In English, the Present Continuous is often used for already planned actions in the future. As a rule, the time for which it is scheduled is also indicated. Example:
Nick is working tomorrow. Nick is working tomorrow.
I'm not staying at home tonight. I won't stay home tonight.
Please note that in the Russian translation the verb is also in the present tense, although it is implied that the event will happen in the future.
A few more examples:
Andrew is going to the doctor on Tuesday (= he has an appointment to see the doctor). Andrew goes to the doctor on Tuesday (he has an appointment).
We're having a party tomorrow. We'll have a party tomorrow.
Are you going on holiday next month? Are you going on vacation next month?
What are you doing on Sunday? What are you doing on Sunday?
I'm playing tennis tonight. I'm playing tennis this evening.
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The Present Simple for the future tense can be used in official plans, programs, schedules and schedules. Don't use it for decisions that a person makes. Compare:
I'm watching a film on TV tonight ( Wrong: I watch...). The film starts at 10 o’clock. I'm watching a movie on TV this evening. The film starts at 10 o'clock.
I’m going to a concert tomorrow. The concert starts at 8.30. I'm going to the concert tomorrow. The concert starts at 8.30.
What time are you leaving? What time does your train leave? When are you leaving? When does your train leave?
1) used when you talk about something that you have already agreed to do in advance:
A: At 11.25.
A: They can't. They are working next day at that time.
2) The Present Continuous is used when you talk about something that you have already agreed to do in advance:
- A: What is Marcus writing at his exam tomorrow?
B: He is writing exposition in English.
- A: Are they driving a car tomorrow?
- B: Yes, but Victor and Sam are not driving well. They are still training to drive.
- A: Ann and Vialetta are flying tomorrow.
B: Oh, Are they? When are they arriving?
A: At 14.24.
B: Are their parents meeting them at the airport?
A: They aren't. They are digging potatoes next day at that very time.
3) The Present Continuous is used when indicating the future tense,
4) The Present Continuous cannot be used when events will happen regardless of our desire. You can't say:
It is snowing tomorrow.
The sun is rising at 5.00 tomorrow morning.
Besides the verb will and turn of phrase be going to The following grammatical tenses are also used to express the future tense: Present Continuous(Present Continuous) and Present Simple(Present Simple).
Let's first remember their intended purpose before we move on to discussing these tenses to describe future actions.
So, Present Continuous, are mainly used in situations where they want to say that some action is happening at the moment of speech.
For example:
- I am reading an interesting article right now.– I’m reading an interesting article right now.
- I am learning English grammar now.– I am studying English grammar now.
- I am trying to understand the author’s explanation.– I'm trying to understand the author's explanation.
For example:
- I usually read the newspaper in the morning.– I usually read the newspaper in the morning.
- Tom takes a shower every day. Tom takes a shower every day.
- I often buy books about English grammar.– I often buy books on English grammar.
Small, but no less important and therefore deserving of your close attention.
So, Present Continuous in addition to its main task, which is to describe the actions occurring at the moment of speech, it also performs the function of a verb form expressing the future tense.
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This tense is used to describe pre-planned actions that will occur in the near future at a designated time or place.
For example:
- I am having dinner with Tom on Friday.– I have lunch with Tom on Friday.
- He is playing tennis on Monday afternoon. He plays tennis on Monday afternoon.
- Bob is going to the dentist on Wednesday morning. Bob goes to the dentist on Wednesday morning.
For example, the phrase " It's going to rain this afternoon" can be conveyed as follows:
- It is raining this afternoon(NOT CORRECT)
- It will rain this afternoon(RIGHT)
- It is going to rain this afternoon(RIGHT)
Now, let's move on to the discussion Present Simple to express future actions.
We use this grammatical tense to describe events that will happen in the future according to a set schedule or a clear schedule.
For example:
- My flight leaves at 10.00– My flight leaves at 10.00
- What time does the film start?- What time does the movie start? (according to the schedule in the cinema or TV program)
- The art exhibition opens on 3 May.– The art exhibition opens on May 3.
