | "The train leaves at 8" (simple present for schedules) |
Worked Examples
Choose the correct form:
- "Look at that child — he ___ fall!" → is going to fall (evidence)
- "I forgot my umbrella. Don't worry, I ___ lend you mine." → will lend (spontaneous)
- "We ___ celebrate Diwali with our cousins." (planned) → are going to celebrate
- "The next bus ___ at 6 pm." (schedule) → leaves
Quick Check
- Which is correct? "I think she will/is going to win." → ___
- Why can't you say "I'll to meet you tomorrow"?
- Rewrite: "We will watch the film tomorrow evening." (it's already booked) → ___
- Correct: "She will going to become a doctor."
- Stretch: Write 4 sentences about next week — one using will, one going to, one Present Continuous, one Simple Present (for a scheduled event).
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- The Four Main Future Structures
- 1. Will + Base Form
- 2. Going To + Base Form
- Will vs Going To — Key Distinction
Master this topic with Drishti OS
Get unlimited mock tests, AI-powered mentorship, and complete video courses when you join.
Start Free Practice