essay using future tense

• Antisocial Media

Writing Narration In the Future Tense

Future tense is a way of delivering a story that is yet to occur; the narrator, whether first, second, or third-person, is offering a tale before it happens. It is fairly uncommon in fiction, as it feels speculative to the reader and is difficult to write in effectively, and so tends to be used for sections, extracts, or dialogue, rather than an entire narrative. There have been a small selection of books written in the future tense, but often they are not as commercially successful as those written in past or present .

There are four types of future tense: future simple, future continuous, future perfect, and future perfect continuous.

Future simple tense means describing actions being undertaken in the future: I will listen. You will try not to daydream. The children will sing. Practice will go on for hours.

Future continuous tense means describing actions during their undertaking in the future: I will be listening. You will be trying not to daydream. The children will be singing. Practice will be going on for hours.

Future perfect tense means describing actions after their undertaking in the future: I will have listened. You will have tried not to daydream. The children will have sung. Practice will have gone on for hours.

Future perfect continuous tense means describing actions that were undertaken after their undertaking in the future: I will have been listening. You will have been trying not to daydream. The children will have been singing. Practice will have been going on for hours.

Future Tense from a First-Person Perspective

The immediacy and intimacy of first-person lends future tense a wistful quality that can lead to what-if? thoughts and mental exploration of potential futures. This is an interesting and often disregarded way of further developing a character, allowing the narrator to plan and foresee, instead of simply reacting to the present or considering the past.

The telephonist will ask what about and cut off my reply then come back and say hold on and I’ll hold on but what to, then I’ll have to repeat what about anyway when I’ll get through to the wrong man, creating a false opposition as to the rightness of the right one and a false impression of relief when I finally get to him. Christine Brooke-Rose, Amelgamemnon

Brooke-Rose uses future tense throughout this novel and by doing so creates a sense of uncertainty as to what is happening, capitalising on her own unreliable narrator. The opinions and hypothetical soliloquies, combined with projected events and potential outcomes, create a stream-of-consciousness that is, in effect, an evaluation of how things may turn out. This is a delicate balance to maintain and, through a thought-like style of prose, Brooke-Rose delivers an intriguing character study.

Future Tense from a Second-Person Perspective

Writing in second-person is a challenge in itself, so adding future tense to it can make it appear, at least initially, to be an absolute impossibility. For some inexplicable reason, however, the two work quite well together. Whilst it could be regarded as a gimmick, future tense second-person allows the reader to potentially experience what the writer wishes, as they become a surrogate for the character in question and their as-yet-incomplete next steps; it will resonate with you in a way that other writing could not.

The advertisement should have two more words, in bigger, blacker type: Felipe Montero. Wanted, Felipe Montero, formerly on scholarship at the Sorbonne, historian full of useless facts, accustomed to digging among yellowed documents, part-time teacher in private schools, nine hundred pesos a month. But if you read that, you’d be suspicious, and take it as a joke. “Address, Donceles 815.” No telephone. Come in person. Carlos Fuentes, Aura

By inviting the reader to become part of the story and play the role of protagonist, Fuentes begins to weave a complex web that begins here, as the reader’s character—Felipe Montero—notices an advertisement that is taken as a personal instruction. The increased immediacy and empathy that second-person perspective brings, along with the subtle future tense, creates a more speculative story than is usual, allowing the reader to imaging becoming part of it and what they might do, rather than what they are doing. Interestingly, the English translation loses a lot of the future tense elements (as there is a definitive future tense in Spanish, whilst English only possesses present continuous with future projection), and so does not read as dreamlike as the original text.

Future Tense from a Third-Person Perspective

With the obvious benefit of third-person being distance from the characters, the drawback for future tense is it becomes obvious what the writer is aiming for and therefore the narrative voice is broken as the reader loses their suspension of disbelief. Instead, authors often employ future tense in dialogue and conversation, or even inner monologue through third-person limited, allowing for the foresight and premonition that future tense allows, yet not limiting the narrative to entirely hypothetical.

‘Ah! my dear,’ said the admiral, ‘when he has got a wife, he will sing a different tune. When he is married, if we have the good luck to live to another way, we shall see him do as you and I, and a great many others have done. We shall have him very thankful to any body that will bring him his wife.’ Jane Austen, Persuasion

Although Persuasion is written in past tense, a large portion of the dialogue is in future tense, and explores first, second and third-person points of view. As such, there is a constant sense of impending tension, as the conversations are influencing the future decisions the characters are yet to make. Whilst the narrative voice outside of dialogue is relatively passive, Austen uses the characters to pre-empt the reader’s assumptions as to what will happen later in the story whilst sometimes driving the narrative in a different direction, creating conflict through speech.

Narration In the Future Tense

Narratives written in future tense are yet to happen, so whoever the narrator is, they will be predicting the future. The most important aspect of writing in future tense is to ensure the narration remains as a prediction, and not a commentary on past or current events . This can create a feeling of distance from the story, in that events have yet to happen, however it can also add an experimental, dreamlike quality to the text.

Future tense brings a potential to the narrative, rather than the definite experienced in past and present . It is more surreal, in a way, and encourages speculation. Whilst being an interesting exercise to test your writing ability, it is not the most practical choice for the everyday tale, and is difficult to master. Like past and present , it has its place, and should be consistent and correct if used.

Further Reading

Writing exercises, practical tasks.

Privacy Overview

Rewriting a Paragraph in Future Tense

A Revision Exercise

undrey / Getty Images

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

Verbs are easy to transform and combine, and tenses shift to reflect different meanings to describe when things have happened or will happen. Practice converting verb conjugations increase skill with English and makes it easier to proofread for errors in verb agreement. This exercise will give you practice in working with verb tenses —in this case, changing the past forms of verbs to the future.

Instructions

The following paragraph is a fanciful account of a student's visit to Buckingham Palace to visit the Queen of England. Rewrite the paragraph as if these imaginary incidents from the past will instead occur sometime in the future . In other words, change the form of each main verb from the past tense to the future (in most cases, will plus the present form of the verb).

When you're done, compare your new paragraph with the suggested revision on page two.

Original: I traveled to London to visit the Queen of England.

Recast: I will travel to London to visit the Queen of England.

Visiting Her Majesty

I traveled to London to visit the Queen of England. Being a clever fellow, I disguised myself as a prince and walked into Buckingham Palace as if I owned it. After receiving directions from a chambermaid, I stepped into the Queen's bedroom and surprised Her Royal Highness with a hearty slap on the back. Then, of course, I tipped my hat, bowed, and delivered the usual compliments. After uncorking a bottle of champagne, we exchanged pleasantries and talked about our families for more than an hour. I showed her my photograph album and my stamp collection, and she showed me her historic collection of jewels. After a thoroughly entertaining visit, I traded email addresses with Her Majesty and then kissed her goodbye—on the fingertips of her white gloves, of course.

The following paragraph offers sample answers (in bold) to the exercise to compare revisions and style choices when recasting into the future tense.