From this article you learned that grammatical tenses Present Continuous And Present Simple They are used not only for their intended purpose, but also perform additional functions.
Namely, they act as verb forms to express actions in the future tense.
How do you see the future? We hope it is simple, clear and well structured. At least when it comes to tenses in English. If not, the situation can always be corrected.
In order not to get confused, let's look at the rules of formation and the main cases of using all forms of the future tense in English.
What all forms have in common is that they relate to a plan for the future and relate to a situation that has not yet been realized. The difference comes depending on how the situation develops relative to the context given in the sentence. Hence the different times of future.
For Russian, such a difference in verb grammar is not typical, but future tenses (different forms of the future tense) can be compared with the change in Russian verbs by type. For example, “will sing” as a simple future and “will sing” or “will sing” as perfective forms. If in Russian the verb changes due to prefixes or suffixes, then English turns to auxiliary verbs, which we will discuss below.
There are four forms of the future in English. In addition to the future itself, the present tense can also convey the meaning of the future. Let us consider in order all the future tenses of the English language, how to form them and when to use them.
1. Future Simple (Indefinite)
This is the so-called simple future tense. The most basic form in both education and use. When we use the Future Simple, we are talking about a fact that will happen in the future. And since we are not predictors and it is not given to us to predict the course of events, the use of future tense forms carries a semantic connotation of the speaker’s intentions, plans or opinion about how the situation can or should turn out.
The Future Simple describes an action or process that relates to a plan for the future. When used, the situation is considered entirely as a fact that will take place. For example, “I will sing” (I will sing) or “I will work” (I will work). The verb refers the situation to the future in the most general form.
Forming a sentence in the Future Simple is the simplest. The main role in the formation of time is played by the auxiliary verb will. It is already followed by a semantic verb without the particle to. The auxiliary will is called because it acts as a grammatical unit, the meaning of which is to form a tense form. And the verb that follows already implies the action itself. In Russian, in sentences like “will + verb” (for example, “I will have breakfast”, “you will work”) the verb “to be” also acts as an auxiliary verb: it only refers to the future, but has nothing to do with the meaning of the action.
So, the formula for Future Simple: will + V
I will arrange the meeting next Thursday - I will organize a meeting next Thursday.
This is the basic formula for forming the Future Simple. But in a statement the verb will may look a little different. For example, used in the abbreviated form “"ll”. The abbreviated form will does not affect the meaning of the sentence in any way and is used only to save time and space on paper.
I’ll arrange the meeting next Thursday - I will organize a meeting next Thursday.
In combination with the particle not, the verb will turns into won"t:
I won’t arrange the meeting next Thursday - I won’t organize the meeting next Thursday.
Please note that the form won"t replaces only the combination will + not. In other cases of negation, the auxiliary verb appears in its usual form.
I will never see him again / I’ll never see him again - I will never see him again
If we want to form an interrogative sentence, then it is enough to move the auxiliary verb to the first place in the sentence.
Will you arrange the meeting next Thursday? -Are you organizing a meeting next Thursday?
In special questions, will may be preceded by a question word, for example, what, how, when, where and others.
Where will you see him next Monday? -Where will you see him next Monday?
Let us immediately note that all the comments about the abbreviated form of will, negation and interrogative sentences are also true for other tenses of the future in English.
Although the Future Simple form itself already refers to the future, nothing prevents the use of circumstances that specify exactly when the action will occur. For a simple future, the function of such indicators is to record in general terms the upcoming moment. For example:
in the next century - in the next century,
next October - next October,
in two years - in two years,
in 2050 – in 2050,
tomorrow - tomorrow.
But what about shall?
No, we haven't forgotten about him. Classical English prescribes using shall instead of will in the first person. However, in modern English this rule is becoming less common, and will is now used regardless of person.
