What are you doing tomorrow? Who do you think will win the next World Cup? What are your plans for your career? To answer questions like these in English, you need to know how to talk about your plans and predictions for the future, in English. There are various structures which can do this. For example:
1. Tomorrow, I’m having a barbecue with friends.
2. I think Brazil will win the next World Cup.
English Grammar tip: Are you certain this event will occur?
English has various grammar structures you use to express ideas about the future. To find the correct one, start by asking yourself if you are sure this event will happen? In the examples above, sentence one expresses a concrete plan. “Tomorrow, I am having a barbeque with friends.” When we talk about a concrete plan like this, we use the Present Continuous tense.
Sentence 2 expresses a prediction based on personal opinion. It may happen. It may not. We’re not sure. When we talk about a less certain opinion like this, we use the modal ‘will’, also known as the Future Simple tense. So we say, I think Brazil will win the next World Cup.
Chart of common English phrases you use to talk about the future
The table below shows some of the most popular English grammar structures we use to talk about the future:
|
Grammar Structure |
Sample English sentence |
When to use it |
|
Present Continuous (subject + “to be” + gerund) |
Next week, I’m travelling to Thailand for a short holiday. |
To express a very concrete plan for the future (often used to talk about arrangements in the near future) |
|
Present Simple (subject + base verb ; add “-s” or “-es” to base verb after the subjects he/she/it) |
My flight arrives in Bangkok at 11a.m. next Monday. |
To talk about an action or event which forms part of a future timetable |
|
“going to” (subject + “to be” + “going to” + base verb) |
• I’m going to eat healthy food in Thailand.
• My weather app says that the temperature is going to be very hot in Thailand.
|
• To express a plan or an intention for the future. You do not need to provide evidence – it’s just an idea!
• You can also use this grammar structure to express a prediction about the future, that is based on evidence |
|
“will” (Future Simple) (subject + will + base verb) |
I think I will need GPS to find my way around Bangkok. |
To express your opinion about the future. Because it’s an opinion, and may not have evidence, this structure is commonly used with expressions of doubt like “I think”, “maybe” or “perhaps” * |
* Future Simple can also be used for other functions. It is common to use it to express promises. For example, (“I will phone you later”) or, “I’ll phone you later”.
You can also use Future Simple to offer help;
For example, “Don’t worry, I’ll help you to paint your house”
You can use Future Simple when you make spontaneous decisions.
For example, ‘Oh no, the supermarket is closed! I can’t buy food to cook. I’ll have to get a take-away for dinner’
Click here for a more detailed list of ways to talk about the future in English .
How to use English Future Simple tense to talk about the future, plus exceptions
You can use “will” in a negative sentence. There are two possible ways. The more formal option is “will not”. However, it’s more common to use the contraction for ‘will not’, which is ‘won’t’.
For example,
‘The Ministry report states that the economy will not recover by next year.’
‘If I don’t have enough money, maybe I won’t go on holidays next summer’.
The modal “will” can also be used to create two other tenses in the future. The Future Continuous expresses an action which will happen at a certain point, in the future.
For example,
‘This time tomorrow, I will be giving a presentation at work to 100 people!’
(structure: subject + will + be + gerund).
The Future Perfect tense expresses an action or situation which will be finished at a certain point in the future.
For example,
‘By the end of next year, I will have finished my Masters degree.’
(structure: subject + will + have + past participle).
If you want to practice these English future tenses, go to online practice examples of future tenses . Or you can read our guide Perfect tenses in English .
How to use ‘to be’ English grammar structure to talk about the future
To talk about the future in English, you can also use phrases with the verb structure “to be”. This chart shows ways to use it for things which will happen soon, or at different times in the future.
|
Structure |
Sample sentence |
When to use it |
|
To be about to (subject + “to be” + about to + base verb) |
Ed Sheeran is about to release his new album. |
To express an action which is going to happen very soon |
|
To be due to (subject + “to be” + due to + base verb)
|
Ed Sheeran is due to release his new album next summer. |
To express an action which we expect to happen at a certain time in the future |
|
To be likely to (subject + “to be” + likely to + base verb) |
His new album is likely to have huge commercial success. |
To express an action/situation which will probably happen at some point in the future, but we’re not sure when |
Talking about the future: 3 Common English grammar mistakes
English language students often forget to include the verb “to be” when they use “going to”:
For example,
Scientists say this summer is going the hottest ever. ✗
Scientists say that this summer is going to be the hottest ever. ✓
It’s also common to use the Future Simple too much. When adult students of English want to express an idea in the future, they often automatically use the word “will”, even when it is not appropriate – for example when you have concrete plans or when you are talking about timetabled events:
For example,
My aunt will be retire next month. ✗
My aunt is retiring next month. ✓
“My aunt is going to retire next month”.) ✓
Another common mistake is adding the word ‘will’ when you don’t need it. In English, expressions about time such as when, once, until and after are directly followed by a present tense. You do not need to add the word ‘will’:
For example,
I’ll turn off the radio when this song will finish. ✗
I’ll turn off the radio when this song finishes. ✓
Famous movie titles and song with English vocabulary about the future
Fans of this famous TV and book series ‘Game of Thrones’ will know the much-repeated line “Winter is coming”. This is a warning to the people of Westeros to be prepared for hardship in the future. The Present Continuous English grammar structure is used to emphasise that this future hardship is inevitable.
One of the most popular songs in the history of YouTube, “See You Again” is by rapper Wiz Khalifa, featuring Charlie Puth. Released in 2015 for the soundtrack of the 7th Fast & Furious movie – the song is a tribute to actor Paul Walker, who died in a car crash soon after he finished shooting the movie. Rapper Wiz Khalifa imagines he will meet his friend Paul in the afterlife, and sings, “I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again”.
Mini quiz
Find the incorrect phrases, and see if you can correct them:
2. Tim going to visit his brother this weekend.
3. This time next year, I will live in Berlin.
4. Mia is about to sell her house in the next five years.
5. I think I’m likely pass my driving test next week.
6. After the movie will finish, I’ll meet you in front of the cinema.
7. Aisha wants to study medicine when she is going to go to university.
2. Tim is going to visit his brother this weekend.
3. This time next year, I will be living in Berlin.
4. Mia is due to sell her house in the next five years. (or “Mia is going to sell …”)
5. I think I’m likely to pass my driving test next week.
6. After the movie finishes, I’ll meet you in front of the cinema.
7. Aisha wants to study medicine when she goes to university.