"Visiting Her Majesty" Recast in the Future Tense

I will travel to London to visit the Queen of England. Being a clever fellow, I will disguise myself as a prince and walk into Buckingham Palace as if I owned it. After receiving directions from a chambermaid, I will step into the Queen's bedroom and surprise Her Royal Highness with a hearty slap on the back. Then, of course, I will tip my hat, bow , and deliver the usual compliments. After uncorking a bottle of champagne, we will exchange pleasantries and talk about our families for more than an hour. I will show her my photograph album and my stamp collection, and she will show me her historic collection of jewels. After a thoroughly entertaining visit, I will trade  email addresses with Her Majesty and then kiss her goodbye—on the fingertips of her white gloves, of course.

• Intruder Enters Queen Elizabeth's Bedroom
• Diana, Princess of Wales - Timeline
• Recasting a Paragraph in the Past Tense Exercise
• Pronoun Exercise: Recasting a Paragraph With Pronouns
• Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee
• Biography and Facts About Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
• Britain's Great Exhibition of 1851
• Biography of General Tom Thumb, Sideshow Performer
• British Royal Weddings from Victoria to Meghan Markle
• Expressing the Future With 'Will' and 'Going to'
• The Future Tense in Italian
• Forming the Future Tense of Spanish
• 1952: Princess Elizabeth Becomes Queen at 25
• Biography of Elizabeth of York, Queen of England
• Queen Victoria Trivia
• Learn How To Use the Future Tense of Spanish

• Have your assignments done by seasoned writers. 24/7
• Contact us:
• +1 (213) 221-0069
• [email protected]

Past, Present, and Future Tense in Essays: How to Switch

Past, Present, and the Future Tenses in Your Essay

Choosing the correct grammatical tense for your essay can be a challenge. You have to decide whether to use past, present, or future tense. A wrong choice impacts your essay negatively. It will lack clarity and flow. This is not a situation that you ought to find yourself in.

Most students struggle with choosing the right tense. For some, it is due to the lack of guidance on using grammatical tenses. Others are careless with their writing. The result is a poorly written essay that a reader cannot understand. However, it is a problem that you can deal with once and for all.

Reading the instructions will enlighten you on which tense to use in writing your essay. Your tutor can also guide you on how to use grammatical tenses. You get the guidelines of when to use a particular tense. The help prevents you from choosing the wrong tense.

The type of your essay also reveals which tenses you ought to use. All essays are not the same. They have some distinct rules that create a significant difference. You must be aware of those rules and follow them to the latter. For instance, using the right tense is something you must take seriously. 

People Also Read: A Guide for Buying a College Essay: Without Being Caught

Should an Essay be in Present, Past, or Future Tense?

Many students might find it challenging to choose the right tense. Some are yet to learn by heart the rules governing the use of tenses. They end up making the wrong choice.

Ultimately, the impact of their essay score is negative. Fortunately, it is a problem you can work on. 

Every essay needs to be clear and engaging, where the reader needs an easier time reading it. But, that is not the case with all students. Some find themselves using the wrong tenses.

Instead of using the present tense, they write essays in the past tense. But perhaps they do not know when to use a present, past, or future tense.

You can use present, past, and future tense in your essay. But there is a catch. Before you write your essay, you must know which tense fits it. You can either get guidance from your tutor or do your research. Above all, ensure the tense you use is consistent and clear.

Most essay writers use the present tense. It is simple and direct to the point. You can write short sentences that are easier to read and understand. The reader will use little time to read your essay. It will not be tiring to read it since the message is clear.

The present tense is common in academic writing. It allows you to write about current states of events more candidly. By using the present tense, you can easily describe theories. It will be easier to explain an event that is happening now. Generally, the present tense is ideal for writing essays.

People Also Read: How to Write an Email to a University: Admission or Information

Instances to Use Present Tense in an Essay

You do not have to write every essay in the present tense. There are instances under which it becomes a must. At that juncture, you have to play ball.

You must shun the past and future tenses to make your essay consistent. Deviating from the present tense might distort your sentence structure thereby complicating your essay.

The present tense is ideal for creating a sense of immediacy. The reader gets to experience every action as it unfolds. It is easier to grasp the information the writer is passing across. The clarity in the essay engages the reader .

This is one of the reasons why writing in the present tense is common.

Writing an essay in the present tense is much easier. You can write your essay within the shortest time possible, and meeting deadlines will not be an issue. Your essay will be simple and clear to the point, without any sophistication.

Use present tense in an essay where you refer to existing facts. The present tense shows that the fact is indeed true. It becomes easier for the reader to believe in what you are writing. Also, it describes the findings of a study in the present tense. That is also the case when expressing people’s claims and opinions .

Instances to Use Past Tense in an Essay

You must be careful with the tense you use in your essay. Each tense does come with its demands. For instance, past tense is ideal for emphasizing that people do not accept a particular idea. Use past tense to describe that idea for easier understanding.

If your essay describes historical events, you have to use past tense. It makes the description clearer to the reader. This is a clear indication that they can get a picture of the turn of events. This is very crucial for the flow of your essay.

Reading it becomes engaging and enjoyable without any sense of struggling to understand ideas.

People Also Read: Thesis Defense Steps: Full Guide How to Prepare and Present

Instances to Use Future Tense in an Essay

Not often do students use the future tense in essays. They either use present and past tenses, the former being the most common.

But some instances permit the use of future tense. It does play a significant role.

Use future tense to describe your essay’s research predictions, methods, and aims. It becomes easier to demystify what the researcher is up to.

Besides, if you recommend research sources or state the application of study findings, then use future tense. You can easily describe something that is yet to happen or likely to occur in the future.

Can You Combine All Tenses in Essay Writing?

You can also use all tenses in your essay. However, you need to take this step with a lot of caution. Remember, the reader needs to get your message. You have to do that with some pomp to make your essay an enticing read .

Combining all tenses will certainly do that job for you.

Describe the cause and impact of interlocking events in an essay by combining all tenses. Your target audience can now get the hang of the events from a much broader perceptive. However, you have to respect time settings.

It is crucial to avoid any confusion that might distort your message. Ensure you get rid of any sophistication bound to disturb the flow of thoughts in your write-up.

Combining all tenses can be a win or a loss for you. It depends on the context of your essay. Besides, you need to mind your reader.

Your essay should be on a standard that is easier to comprehend. Thus, proceed with caution. 

Make your point in a manner that captures the reader’s attention. Using all tenses can help you achieve that feat. However, the tenses should not appear haphazardly. If you are not careful, you might make it hard for your reader to understand your insinuating description.

People Also Read: Can Literature Reviews Be Published: Can I Publish on my Own

Choosing the right tense for your essay is fundamental. It ensures that you can engage your reader in a comprehensive context easily. It starts by knowing when to use present, past, and future tense or combine them.

If your essay is about current events, it must be in the present tense. The reader gets to know what is happening at the very moment.

Use past tense to write an essay on past events. Describing those events will be much easier. You will do it with clarity hence not causing any confusion. On the other side, the future tense suits the description of events yet to occur.

You can also use the future tense to predict events that are about to happen. And if you want to polish your essay, care to combine all tenses, but do it with caution.

Watch this video to learn more about this.

When not handling complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

Related posts

Titles for Essay about Yourself

Good Titles for Essays about yourself: 31 Personal Essay Topics

How to Write a Diagnostic Essay

How to Write a Diagnostic Essay: Meaning and Topics Example

How Scantron Detects Cheating

Scantron Cheating: How it Detects Cheating and Tricks Students Use

Writing academically: Tenses

• Academic style
• Personal pronouns
• Contractions
• Abbreviations
• Signposting
• Paragraph structure
• Using sources in your writing

Jump to content on this page:

“Quote” Author, Book

In simple terms, verb tenses refer to the past, present or future. Verb tenses tell the reader when something happened, and are used to convey what is or is not known at the time of writing.

