ESL Blogs

I have decided to post this learning blog as I see you have some problems using the present and the future tenses correctly. Speaking about some future actions we often use the present tenses. Let’s consider when and how to use them.

1. If we speak about some future actions taking place on schedule (classes, transport, TV program, holidays, etc.), we use the present simple tense as we have no doubts about any schedule.

His plane arrives at 10 am tomorrow.

The soccer game begins at 7:30.

I teach two classes tomorrow.

Next Monday is a holiday.

2. If we speak about our future plans and actions we are sure in, we use the present progressive tense. It means, we are almost sure, but we are people and everything may happen. So, we just take into account some unforeseen circumstances.

I am leaving tomorrow (I am sure, I will).

He is graduating from the university this year (It is his last year of study).

3. If we are not sure in what we will be doing (at least, in American), we use going to. Probability of such an action is rather low.

- Will you marry me?

- I am going to think it over (it sounds like NO)

              Another example:

-  Our lock needs fixing.

-  I know, I am going to fix it these days (In fact, he said he will not do it).

             One more example:

I am going to rest in June (At the moment, I have no idea if I will be able to, I am planning it, but have a lot of doubts).

Now, there are four future tenses. We mostly use the simple and the progressive tenses, but let’s not forget there are the perfect tenses. Let’s consider when we use the future tenses independently on our certainty or doubt.

1.When we promise something :

I will give you a call.

I will do it.

2. When we propose others our help or service. However, it is a kind of proposal they can’t refuse from:

I will make you coffee.

I will do it for you.

3. If we start the sentence like: I think/hope/believe/guess…..

I believe he will win.

I hope he will be fine.

4. If we use some adverbs defining probability of an action: probably/ surely/certainly/possibly…

I will probably go there.

I will surely read it.

In all above mentioned cases we use the future simple tense.

5. If we speak about our intentions, we use the future progressive tense.

I will be using the network for a few more hours.

We will be shopping some later.

You should remember that in the conditional (if) and time clauses (when, before, after, as soon as, by the time, until, until after) we use only the present simple and the present progressive tenses. However, we use any of four future tenses in the main clause.

I will do it before I take a vacation.

I will call you as soon as I am back.

If it is raining tomorrow, we will stay at home.

Now, about the future past. I hope you realize what time period it describes. Let me explain it again.  That time period is in the past when you speak, but one day in the past it was in the future. For example, let’s speak about New Year, January 1. On December 20 I said “I will meet New Year in Kiev”. So, if I report my speech now I will say “On December 20 I said I would meet New Year in Kiev”. I believe it is clear. So, if we use the future past tenses, we use them exactly like the future tenses. We only replace WILL with WOULD and the present tenses by the appropriate past tenses:

Direct speech: I will have done it before I take a vacation.

Reported speech: He said he would have done it before he took a vacation.

Direct speech: “When does the train arrive?”

Reported speech: He asked when the train arrived.

And now I will ask you to write some sentences describing the future/future past actions. Of course, you can ask me any questions as usual.