You need to be careful with the verb shall. In colloquial language you will hardly find it as a pure auxiliary verb: it will carry a semantic connotation of obligation. Previously, the should effect applied only to the second and third person, but in modern English this feature extends to the pronouns I/we. If the use of will speaks about the intentions and plans of the speaker, his own will, then the verb shall refers to an order of things independent of us, which is better to obey.
I will go to the cinema - I will go to the cinema (because I want to)
I shall go to the cinema - I will go to the cinema (I should do it)
Or this example:
We will have our son, and we shall see who is more influential - We will have a son (this refers to desire), and let's see who is more influential.
The use of shall has semantic nuances, so it is better to avoid using it as a pure future tense. If you don't want to inadvertently add additional meaning, feel free to use will - this verb has a more general meaning.
2. Future Continuous (Progressive)
The main meaning of the Future Continuous is to record the moment of action. By using the continuous future tense, the speaker represents the situation from the inside and pays attention to the process that is directly occurring.
Unlike the form I will read (I will read), where the situation is neutral and is presented entirely as a certain fact, the Future Continuous implies the duration of the situation. That is, at the selected moment in the future in question, the action has already begun and will not end yet. This very moment of action is what fixes the Future Continuous: I will be reading. It is the form of Future Progressive that can be caught in the act.
In Russian, we can characterize this form as “I will be in the process”: I will be reading is no longer just “I will read,” but “I will be in the process of reading.”
Tense is formed using the already familiar verb will with the addition of be and a semantic verb with the ending –ing.
We connect the pieces and get the formula: will + be + Ving
Recording the moment of an action implies greater detail in time. If the Future Simple can refer us to an uncertain future, then the Future Continuous implies a specific moment in question.
Tomorrow at that moment I will be reading - Tomorrow at this time I will be reading (i.e. at the indicated moment I will be in the process of reading)
To clarify the moment of an action, you can select a specific point in time. Such circumstances will play the role of satellites of the Future Continuous. Here are just a few examples:
at 2 o’clock - at 2 o’clock,
half an hour from now - in half an hour,
this time next Friday - at this time next Friday.
Future Continuous time itself can act as a way of capturing the moment. In this case, it serves as a background against which another action is carried out: when one event occurs (Future Progressive), another will also occur (Future Simple).
When I will be talking to my boss, you will be at home already - When I talk to my boss, you will already be at home.
The moment of action is the main meaning of the Future Continuous, but not the only one. Another use of this tense in English is confidence in the implementation of an event, its obligatory nature.
Our best player is injured and won’t be playing in the next game – Our best player is injured and will not participate in the next game
Using the Future Continuous instead of the Future Simple in this example emphasizes the inevitability of the event and avoids reference to personal desire. If we put the simple future tense here (Our best player is injured and won’t play in the next game), the sentence can be interpreted as the player’s reluctance to enter the field, while the Future Continuous leaves no doubt about the impossibility of playing.
3. Future Perfect
We have examined the two main future tenses in English. The other two forms are less common, but are no less useful to know about. Let's start with Future Perfect. After will in this case there is a verb in the perfect form: have + third form of the verb. Formula: will + have + V3The peculiarity of this time is to emphasize the result. The Future Perfect describes a situation in which the event in question begins before the moment appearing in the sentence and will already have a certain effect. That is, the selected moment in the future will describe a certain result of the event that occurred.
They will have done four tests by the end of this year - By the end of the year they will complete four tests.
Tomorrow he will have been dead for ten years - Tomorrow it will be ten years since he died.
In both examples we are talking about a fixed stage of the event: 4 tests that will be written, and 10 years until the person will not be alive. In both cases, the situation has a starting point and the moment regarding which the statement is made (by the end of the year and tomorrow). These traits are decisive for Future Perfect.
In this time we can talk about both an intermediate moment and a completely completed action. Whether the situation will continue - the grammatical form does not say about this (the tests can be written all or only part of them). Of course, a person cannot return to life and this situation will continue, but we draw this conclusion from ideas about the world, and not from grammatical form.