If you are reporting on your own or others’ specific research activities (such as methods that were used, or results that were found) then you would generally use the past tense.

• An experiment was conducted…
• It was found that…
• Brown (2010) found that…

In the example based on Brown’s research, the writer was referring to a specific result that Brown found when he conducted his research in 2010, and is therefore written in the past tense.

Present tense

Use the present tense if you are making general statements that draw on previous research, and usually indicates what is known at the time of writing , for example:

Example: 

• The research shows...
• The results of the experiment suggest that…
• Brown’s (2010) study suggests that…

In the above example based on Brown’s research, the writer makes a reference to what is known at the time of writing , and so it is written in the present tense.

Here is an example of using both the past and present tense in your writing:

Example:  Brown (2010) conducted a survey of 1000 students. The results of his survey suggest that all his students are geniuses.

In this example the writer refers to a specific survey that Brown conducted (past tense) in 2010. The writer then conveys how the results of Brown’s survey are still considered worthy today by writing in the present tense ( suggest ).

Compare this to the following example:

Example:  Brown (2010) conducted a survey of 1000 students. The results of his survey suggested that all his students were geniuses, but his later work (Brown, 2015) suggests this is not the case.

As previously, Brown’s specific study of 2010 is referred to in the past tense. But we now find that a later study by Brown (2015) appears to be in disagreement with his earlier 2010 study. Consequently the writer now refers to the conclusions drawn from the 2010 study in the past tense ( suggested ), and it is the results of Brown’s 2015 study – which represents what is known at the time of writing - that is referred to in the present tense ( suggests ).

Future tense

The future tense is not often used in academic writing because it tends to imply a level of certainty that academics can find uncomfortable. If you use verbs such as will or shall then be certain of your certainty! Otherwise use verbs that express possibility, such as could or may .

The exception is in research proposals where you are writing about what you intend to do - so the future tense is used.

• << Previous: Personal pronouns
• Next: Voice >>
• Last Updated: Nov 10, 2023 4:11 PM
• URL: https://libguides.hull.ac.uk/writing
• Login to LibApps
• Library websites Privacy Policy
• University of Hull privacy policy & cookies
• Website terms and conditions
• Accessibility
• Report a problem

Simple Future Tense: Explanation with Examples

By: bora.ege.turan

As you all know, verbs are words that showcase the action that someone is performing. To learn at what time these actions happen, we use tenses. Tenses change the form of verbs to signify the time they happen. Both verbs and tenses are integral parts of the English language and learning the tenses will help us speak English fluently. Simple Future Tense refers to actions that happen in the future. This guide will help you learn all about the Simple Future Tense.

What Is Simple Future Tense?

Simple Future Tense is used when talking about actions or events that have not happened yet but they will happen later . They will begin and end in the future . To exemplify, in the sentence “Laura will go out today.”, we understand that Laura has not gone out yet, nor is she outside right now. She will go out later today, meaning the action will happen in the future . The Simple Future Tense is the third most commonly used tense in the English language and it is very easy to learn. We use the Simple Future Tense in two forms.

There are two ways to use the Simple Future Tense, “will” and “be going to” . We use one of these two modals depending on the context and what we mean to say. Let’s take a look and learn when to use “will” and “be going to” .

“be going to”

“Be going to” is used to describe future actions that are connected to the present. These connections are:

Prior Plans: Something we decided in the past, or an action or event that was planned beforehand that is going to happen in the future. These actions must have been decided before speaking about them. Example: I am going to go on a vacation tomorrow, I have already bought the tickets.

Evidence: When we know something is going to happen in the future based on evidence, we use “be going to” . Example: It’s going to rain , I can see the dark clouds .

Sudden, Unexpected Action: When something is about to happen right now. Example: Careful, the ball is going to hit you on the head!

“Will” is used to describe future actions that do not have a connection to the present. These actions are unplanned .

Sudden, Rapid Decisions: When we decide on something right before we speak, we use “will” . Example: I think I will try the new drink.

Predictions: When we are making guesses and predictions, or state a belief we have about the future. Example: I think I will win this game.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Both “will” and “be going to” can be used to make predictions.

Example: I think she is going to buy you a present.

Promises: When making a promise, a threat or an offer for the future. Example: If you finish your homework, I promise I will buy you ice cream.

Refusal: When we are talking about someone refusing to do something, we use the negative form of “will”, which is “won’t (will not)” . Example: I tried everything, but he won’t come out of his room.

What Are the Grammar Rules of Simple Future Tense?

When using Simple Future Tense, one way is to say subject + “will” + root form of the V1 . Whether the subject is singular or plural does not make a difference. Here are some examples.

We will watch 3 movies tonight. I think she will catch the bus if she leaves now.

Another way to use Simple Future Tense is to say subject + “be going to” + root form of V1 . “Be” changes form according to the subject we use. It becomes “am” for “I” , “are” for “You/We/They” , and “is” for “He/She/It” . Whether the subject is singular or plural does not make a difference. Here are some examples:

I am going to wash the dishes in an hour. You are going to do your homework right now. He is going to stop drinking soda.

Simple Future Tense Grammar Table

To help you better understand the grammar rules and formula of Simple Future Tense using the “will” modal, here is a table:

To help you better understand the grammar rules and formula of Simple Future Tense using the “be going to” modal, here is a table:

How To Construct Sentences With Simple Future Tense

To use Simple Future Tense with the “will” modal, we use the formula subject + “will” + V1 . Similarly, for the “be going to” modal, we write subject + “be going to” + V1 . Here are some examples:

Don’t worry, you will pass your exams. I will drink some water later. They will read this book tomorrow. We will go shopping today.

He is going to take his cat to the vet. We are going to go to Italy next Tuesday. They are going to cook tomorrow. I am going to go to yoga at 6 pm.

Affirmative Simple Future Tense Sentence Examples

To form an affirmative Simple Future Tense sentence using “will”, we write subject + “will” + V1 . Here is a table and 5 examples:

I will go to school next week. She will start working in that building. You will stop bothering me when I’m working. They will come by later. We will cut heart shapes out of these papers.

To form an affirmative Simple Future Tense sentence using “be going to”, we write subject + “be going to” + V1 . Here is a table and 5 examples:

He is going to stop drinking coffee. I am going to do the dishes tonight. You are going to talk to the customers. We are going to start our homework next Saturday. They are going to love this new restaurant.

Negative Simple Future Tense Examples

To form a negative Simple Future Tense sentence, we write subject + “will not” (won’t) + V1 or subject + “be (not) going to” + V1 . Here is a table and some examples for negative Simple Future Tense sentences.

I will not go to work tomorrow. She won’t stop singing. They won’t go to school anymore.

To form a negative Simple Future Tense sentence, you can also use “be going to”. Here is a table and some examples for negative Simple Future Tense sentences.

I am not going to stop studying. We aren’t going to go camping. He is not going to visit his grandmother today.

Interrogative Simple Future Tense Examples

To form an interrogative sentence using the “will” modal in Simple Future Tense, “will” + subject + V1 and “will not” (won’t) + subject + V1 . Here are some tables and examples for interrogative sentences in Simple Future Tense.

Will you go to the movies with me? Will he come to school today? Will they start their homework? Won’t you read this book? Won’t she go to her cousin’s house next week?

To form an interrogative sentence using the “be going to” modal in Simple Future Tense, “be going to” + subject + V1 and “be (not) going to” + subject + V1.

Are you going to come work today? Are we going to go on a trip this weekend? Is he going to come to karaoke with us?

To form a negative interrogative sentence using the “be going to” modal in Simple Future Tense, we write “be (not) going to” + subject + V1 . This formula can have two forms with each subject. With the subject “I”, we either write “Am I not going to…” or “Aren’t I going to”. With the subjects “You/We/They” we either write “Aren’t you/we/they going to…” or “Are you/we/they not going to…” With the subjects “He/She/It” we either write “Is he/she/it not going to…” or “Isn’t he/she/it not going to…” All of these forms are correct and they do not change the meaning.

Aren’t they going to stop behaving like this? / Are they not going to stop behaving like this? Isn’t it going to rain today? / Is it not going to rain today? Aren’t I going to come to your house tomorrow? / Am I not going to come to your house tomorrow?

To form interrogative sentences in Simple Future Tense using question words (what, who, where etc.), we use the formula question word + will + subject + verb . To help you better understand, here is a table and a few examples.

What will I read next? Where will she go ? Who will you ask to go to the movies with you? How much will they spend if they go on a vacation? How many apples will we eat on our picnic?

To form interrogative sentences in Simple Future Tense using question words (what, who, where etc.), we use the formula question word + be going to + subject + verb . To help you better understand, here is a table and a few examples.

How am I going to go to the bus stop? Why are you going to quit school? What is she going to do when she visits her parents? When are we going to go to class today? Who is it going to attack now?

Why aren’t you going to come to my party? Why isn’t she going to finish her homework on time? Who aren’t we going to invite to her birthday party?

Adverbs of Time (Temporal Adverbs) In Simple Future Tense

Adverbs of time indicate the time in which the actions in question happen. We know that Simple Future Tense refers to actions that will happen in the future. Temporal adverbs help us further specify the time period of the actions . Some adverbs that we can use with Simple Future Tense are:

Soon, Today/Later Today, Later, Next Week/Month/Year, Tomorrow, In … (2-3-4) Days,

Here are some examples:

I will come over soon . He is going to bring the cake later today . Are you going to do your homework later ? We are going to go on a vacation next month . How will I go to school tomorrow ? Won’t she leave town in 3 days ?

Frequently Asked Questions About Simple Future Tense

What is the difference between Future Tense and Simple Present Continuous Tense?

Simple Future Tense is used when referring to actions or events that have not happened yet , on the other hand, Simple Present Continuous Tense is used when referring to actions or events that are currently happening .

What is the Difference Between Simple Future Tense and Present Perfect Tense?

Simple Future Tense is used when referring to actions or events that have not happened yet , while Present Perfect Tense is used when referring to actions or events that have started in the past and are still continuing .

What is the difference between Future Tense and Past Perfect Continuous Tense?

Simple Future Tense is used when referring to actions or events that have not happened yet , on the other hand Past Perfect Continuous Tense is used when referring to actions or events that started in the past and continued for a while before stopping, still in the past .

Simple Future Tense: Would you like to put into practice what you have learned about using Simple Future Tense in sentences with its explanations, usage, and example sentences? If you wish, you can explore over 20,000 interactive video lessons on EnglishCentral , improve your vocabulary, and practice pronunciation. Alternatively, during live 1-on-1 English lessons , you can review what you have learned with your personal English tutor. How about signing up for EnglishCentral and starting to learn English right away?

Future Tense in English: Arguments for the Presence of a Future Tense Essay

All languages in the world have tenses. This is what facilitates communication by placing the action in relation to the time that it took place or is expected to take place. Tense is thus defined as a “temporal aspect of a verb in use.” Buzzin (2009). The English language boasts a number of tenses. Although many people categorize them as a notion of time, some analysts consider what is referred to as tense in textbooks as an interplay of tense, aspect, and situation type (Saeed, 2003). This situation means that tense has a complicated twist that needs to be looked at with an analytical eye in order to understand the various complicated situations that occur. This has led to many controversies and debates between scholars of semantics. Among the most controversial aspects of semantics is the issue of the future tense in English. Views from different scholars conflict with some saying that English has no future tense while others insist that it has. Looking deep at the points of argument, it is reasonable to say that English has a future tense although it is marked by an ambiguity that results from the secondary modal meaning.

What are the aspects of the future tense that lead to this conflict? A lot of people tend to believe that the word ‘will’ denotes a future tense (Declerck, 1991). This could be true to some extent but not in all aspects. For example,

John will see her tomorrow

This sentence shows that the action will take place the day after the sentence has been uttered. Therefore, the word ‘will’ is used here to portray the aspect of time. It is, therefore, true to say that the word ‘will’ is used to denote a future tense in English. The controversy arises in the fact that the word ‘will’ belongs to a family of words referred to as modal verbs. This group includes words like might, may, can, would, etc. therefore the word ‘will’ can be used in a sentence without denoting an aspect of time. For example,

Peter will be in church now

This sentence does not have anything to do with future or present tense. It is purely based on the behavioral pattern exhibited by Peter. It simply means, at such a time, Peter is usually in church. Peter’s location at that point in time is based on his normal behavior. On the other hand, the future can be denoted without using any future tense. For example,

Peter is arriving tomorrow morning

This sentence has placed the situation in a future context without using any verb to denote the time aspect. ‘Will’ is, therefore, an ambiguous word in terms of its future and modal capacities.

Scholars have found a great problem when it comes to the issue of tense markers. The words are commonly known to indicate a reference of time can sometimes be used but bring out a completely different aspect of meaning that has a complete opposite of what it is supposed to mean (Saeed, 2003). For example, a tense marker like ‘-ed’ is universally believed to mean a past tense.

Peter played with his pet dog

This sentence means that by the time the speaker was referring to Peter, the action of playing had already taken place. But a problem comes up when the suffix ‘-ed’ is used but fails to refer to the reference of time. For example,

If the headteacher arrived now, the situation would have been handled in a more mature way

In this sentence, ‘-ed’ has been used in the sentence but it does not denote time. The situation denoted by ‘arrived’ is in the present. And not the past as due to the use of the suffix ‘-ed’ this means that at times, the use of tense markers can be a source of controversy when it comes to pointing out time reference.

In addition to this, the word ‘will’ still fails to be a tense marker from other points of view. But Pullum (2008) gives other forms of will that denote other functions that are not time-oriented. He says that ‘will’ can also be used to mean the following:

• Volition: In this form of using the word will, it means that the subject in question is determined to do the action.
• Inclination: in this form, the subject is said to be inclined towards doing the action
• Tendency: this use of ‘will’ means that the subject in question has in the past tended to do the given action.
• Inference: in this form, ‘will’ simply denotes that the subject in question can be inferred to be doing the given action at that moment.
• Prediction: here, ‘will’ means that it can be predicted that the subject in question is doing the given action.

