English Future Tense Comparison

What are the English future tenses?

The future tenses in English Grammar are: the simple future with will, the simple future with going to, the future progressive, also future continuous, the future perfect and the future perfect progressive, also future perfect continuous.

However, we mainly use the first two tenses together with the simple present and the present progressive to express opinions, predictions, plans, arrangements and expectations for the future.

Learn the difference between the future tenses in English grammar and when to use them correctly in a sentence. With Lingolia’s interactive exercises, you can practise what you have learnt.

Contents

It’s the last lesson at school today. The lesson finishes at half past two, so it lasts another 20 minutes.

Jack is thinking about the end of the school day. This afternoon, he is playing football with his friends. Last time, he didn’t play well and his team lost because of him. He’s going to play better today. And the weather forecast says that it will be a sunny afternoon.

The teacher has just asked a question and Fiona is going to answer it. She’s already raised her hand.

But then the teacher thinks, “I’ll ask Jack. Otherwise he’ll probably fall asleep.”

As Jack has been daydreaming the whole time, he doesn’t know the answer. But he promises that he’ll pay attention in the future.

Usage

The chart below provides an overview of tenses for talking about the future in English grammar: simple future with will and going to, simple present and present progressive.

Tense Use for …
future with will

event that cannot be influenced (weather)

Example:
It will be a sunny afternoon.

supposition about the future

Example:
Otherwise he will probably fall asleep.

promise

Example:
He promises that he will pay attention in the future.

spontaneous decision

Example:
But then the teacher thinks, “I will ask Jack.”
future with going to

someone has set plans for the future

Example:
He is going to play better today.

something indicates that a certain action is about to take place

Example:
Fiona is going to answer the question.

She has already raised her hand.
simple present

a set or determined time plan (train schedule, class schedule, etc.)

Example:
The lesson finishes at half past two, so It lasts another 20 minutes.

appointments, meetings and obligations with have (got) or have (got) to

Example:
I have to go to the doctor, I have an appointment tomorrow.
present progressive

set plans/arrangements that have been agreed upon for the near future

Example:
This afternoon he is playing football with his friends.

Conjugation

For information on the conjugation of these tenses, see: