| Simple Present - Scheduled | Present Continuous | Future Perfect | Simple Future | Going To Future |
There is no obvious future tense in English as there is with the time/tense relation for present and past. Instead there are several ways to denote future time. Futurity, modality and aspect are closely related, and future time is realized by means of modal auxiliaries or semi-auxiliaries, or by simple present forms or progressive forms.
Before we begin, it is important to distinguish verb tense from time.
The following examples illustrate the differences.
1. Julia is dancing in the classroom now.
The verb tense is present continuous. Clearly, the activity occurs in the present time.
2. Julia is dancing again tomorrow.
The verb tense is again present continuous. However, the activity will occur in the future time.
Of course, the Present Continuous is not the only verb tense that is used to indicate a future event.
The following conversation shows several other ways to speak about the future.
Hugo: Aren't you bringingPresent Continuous a jacket?
It'll be rainingFuture Continuous all day today. Without a jacket you'll get soaked.
Toru: I left my jacket at my parents' house. I'm going to getGoing to an umbrella some place
on the way to San Diego.
Hugo: The CVS near here opensSimple Present (Scheduled) at 8:30 AM today. They have umbrellas.
Toru: OK. I'll getSimple Future one there.
Are we goingPresent Continuous in separate cars?
Hugo: My car needs gas. By the time I get gas you will have gottenFuture Perfect
half way to San Diego. Let's go together in your car.
I'll helpSimple Future you drive if you want.
Toru: Sounds good.
Let's now take a more detailed look at the ways to express future time.
Modal Auxiliaries
Modals are necessarily followed by an infinitive.
Examples:
1. I will drive to school tomorrow.
2. MacArthur promised, "I shall return."
Note that "shall" is more formal than "will" and is more common
in Southern British English.
Be Going To + Infinitive
This form is generally used to denote 'future fulfillment of the present'.
It is sometimes called the Colloquial Future in that it is
informal and used in conversational English.
More specifically, this form denotes the following.
1. Future of present intention (mostly with personal subjects)
For example: When are you going to get married?
2. Future of present cause (both personal and non-personal subjects)
Examples: She's going to have a baby. It's going to rain.
Both 1 and 2 suggest that the event is already on the way.
Present Progressive
Refers to a future happening anticipated in the present.
Basic meaning: fixed arrangement, plan or program.
Examples: He is washing the car later on.
The plane is taking off at 2:30 PM.
Simple Present
1. Used for statements about the calendar.
Tomorrow is Tuesday.
2. Having the meaning of plan or program.
Flight 007 departs at 1:20 PM.
Now, let's find out if your ears are as good as your eyes. Listen carefully to each recording and then select the verb tense that was used in the audio.
Listen to each sound bite. Then, drag an appropriate response to a position above the sound player that played the sound.
| Simple Present - Scheduled | Present Continuous | Future Perfect | Simple Future | Going To Future |