We will take a number of sentences to show that ‘will’ cannot be termed as a tense marker but a form of a linguistic maneuver to enable the speaker to get a reference to the future. The sentences will also be used to strengthen the aspects of ‘will’ as shown above.

Mind the slippery floor, if you will, madam

This use of the word will does not show that the action is surely going to take place. The ‘madam’ is given a choice to mind the slippery floor or not. Therefore, there is no surety that the action is going to take place. The sentence, therefore, means that it is the wish of madam to mind the slippery floor and not that she definitely is going to mind the floor.

Won’t you join the dance floor?

‘Will’ can also be used as a form of invitation. In the given sentence, the speaker is simply offering an invitation to the listener to join the dances on the floor. There is no being sure that the listener is going to join them. It cannot be taken that the prediction is confirmed. Therefore, the word ‘will’ has not been used to confirm a prediction that someone is going to join a group of dancers. Although the offer to participate in the dancing has been made, the person might refuse the offer. Therefore, the statement will be a lie.

That will mean a couple of weeks

If in the process of doing a certain task one encounters a problem and reports it to an expert and he is told the statement above, the word ‘will’ will have been used not to mean that the situation will take some time before it requires a couple of weeks. The meaning is that at that moment, the situation is requiring a couple of weeks. Therefore, ‘will’ has not shown any reference to the future but a reference to a prediction.

The teacher will not know that we are through, we ought to call him

This is another form of the word ‘will’ that does not have any reference to the future. What this sentence means is that at the moment when the speaker is speaking, the teacher does not know that the students have completed their task. It does not mean that the teacher will come to fail to know at some point in the future that the students are through with whatever they are doing. This denotes use of the word ‘will’ not to refer to time but to refer to an inference.

The reason why my students have always performed exemplarily is that I will not tolerate laziness

This sentence means that this teacher has always had students who perform well. Even at the given moment, they are performing well. The reason why they perform well is that he has always been strict when it comes to laziness. He never condones the character of laziness in his class. Therefore, the use of ‘will’ does not make the sentence be in a future tense. It does not explain that the teacher will start being strict with his students in future but he does it and has always been doing it. ‘Will’ is used to denote volition. The teacher is determined to ensure that his students are not lazy.

Blue litmus paper will turn pink on exposure to moisture

This statement means that it is a normal phenomena that when blue litmus paper is exposed to moisture, it change its color from blue to pink. The meaning is not made to hold futuristic reference. It does not mean that starting next year, any litmus paper that will be exposed to moisture will turn pink but this happens and has always happened. ‘Will’ is used here to refer to a tendency. Blue litmus paper tends to turn pink whenever it is exposed to moisture.

I have given him all sorts of extra attention but he won’t improve on his performance

This statement gives another dimension of the use of the word ‘will.’ It means that the teacher has been giving attention to this student with the aim of helping him improve on his performance but every time results come out, the student fails. It does not mean that the teacher gives the student extra attention but the student will perform poorly in future. The use of ‘will’ here denotes an inclination. The student is inclined to performing poorly despite the teacher’s effort.

If he played according to the rules, he will have easily won the contest

This statement gives us another dimension of the use of the word ‘will.’ Here, it shows that the contest is already over. Maybe the subject won the contest but with difficulties or he completely failed to win. There is no reference to future in this statement. In fact, it has its deictic point in the past. The winning is not bound to happen in future because of the use of the word ‘will.’ In this context, it has been used in a prediction point. It is predictable that the person would have won if he played by the rules of the game.

The students will be through with the assignment right now

This statement has also employed the use of the modal verb ‘will’ without referring to a future reference in time. The statement does not mean that the students will still do the assignment until the next day before they finish it the day the speaker is speaking. In fact, this will be a meaningless statement should someone try to understand it from a futuristic point of view.

The allegations that English does not have a future tense do not mean that one cannot refer to the future in English. In addition, the use of ‘will’ is not refuted as a means of referring to the future. What is meant here is that English does not have a specific tense system that denotes the future. In most cases, idiomatic expressions and some periphrastic maneuvers are used to bring out the aspect future reference. Hagen (2009) tries to put it clear that by saying that English does not have a future tense it does not mean that there is no way of expressing the future through his definition of tense. He distinguishes tense and time. This is to say that time is not synonymous to tense. English speakers have a future time reference but they do not have a future tense.

Arguments for presence of a future tense

There have been other scholars who have given their own reasons as to why there is a future tense in English. Seely (1997) refutes the argument that English does not have a future tense when he questions on what really accounts for a tense. According to him, tense does not only have to be constructed through morphological categories only. This, he says, is a narrow minded approach that is confined to the out dated Latin approach to the study of modern language.

On the issue of tense markers ‘will/shall’ being derived from modal verbs, Seely (1997) defies the stance of those who advocate this rule. According to him, the a statement that uses will to denote a future tense does not have as its primary meaning the modal part instead, he argues that these statements have the tense as its primary meaning with the modal usage coming in as secondary uses. Most statements uttered to denote the future have necessity as there nature, something that needs to be done. They are not factual statements that should be cast in iron frames.

Other arguments have been that English uses other constructions including the periphrastic construction, be + going + verb inf. To construct there future references (Comrie, 1989). To this, Seely (1997) has the following arguments.

• It is not only English that uses periphrastic constructions to construct the future tense. English also uses a verb “aller” to forma periphrastic construction denoting the future.
• The use of the verb will with another verb is the only form of future reference that is compatible to all other types of verbs.
• Although there are situations when present and present progressive tenses can be used to refer to the future, they are not in position to stand in isolation. In most cases, they need contextual support or adverbs expressing the future so as to give the future reference. This does not apply to the future tense. This tense stands alone.

In conclusion, the conflict resulting from the ambiguity of the modal verbs used to form the future tense in English does not qualify to say that English language does not have a future tense. The priority placed on the modal use or the time reference use should be put in consideration before making a conclusion. From the two argument positions, I feel that English has a future tense.

Referencing

Buzzin. English grammar- tenses . Web.

Comrie, B. 1989. On identifying future tenses, in Abraham, W. & Janssen, T. (eds.), Tempus – Aspekt – Modus: die lexikalischen und grammatischen =46ormen in den Germanischen Sprachen, T=FCbingen: Niemeyer, 51-63.

Declerck, R. 1991. Tense in English: its structure and use in discourse, London: Routledge.

Hagen, K., (2009) what do you mean there is no future tense? Pollysyllabic. Web.

Matthiesen, C. 1983. Choosing primary tense in English, Studies in Language, 7, 369-429.

Pullum, G., (2008) The Lord which was and is . University of Pennylvania. Web.

Saeed, J., (2003) Introducing Linguistics . Oxford: Blackwell

Seely, D., (1997). The English future . Linguist List. Web.

• Longevity and Life Expansion: Modal Lifespan
• The Word "Tense" in Kenya
• “Neo-Liberalism as a Creative Destruction” by Harvey
• Variability in American English as a Second Language
• Wealth: Meanings and Interpretations
• Ambiguity and Jargon in Everyday Speech
• English Is a World Language Nowadays
• “The Person Who Laughs Last, Laughs Best”: Idiom Explanation
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2021, December 4). Future Tense in English: Arguments for the Presence of a Future Tense. https://ivypanda.com/essays/future-tense-in-english-arguments-for-the-presence-of-a-future-tense/

"Future Tense in English: Arguments for the Presence of a Future Tense." IvyPanda , 4 Dec. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/future-tense-in-english-arguments-for-the-presence-of-a-future-tense/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Future Tense in English: Arguments for the Presence of a Future Tense'. 4 December.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Future Tense in English: Arguments for the Presence of a Future Tense." December 4, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/future-tense-in-english-arguments-for-the-presence-of-a-future-tense/.

