Look at the clouds! Isn't it going to rain?
He is definitely going to get better (there are signs
of recovery).
D. The Simple Present Tense
This tense is used instead of the Present Continuous to express a definite future arrangement in a more formal language. Like in the case with the Present Continuous, the future meaning of the Present Simple must be indicated by a special adverbial modifier or the context, e.g.
The train leaves at 6 a.m. tomorrow.
The film starts at 2 p.m.
E. The Future Continuous (Progressive) Tense
FORMATION
The Future Continuous (Progressive) Tense is formed with shall/will be + the Present Participle.
Table 11
Affirmative
Negative
Interrogative
I
we
shall
be working
I
we
shall not
be working
shall
I
we
be working9
you
he
she
it
you
they
will
you
he
she
it
you
they
will not
will
you
he
she
it
you
they
Contractions
'11 = will (shall) shan't = shall not won't = will not
In modern English will is preferable for all persons (see the Note for the Future Simple).
USAGE
The Future Continuous tense denotes:
1. An action which will be going on at a definite moment
in the future. Indicated either by an adverbial phrase (at 3 p.m., at this time tomorrow, etc) or by another future action (usually in the Present Simple or Present Continuous in clauses of time).
I'll be working in the library at 10 tomorrow.
This time next week we 'II be crossing the Pacific
Ocean.
The children will be doing their homework when
I come back from work.
I'll be buttering the bread while you are slicing the tomatoes.
You 'II recognize her easily when you see her. She'll be wearing a yellow hat.
2. An action which will be going on during a certain period of time in the future.
From 8 till 12 I'll be busy at university. I'll behaving classes at this time.
Will you be using your bike this evening?
Note that in Indirect Speech when the verb in the principal clause is in the Past tense-form the Future Continuous tense is replaced by the Future Continuous in the Past.
She said the children would he sleeping when she
arrived home
F. The Future Perfect Tense
FORMATION
The Future Perfect Tense is formed by means of the Future Simple of the auxiliary verb to have and the Past Participle
of the main verb.
Table 12
Affirmative
Negative
Interrogative
I
we
shall
have
gone by
4 o'clock
I
we
shall not
have
gone by
4 o'clock
shall
I
we
have
gone by
4 o'clock'7
he
she
it
you
they
will
he
she
it
you
they
will not
will
he
she
it
you
they
USAGE
The Future Perfect Tense denotes an action viewed as completed before a definite future moment indicated by an adverbial with the preposition 'by' or by another future action. It may also denote a future action covering a certain period of time up to or including the given future moment (with stative verbs, i. e. verbs not used in the Continuous aspect).
/ think she'll have finished the essay by Monday.
By the time you get back Mike will have left.
He'll have been in this business for five years by
next summer.
G. The Future Perfect Continuous (Progressive)
FORMATION
The Future Perfect Continuous (Progressive) tense is formed with the help of the Future Perfect Tense of the auxiliary verb to be and the Present Participle of the main verb.
Table 12
Affirmative
Negative
Interrogative
I
we
shall/will
have been
working
I
we
shall not
have been /
will not
have been
working
shall
I
we
have been
working?
he
she
it
you
they
will
have been
he
she
it
you
they
will not
have been
will
he
she
it
you
they
USAGE
The Future Perfect Continuous (Progressive) tense-form denotes an action lasting for a period of time up to or including a certain future moment. This future moment can be indicated by an adverbial with the preposition 'by' or by another future action. As with all the perfect continuous tenses the Future Perfect Continuous is preferred to the Future Perfect when the speaker wants to emphasize the progressive character of an action.
By five o'clock I'll have been doing this crossword puzzle for two hours.
By the time he arrives in London Max will havebeen driving for nearly five hours.
Compare the use of the different tense-forms to express future actions in English.
1. If you come tonight, I am sure you 'II have much fun.
2. It's Jane's birthday in August. She will be sixteen.
3. Phew! It's hot here. - Yes, it is. I'll turn on the air conditioning.
4. She said she would go to college if she did well in her
exams. 5.1 think she'll have heard all about it by the time
I see her. 6.1 am going to take my driving test on Wednesday.
7. Take a warm coat. It's very cloudy. I think it is going to snow.
8. Our guests arrive by the 11.50 train.
9. They are opening an exhibition here next year.
10. How long will you have been studying English by the end of the year?