The Simple Future Tense and The Future Progressive ( Continuous ) Tense

THE SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

FORM Will
[ will + verb ]

EXAMPLES:

• You will help him later.
• They will meet us at the newest cafe in the market.
• I will send you the information when I get it.
  

FORM Be going to
[ am/is/are + going to + verb ]

• You are going to meet Dave tonight.
• He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.
• I am going to spend my vacation in Singapore.

The simple future is used to refer to actions that will take place after the act of speaking or writing.

Each of the highlighted verbs in the following sentences is in the simple future tense.

• Will you walk the dog tonight?
• At the feast, we will eat heartily.
• Bobby will call you tomorrow with details about the agenda.
• The Smiths say that they will not move their chicken coop
• The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.
• The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting year.
• John Thomas will be the next President.
• John Thomas is going to be the next President.

THE FUTURE PROGRESSIVE ( CONTINUOUS ) TENSE

FORM Future Continuous with "Will"
[ will be + present participle ]

EXAMPLES:

• You will be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.
• Will you be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?
• You will not be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

FORM Future Progressive ( Continuous ) with "Be Going To"
[ am/is/are + going to be + present participle ]

EXAMPLES:

• You are going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.
• Are you going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?
• You are not going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

The future progressive (continuous) tense is used to describe actions ongoing in the future. The future progressive (continuous) is used to refer to continuing action that will occur in the future.

Each of the highlighted compound verbs in the following sentences is in the future progressive (continuous) tense.

• The glee club will be performing at the celebration of the town's centenary.
• Keith will be working on the computer system for the next two weeks.
• The selection committee will be meeting every Wednesday morning.
• We will be writing an exam every afternoon next week.
• They will be ringing the bells for Hypatia next month.

EXERCISES [ THE SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE AND THE FUTURE PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS) TENSE ]