1. IvyPanda . "Future Tense in English: Arguments for the Presence of a Future Tense." December 4, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/future-tense-in-english-arguments-for-the-presence-of-a-future-tense/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Future Tense in English: Arguments for the Presence of a Future Tense." December 4, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/future-tense-in-english-arguments-for-the-presence-of-a-future-tense/.

English Future Tense Comparison

Conjugation.

• Lingolia Plus English

Introduction

The future tenses in English Grammar are the simple future with will or going to , the future progressive , also future continuous , the future perfect and the future perfect progressive , also future perfect continuous . We use the various future tenses to express opinion, predictions, plans, arrangements and expectations for the future.

Learn the difference between the future tenses in English grammar and when to use them correctly in a sentence. With Lingolia’s interactive exercises, you can practise what you have learnt.

It’s the last lesson at school today. The lesson finishes at half past two, so it lasts another 20 minutes.

Jack is thinking about the end of the school day. This afternoon he is playing football with his friends. Last time he did not play well and his team lost because of him. He is going to play better today. And the weather forecast says that it will be a sunny afternoon.

The teacher has just asked a question and Fiona is going to answer it. She has already raised her hand.

But then the teacher thinks, “I will ask Jack. Otherwise he will probably fall asleep.”

As Jack has been daydreaming the whole time, he does not know the answer. But he promises that he will pay attention in the future.

The chart below provides an overview of tenses for talking about the future in English grammar: simple future with will and going to, simple present and present progressive.

For information on the conjugation of these tenses, see:

• Future with will
• Future with going to
• Simple Present
• Present Progressive

How good is your English?

Find out with Lingolia’s free grammar test

Take the test!

Maybe later

• 4 Future Tenses In English And How To Use Them

• Posted on 10/03/2021
• Categories: Blog
• Tags: Future tense , Grammar , Resources to learn English

“Your future is whatever you make it, so make it a good one.” – Doc Brown, Back to the future.

Just like the past and present tenses, there is more than one future tense in English. These change depending on the function and what we want to say.

Today we’re going to look at four future tenses: the future simple, the future continuous, the future perfect and the future perfect continuous. We’ll show you how and when to use them. We’ll also share with you some fun videos and activities to help you understand them better.

Ready to learn? Let’s go!

The future tenses

Take a look at the four future tenses in English and how they’re used in a sentence:

1. Future Simple

Let’s start with the basics. The future simple is used to talk about a time later than now and can be used in lots of different ways.

• It is made up of the verb will/won’t + base infinitive (infinitive without to) .
• Because will is a modal verb it doesn’t change depending on the person doing the action.
• We can use contractions e.g. I will = I’ll .
• In the negative, we can also use will not for more emphasis.
• Won’t is more common in speech.
• In short answers we say: yes X will or no X won’t .

Here’s a look at the future simple in positive and negative statements and questions.

Uses and examples

• Instant or spontaneous decisions – I’m hungry. I think I’ll make a sandwich.
• Future predictions based on a belief – I’m sure you’ll pass the test .
• Promises – I won’t tell anyone your secret .
• Offers – I’ll carry your bags for you .
• Requests – Will you tell Henry I called?
• Threats – If you do that again, I’ll tell Mum .
• Future facts – I’ll be back later tonight .

We can use shall instead of will for future time references with I and we . However, it is slightly more formal.

E.g. We shall never forget this beautiful day .

It is also common to use shall in questions to make offers, suggestions or ask for advice.

E.g. Shall I carry these bags for you?

Shall I open the window?

What shall I tell Mary about the broken vase?

Be going to vs will

It’s important to note that for predictions based on evidence and for future plans we use be going to not will .

E.g. Look at those grey clouds. It’s definitely going to rain!

– What are you doing after work?

– I’m going to the gym .

Activity One

For more about the differences between will and be going to to talk about the future, watch this video from Learn English with TV Series :

2. Future continuous

Now let’s move on to the future continuous. Generally, we use this tense to talk about things in progress at a particular time in the future. Take a look at the form:

The structure of the future continuous is as follows: will/won’t + be + ing form

• An action in progress at a specific time in the future (at 5pm, this time tomorrow, in two weeks, in five years time etc.) . This time tomorrow, I’ll be flying to Barbados .
• An action we see as new or temporary . I’ll be working for my Dad until I find a new job .
• Predictions or guesses about future events . He’ll be coming to the party, I guess .
• Predictions about the present . She’ll be getting married right now, I imagine .
• Polite enquiries . Will you be joining us for dinner?

Stative verbs

It’s important to remember that some verbs cannot be used in the continuous tense. These are called stative verbs. Stative verbs describe states, feelings, thoughts and opinions. Instead of the future continuous, we use the future simple tense for these verbs. Here are some examples:

Activity two

Here’s a fun activity to practise what you’ve learnt about the future continuous. All you have to do is talk about what you’ll be doing at these different points in time. Try saying them out loud or write down your answers on a piece of paper. We’ll post some possible answers at the end of this blog post.

What will you be doing…?

3. Future perfect

Once you’ve mastered the future continuous, it’s time to learn the future perfect. The future perfect is used to talk about a completed action in the future. Here’s a look at the form:

• The form of the future perfect is will/won’t + have + past participle .
• Regular past participles end in -ed.
• Irregular past participles don’t follow the common conjugation pattern.

• An action that will be completed before a specific time in the future . Next September, we’ll have been married for 50 years .
• Use by or by the time to mean some time before . I’ll have finished this report by the time you’re home .
• Use in, in a day’s time, in two weeks’ time, in three months’ time etc. to mean at the end of this period . In three years’ time, I’ll have completed my degree .

Activity three

Should you use has instead of have for third person in the future perfect? Here’s BBC Learn English with the answer.

4. Future perfect continuous

We use the future perfect continuous to show that something will continue up until a particular event in the future. We normally use it to emphasise how long something will have been happening for.

The form of the future perfect continuous is will/won’t + have + been + ing (present participle)

• To show that something will continue up until a particular event in the future . In October, I’ll have been working here for ten years .
• To show something finished just before another time action (cause and effect) . When I arrive, I’ll have been working all day, so I’ll be tired .
• With time expressions (by + then / tomorrow / next year etc., by the time, when) . By the time we arrive, we’ll have been travelling for fifteen hours .

Activity four

Look at these five photos of people with different professions. Write down sentences using the future perfect continuous to describe what they will have been doing four hours into their work shift . E.g. They will have been cooking for four hours. We’ll write some examples at the end of the blog post .

