Complete Guide to Future Tenses - English Grammar
Master all four future tenses with this simple guide. Perfect for Class 5-8 students. Learn different ways to talk about future with clear rules and examples.
1. Future Tenses at a Glance
| Tense | Formula | Main Use | Example | Time Visual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Future Simple | S + will/shall + V1 | Simple future action | I will go tomorrow. | ● ──────────► ● (future point) |
| Future Continuous | S + will be + V-ing | Ongoing future action | I will be studying at 8 PM. | ─────[action]─────► (ongoing future) |
| Future Perfect | S + will have + V3 | Completed by future | I will have finished by 5 PM. | ● [complete] ● ► (before point) |
| Future Perfect Continuous | S + will have been + V-ing | Duration by future | I will have been waiting for 2 hours. | ────────[action]───► ● (duration to point) |
2. Future Simple Tense
| Form | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will (all) | I will play | I will not play | Will I play? |
| Shall (I/we) | I shall play | I shall not play | Shall I play? |
When to Use Will/Shall:
- Will: All subjects (modern usage)
- Shall: I/we for suggestions (Shall we go?) or formal
- Predictions: It will rain tomorrow.
- Instant decisions: I'm tired. I will sleep.
- Promises: I will help you.
- Offers: I will carry your bag.
3. "Going to" Future
Going to is NOT a tense but important future form:
| Situation | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Plans/intentions | S + am/is/are + going to + V1 | I am going to visit Delhi. |
| Evidence-based prediction | Look at those clouds! It is going to rain. | Evidence → Prediction |
| Already decided | We are going to watch a movie tonight. | Pre-decided plan |
4. Future Continuous Tense
When to Use:
- Action at specific future time: At 8 PM tomorrow, I will be studying.
- Polite questions: Will you be using this chair?
- Fixed arrangements: This time next week, we'll be flying to Goa.
- Parallel future actions: While I will be cooking, she will be cleaning.
Will vs. Going to vs. Continuous:
• Will = decision now • Going to = plan • Continuous = fixed arrangement
5. Future Perfect Tense
Action completed BEFORE another future time:
| Situation | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| By specific time | S + will have + V3 + by... | I will have finished by 5 PM. |
| Before another action | ...before + present simple | She will have left before you arrive. |
| Duration completed | ...by the end of... | We will have learned all tenses by June. |
6. Signal Words Guide
| Future Simple | Going to | Future Continuous | Future Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| tomorrow next week soon in 2030 |
plan to intend to look! (evidence) |
at 8 PM this time tomorrow while |
by 5 PM by then before by the time |
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Wrong ❌ | Right ✅ | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| I will go to Delhi yesterday. | I went to Delhi yesterday. | Yesterday = Past |
| I will going to market. | I will go to market. | Will + V1 (base form) |
| Look! It will rain. | Look! It is going to rain. | Evidence = Going to |
| By 2025, I will complete degree. | By 2025, I will have completed degree. | By future time = Future Perfect |
8. Quick Practice (5 Questions)
📝 Practice Future Tenses
Test with our 20-question worksheet!
Download Future Tenses WorksheetIncludes answer key • Printable PDF
9. Memory Aids
Will = Decision now
Instant decision, promise, prediction
Going to = Plan/Evidence
Already decided, visible evidence
Continuous = Fixed time
At 8 PM, this time tomorrow
Perfect = By that time
By 5 PM, by tomorrow, before
Exam Tip: See "by" or "before"? Think Future Perfect.
"By 2030, I ______ (graduate)" → "will have graduated"