For the Future Perfect, it is especially important to fix the moment in relation to which the result of the event is described. A characteristic marker of the perfect tense is the word by (by the moment X): by that time (by this time), by the end of the month (by the end of the month) and others.
The designation of a moment can be done by referring to another action, as in the case of the Future Continuous:
They will have played 27 games when they get back - They will have played 27 games by the time they get back
4. Future Perfect Continuous
The name Future Perfect Continuous itself gives the key to understanding the form. It combines continuous and perfect tenses. Future Perfect Continuous not only records the stage of an event, but also emphasizes the continuity of this action throughout the entire time period.
Education Formula: will + have + been + Ving
Exactly 50 years from tonight, I will have been taking part in this show for 75 years - Exactly in 50 years it will be 75 years since I took part in this show.
I will have been representing the county four years at the end of the year - I will represent the country for four years at the end of this year
A distinctive feature of the Future Perfect Continuous is the presence of two time indicators in the sentence. One captures a moment in the future, relative to which the countdown is taking place (exactly 50 years from now, by the end of the year). The second marker determines the period during which the action is performed (75 years, 4 years): it indicates the duration of the situation.
Alternatives for the future
Other forms can also be used as the future: the special construction “to be going to” or the present tense in the meaning of the future.
1. The formula “be going to” is used in cases where the decision to carry out an event has already been made.
I’m going to visit her next Friday - I’ll visit her next Friday
Another construction is used when signs of an impending event are visible. For example:
The weather is terrible. It’s going to rain - The weather is terrible. It's going to rain now
2. You can talk about the future through the form of the present. It is characteristic of describing an established routine or planned activities.
Present Simple often appears when talking about the schedule:
The train leaves tomorrow at 11 a.m. - The train leaves tomorrow at 11 am
Present Continuous marks future events that are clearly included in the plans and for which preparatory actions have already been taken:
I’m leaving on Wednesday - I’m leaving on Wednesday (the person probably already has a ticket in his pocket)
There are no problems with translating such constructions into Russian: the present future tense is actively used in the Russian language.
If at first glance the rules of future tenses seem confusing and unusual, look through the article again, re-read and analyze the examples for each tense. We hope the future becomes simple and clear for you.
For those who want to speak English fluently and competently, it is important to learn the difference between Future Simple and Future Continuous, which seem the same from the point of view of the Russian language. In fact, Future Simple and Future Continuous are necessary to describe actions that differ in nature.
Methods of forming Future Simple and Future Continuous
To remember how the designs of both times differ, you should look at the comparison table.
Based on the rule for the formation of constructions of sentences that differ in the type of utterance, we can conclude that there is a slight structural difference. The formula for the Simple Future tense is presented as “will+verb in initial form.” Scheme of the Future Continuous Tense – “will+be+verb ending -ing”.
The short answers to the general Future Simple and Future Continuous questions will be the same.
Cases of using the Future Simple and the Future Continuous
Judging by the names of the tenses, the difference between Future Simple and Future Continuous in their use in speech is that the first tense indicates one-time or regular actions, while the second indicates a process.
| Future Simple is used for: | Future Continuous is used for: |
| a story about a planned action in the future: They will travel to Prague next week. - They will go to Prague next week. |
a story about what exactly will happen in the future, according to a schedule or preliminary agreement: The train will be leaving at 6. – The train will leave at 6. |
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expressing premonitions, predictions, one’s own opinion about what might happen: TOP 4 articleswho are reading along with this
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messages about a long-term action that will occur at a certain point in the future (the time is important): They will be sleeping at 10 pm tomorrow. – They will sleep tomorrow at 10 o’clock in the evening. |
| message about an action that will be regular in the future:
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A story about the process that will take place at the moment of performing another single action:
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The Future Continuous is not used with verbs denoting feelings, state, mental activity: love, hate, believe, like, hear, see, feel. Instead, they use the Future Simple: I will see you at this time tomorrow. - I'll see you tomorrow at this time.