Suggested Answers

• In five minutes I’ll still be reading this blog post .
• In two hours I’ll be at home watching the TV on the sofa .
• At 9pm I’ll be cooking dinner .
• This time tomorrow I’ll be doing my English exam .
• I’ll probably be playing football on Saturday morning .
• I’ll be having dinner with friends next Friday .
• I’ll be having my operation in 2 weeks .
• I’m not sure what I’ll be doing next month .
• I’ll be saying goodbye to 2021 at midnight on New Year’s Eve .
• A) Police officer – He’ll have been catching criminals for four hours .
• B) Doctor – She’ll have been saving lives for four hours .
• C) English Teacher – He’ll have been teaching grammar for four hours .
• D) Chefs – They’ll have been cooking for four hours .
• E) Footballer – She’ll have been kicking a ball around for four hours .

So there you have it. You’ve officially learnt the future tenses. Well done you! If you’d like to learn more grammar, check out the following blog posts:

• 4 Present tenses and how to use them
• 4 Past tenses and when to use them

And if you’d like some extra help, why not join one of our General English Courses , to practise using these tenses in conversation?

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

to be made up of sth. (pv): to be comprised up of something.

out loud (exp): audibly.

to master sth. (v): to become an expert at something.

work shift (n): a period of time that you work.

pv = phrasal verb

exp = expression

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Email (required)

10 Business Idioms For The Workplace

• By: oxfordadmin
• Posted on 17/02/2021

How Roxana went from Beginner to Advanced English in just one year

• Posted on 24/03/2021

Related Post

A Guide to English Accents Aro

Countries can have extremely different English accents despite sharing the same language. Just take the word ‘water’... Read More

Passing Cambridge C2 Proficien

Many sections of the Cambridge Proficiency are multiple-choice, so Part 2 of the Reading and Use of English can seem cha... Read More

Exploring the Impact of AI in

Gone are the days of learning from phrasebooks and filling in worksheets for homework. Now students have access to a wid... Read More

Everything You Need To Know Ab

Although you learn plural nouns early on, they can be challenging. There are many rules and exceptions to remember plus ... Read More

The Importance of English For

No matter where you live, you’ve probably experienced record-breaking temperatures and severe weather. You may have se... Read More

Discovering Barcelona Through

We all know that Barcelona is a fantastic city to live in. You only need to spend the afternoon wandering around one of ... Read More

8 New Words To Improve Your Vo

The arrival of a new year presents an ideal opportunity to work on your language goals. Whether you’re preparing for a... Read More

Learning English through Chris

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! If you resisted the urge to sing that line instead of saying it, then, we... Read More

24 Christmas Phrases for Joyfu

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and what better way to get ready for the festive period than by learning some typical Chr... Read More

3 Easy Ways To Use Music To Im

Are you ready to embark on your latest journey towards mastering the English language? We all know that music is there f... Read More

Grammar Guide – Understandin

Do you sometimes feel a bit lost when deciding which tense to use? Are you a little unsure of the differences between th... Read More

Halloween Humour: Jokes, Puns

We all need a break from time to time. Sometimes we’re up to our eyeballs in projects at work, and we just need a mome... Read More

English for Business: 7 Ways L

If you’re interested in getting a promotion at work, earning a higher salary or landing your dream job, then working o... Read More

A Beginner’s Guide to Ch

Understanding the need for exams   An official exam is a fantastic way to demonstrate your English. Why? Firstly,... Read More

English Tongue Twisters to Imp

One of the most fun ways to practise and improve your pronunciation is with tongue twisters. That’s because they’re ... Read More

25 years of Oxford House – O

We all know that fantastic feeling we have after completing an academic year: nine months of English classes, often twic... Read More

Guide to the Cambridge C2 Prof

Are you working towards the Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) exam? Have you been having sleepless nights thinking about wh... Read More

9 Tips For Communicating With

When travelling to or living in an English-speaking country, getting to know the local people can greatly enhance your e... Read More

Are you preparing for the Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) writing exam? If those pre-exam jitters have started to appear,... Read More

English Vocabulary For Getting

Are you feeling bored of the way your hair looks? Perhaps it’s time for a new you. All you need to do is make an appoi... Read More

5 Spelling Rules For Comparati

Messi or Ronaldo? Pizza or sushi? Going to the cinema or bingeing on a series at home? A beach holiday or a walking trip... Read More

Are you preparing for the Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) writing exam? If so, you may be feeling a little nervous and co... Read More

Improve your English pronuncia

What are some of the trickiest words to pronounce in English? Well, we’ve compiled a useful list of ten of the most di... Read More

Using Language Reactor To Lear

If you love watching Netflix series and videos on YouTube to learn English, then you need to download the Language React... Read More

Are you preparing for the Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) exam? Would you like to know some tips to help you feel more at... Read More

How to use ChatGPT to practise

Are you on the lookout for an extra way to practise your English? Do you wish you had an expert available at 2 a.m. that... Read More

Well done. You’ve been moving along your English language journey for some time now. You remember the days of telling ... Read More

Tips for the IELTS listening s

Are you preparing for the IELTS exam and need some help with the listening section? If so, then you’ll know that the l... Read More

7 new English words to improve

A new year is a perfect opportunity to focus on your language goals. Maybe you are working towards an official exam. Per... Read More

How to Write a C1 Advanced Ema

Did you know that there are two parts to the C1 Advanced Writing exam? Part 1 is always a mandatory . Part 2 has ... Read More

5 Interesting Christmas tradit

When you think of the word Christmas, what springs to mind? For most people, it will be words like home, family and trad... Read More

How to write a C1 Advanced Rep

Are you preparing for the Cambridge C1 Advanced exam and need a hand with writing your report/proposal for Part 2 of the... Read More

5 of the best apps to improve

Would you like to improve your English listening skills? With all the technology that we have at our fingertips nowadays... Read More

Tips for the IELTS Reading sec

Looking for some tips to get a high band score in the IELTS Academic Reading exam? If so, then you’re in the right pla... Read More

The 5 best Halloween movies to

Boo! Are you a fan of Halloween? It’s that scary time of year again when the creepy creatures come out to play, and th... Read More

How to Write a Review for Camb

Are you planning to take the Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) exam? If so, you will need to complete two pieces of writin... Read More

How To Use Relative Pronouns i

Today we’re taking a look at some English grammar that sometimes trips up language learners. In fact, we’ve just use... Read More

How To Get Top Marks: Cambridg

So you’re taking the ? If so, you’ll know that you have four sections to prepare for: speaking, reading and use of E... Read More

Travel Vocabulary To Get Your

Summer is here and we can’t wait to go on our summer holidays! If you’re thinking about travelling overseas this yea... Read More

How To Get A High Score In The

So you’re preparing for the ! From wanting to live and work abroad to going to university in an English-speaking count... Read More

10 English Idioms To Take To T

Is there anything better than cooling off in the sea on a hot summer’s day? Well, if you live in Barcelona you hav... Read More

Tips for IELTS speaking sectio

Are you preparing for the IELTS test? If so, you’ll need to do the speaking section. While many people find speaking t... Read More

How to use 6 different English

Just when you think English couldn’t get any more confusing, we introduce you to English pronouns! The reason why peop... Read More

How to get top marks: B2 First

Congratulations – you’ve made it to the B2 First Reading and Use of English Part 7! Yet, before we get too excited, ... Read More

5 Of The Best Apps For Improvi

Speaking is often thought to be the hardest skill to master when learning English. What’s more, there are hundreds of ... Read More

Do you like putting together puzzles? If so, your problem solving skills can actually help you with B2 First Reading and... Read More

