There are four main ways to speak about the future in English:
- With will/won’t + infinitive. We use this for
- things we have just decided to do: I’ll ask Ben to help me.
- predictions that are based on opinions and are not very certain: I think that many more languages will soon die out.
- things we are certain will happen in the future: The school won’t be open in August.
- for making offers, asking for things, promising things or refusing things: Will you come with me?
- With going to + infinitive. We use this for
- intentions, i.e. things that were already decided before you spoke about them: I’m going to wash my hair later.
- Predictions that are based on evidence rather than opinion: I’ve lost my coat again. Mum’s going to be really angry.
- The present continuous. We use this for
- definite arrangements: What are you doing next weekend?
- The present simple. We use this for
- events that are scheduled: The train leaves in half an hour.
- after words like before, as soon as and when: I’ll give Gemma your message when I see her.
There are also some more complex future forms:
- The future perfect. We use this for
- showing that something will be completed before a particular time in the future: The work will have finished by Friday.
- The future continuous. We use this for
- actions in the future that will continue: We will be working on this project for many years.
- The future perfect continuous. We use this for
- actions that will have already started before the time in the future we are talking about: He will have been working here for ten years next month.
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