FUTURE TENSES

There are two basic future tenses in English: a) WILL + Verb

b) BE GOING TO + Verb

FUTURE (WILL + VERB)

Structure: Subject + will + verb (remember: will not = won't)

Examples: -He will take a German course next session.

-She won't come to our party next week.

-Will it rain tomorrow?

Application: The "will" future form has two uses:

i) to express impersonal future actions which

involve no emotion

ii) to express spontaneous decisions

Examples: i) -There will be a nuclear test in Outer Mongolia next

weekend.

-President Yeltzin will go to Tibet tomorrow.

ii) -"Look! That man was just hit by a car... I'll call an

ambulance..."

FUTURE (BE GOING TO + VERB)

Structure: Subject + am/are/is + going to + verb

Examples: -We are going to visit our parents-in-law next Sunday.

-I'm going to kill him if he tries that again!

-That man isn't going to survive the accident.

-Is she going to get married?

Application: The "be going to" future form is used:

i) to express future actions colored by emotion

ii) to express intention, determination,

or certitude

Examples: i) -There is going to be a nuclear test in Chomedey next

weekend!

-My mother is going to go to Tibet tomorrow.

ii) -I am not going to wear that ridiculous wig! (I refuse)

**SPECIAL NOTE**

Future tenses are not used in clauses introduced by time conjunctions (when, after, before,...) or "if". Usually, the present tense is used instead...

Examples: -I will eat dinner after I finish work. (not: will finish)

-We will go to the party if you go. (not: if you will go)