Future tense

Read the conversation

Siddu: Hi! Ravi, I heard your examinations are over.
What about your future plans?
Ravi: I am going to appear for GATE.
I hope I will get good score.
Siddu: Where do you like to join for your M.Tech?
I will join in either any IIT or NIT.
Siddu: Will you continue your further studies there?
Ravi: No, I won’t. I will go for a job.

The verb forms that are in italics express some action that is going to happen in future. Those are said to be in future tense. The Simple Future tense is used when you want to say something that is going to take place in future.

The form of a verb usually changes basing on the tense.

• I go. (present)
• I went. (past)

But there is no other form of the verb for future tense.

• I will go market tomorrow.
• We shall move from here.

Future tense is formed by adding “will” or “shall” before present tense form of the verb.

Structure
Siddu: Where are you going?
Ravi: I’m going to market.
Siddu: What will you do there?
Ravi: I’m going to buy vegetables.

Apart from using ‘will’ or ‘shall’ future tense also can be formed by using ‘going to+ base form of verb’ observe the use of ‘going to’

• What are you going to do?
  I’m going to paint the box. (Future action) going to + verb
• Where are you going?
  I’m going to market. (Present continuous action) going to + noun
  I’m leaving for Delhi tomorrow. (Future action) verb+ing

Present continuous can be used to express future action using words like tomorrow, today, in five minutes, on Monday, next week/month, this year, etc.
Functions

• To talk about what we are going to do in future spontaneously
  I will check what I can give you.
• To predict about the future.
  The officer will object these procedures.
  There will be traffic jam due to the fair.
• To affirm an action in future
  I will be with you in your need.
• Shall is used in formal language and with first person pronouns I, We.
  The officer shall open the function.
  I shall complete this task.( duty)
  I shall be late today.
  Where shall we go?
• When used in predictions, no plans ( spontaneous actions), and weather reports will usually accompany words/ phrases like probably, I hope, I think, I wonder etc
  I think it will rain.
  I wonder whether he would complete the project in time.
• Normally ‘will’ is used before taking any decision and ‘going to’ is used after taking the decision.
  

  Before	After
  Siddu: tomorrow is the last date to submit the project.	Raju: Are you ready with the project?
  Ravi: We will work tonight to complete the project	Ravi: No, we are going to work tonight to complete the project

• Negative form of the verb is usually used in contracted form.
  I won’t call u till you inform me.
  He will not attend the meeting./ He won’t attend the meeting.
  Siddu: Can you give this book to Ram?
  Ravi: Sure, I will.
  No. I won’t, because I need to study a few more lessons.
  

Usually contracted forms are used spoken form but ‘won’t’ I sused even in written language.
Future continuous tense

Structure Will/shall+ be+ verb+ ing
An action that is expected to be in progress in future.
They will be writing a test by this time tomorrow.
Observe the difference between simple future and future continuous
They are going to write a test tomorrow. ( what is going to happen in future)
They will be writing a test by this time tomorrow. (Action that will be in progress by the time in future.)

Future perfect
An action that is expected to get completed by certain time in future.

Observe the use of ‘will’

 

• I will phone you, when I will get home from work. (wrong)
• I will phone you, when I get home from work. (right)
• We will go out when it will stop raining. (wrong)
• We will go out when it stops raining. (right)

Questions

• To Ask about what is going to happen in future
  Will you go to class tomorrow?
  Will you draw this map?
• Will and shall are used to ask polite questions.
• Will is used to take help in polite way
  Will you please post this letter?
  Will you please close the door?
• Shall is used to make offers
  Shall we go to picnic?
  Shall I close the door?

Practice
1. I am tired. I _____ take a taxi.
2. Can you wait for me? It _____ take much time.
3. I think you _____ complete your project.
4. Are you going to class? At what _____ back?
5. _______ we start a new project?

Answers
1.I am tired. I will take a taxi.
2. Can you wait for me? It won’t take much time.
3. I think you will complete your project.
4. Are you going to class? At what will you be back?
5. Shall we start a new project?

Published date : 24 Jan 2011 02:38PM