8 Vocabulary Mistakes Spanish

If you ask a Spanish speaker what they find difficult about English language learning, they may mention false friends an... Read More

How To Get Top Marks: B2 First

Picture this: You’re in your B2 First exam and you’ve finished the Use of English part. You can put it behind you fo... Read More

12 Business Phrasal Verbs to K

Want to improve your English for professional reasons? You’re in the right place. When working in English, it’s comm... Read More

How to use articles (a, an, th

Knowing what articles are and when to use them in English can be difficult for language learners to pick up. Especially ... Read More

Are you preparing for ? Reading and Use of English Part 4 may not be your cup of tea – in fact most students feel quit... Read More

Passing B2 First Part 3: Readi

Are you studying for the B2 First exam? You’re in the right place! In this series of blogs we want to show you al... Read More

8 new English words you need f

New words spring up each year! They often come from popular culture, social and political issues, and innovations in tec... Read More

7 of the Best Apps for Learnin

If you find yourself commuting often and spending a lot of time on the bus, you’ll most likely turn towards playing ga... Read More

The B2 First is one of the most popular English exams for students of English. It is a recognised qualification that can... Read More

4 Different Types Of Modal Ver

What are modal verbs? They are not quite the same as regular verbs such as play, walk and swim. Modal verbs are a type o... Read More

So you’ve decided to take the ! Formerly known as FCE or the First Certificate, this is by far most popular exam. Whe... Read More

Useful Expressions For Negotia

A lot of our global business is conducted in English. So, there’s a strong chance you may have to learn how to negotia... Read More

Passing C1 Advanced Part 8: Re

If you’re wondering how to do Part 8 of the Reading and Use of English paper, you’re in the right place! After s... Read More

The Difference Between IELTS G

You’ve probably heard of . It’s the world’s leading test for study, work and migration after all. And as the world... Read More

Passing C1 Advanced Part 7: Re

Welcome to Part 7 of the Reading and Use of English paper. This task is a bit like a jigsaw puzzle. One where you have ... Read More

The Benefits Of Learning Engli

Who said learning English was just for the young? You're never too old to learn something new. There are plenty of benef... Read More

So, you’re preparing to take the . You’ve been studying for each of the four sections; reading, writing, speaking an... Read More

6 Reels Accounts to Learn Engl

Are you looking for ways to learn English during the summer holidays? We’ve got you covered – Instagram Reels is a n... Read More

Passing Cambridge C1 Advanced

Well done you! You’ve made it to Part 6 of the Reading and Use of English exam. Not long to go now – just three mor... Read More

8 Resources To Help Beginner E

Learning a new language is hard, but fun. If you are learning English but need some help, our monthly course is what y... Read More

5 Famous Speeches To Help you

Everyone likes listening to inspiring speeches. Gifted speakers have a way of making people want to listen and take acti... Read More

How To Write A B2 First Formal

Dear reader… We sincerely hope you enjoyed our previous blog posts about the Writing section of the B2 First. As promi... Read More

4 Conditionals In English And

Conditionals? Is that something you use after shampooing your hair? Not quite. You may have heard your English teacher t... Read More

After racing through the first four parts of the Cambridge English Reading and Use of English paper, you’ve managed t... Read More

7 Of The Best Apps For Learnin

There are roughly 170,000 words in use in the English language. Thankfully, most native English speakers only have a voc... Read More

How to write a B2 First inform

You're probably very familiar with sending emails (and sometimes letters) in your first language. But how about in Engli... Read More

How can I teach my kids Englis

Keep kids’ minds sharp over the Easter holidays with some entertaining, educational activities in English. There are l... Read More

How Roxana went from Beginner

Roxana Milanes is twenty five and from Cuba. She began English classes back in May 2019 at Oxford House, and since then ... Read More

10 Business Idioms For The Wor

Business idioms are used throughout the workplace. In meetings, conversations and even whilst making at the coffee mac... Read More

5 Tips For Reading The News In

We spend hours consuming the news. With one click of a button we have access to thousands of news stories all on our pho... Read More

How To Write a Report: Cambrid

Imagine the scene. It’s exam day. You’re nearly at the end of your . You’ve just finished writing Part 1 - , and n... Read More

8 English Words You Need For 2

Back in December 2019, we sat down and attempted to make a list of . No one could have predicted the year that was about... Read More

5 Christmas Movies On Netflix

Christmas movies are one of the best things about the holiday season. They’re fun, they get you in the mood for the ho... Read More

MigraCode: An Inspiring New Pa

Oxford House are extremely proud to announce our partnership with MigraCode - a Barcelona-based charity which trains ref... Read More

The Ultimate Guide To Video Co

The age of telecommunication is well and truly here. Most of our business meetings now take place via video conferencing... Read More

6 Pronunciation Mistakes Spani

One of the biggest challenges for Spanish speakers when learning English is pronunciation. Often it’s a struggle to pr... Read More

6 Ways You Can Learn English w

“Alexa, what exactly are you?” Alexa is a virtual AI assistant owned by Amazon. She is voice-activated - like Sir... Read More

Passing Cambridge C1 Advanced:

Okay, take a deep breath. We’re about to enter the danger zone of the Cambridge exam - Reading and Use of English Par... Read More

What’s new at Oxford House f

Welcome to the new school year! It’s great to have you back. We’d like to remind you that , and classes are all st... Read More

European Languages Day: Where

The 26th of September is . It’s a day to celebrate Europe’s rich linguistic diversity and show the importance of lan... Read More

Back To School: 9 Tips For Lan

It’s the start of a new academic term and new courses are about to begin. This is the perfect opportunity to set your ... Read More

How to Maximise Your Online Co

If there’s one good thing to come out of this year, it’s that learning a language has never been so easy or accessib... Read More

How To Learn English With TikT

Are you bored of Facebook? Tired of Instagram? Don’t feel part of the Twitter generation? Perhaps what you’re lookin... Read More

A Brief Guide To Different Bri

It’s a fact! The UK is obsessed with the way people talk. And with , it’s no surprise why. That’s right, accents a... Read More

Study English This Summer At O

Summer is here! And more than ever, we’re in need of a bit of sunshine. But with travel restrictions still in place, m... Read More

5 Reasons To Learn English Out

As Barcelona and the rest of Spain enters the ‘new normality’, it’s time to plan ahead for the summer. Kids and te... Read More

5 Free Online Resources For Ca

Are you preparing for a Cambridge English qualification? Have you devoured all of your past papers and need some extra e... Read More

6 Different Uses Of The Word �

The word ‘get’ is one of the most common and versatile verbs in English. It can be used in lots of different ways, a... Read More

What Are The 4 Present Tenses

There are three main verb tenses in English - , the present and the future - which each have various forms and uses. Tod... Read More

5 Of The Best Netflix Series T

On average, Netflix subscribers spend streaming their favourite content. With so many binge-worthy series out there, it... Read More

Continue Studying Online At Ox

Due to the ongoing emergency lockdown measures imposed by the Spanish Government . We don’t know when we will be a... Read More

Five Ways To celebrate Sant Jo

The feast of Sant Jordi is one of Barcelona’s most popular and enduring celebrations. Sant Jordi is the patron saint o... Read More

What’s It Like To Study Onli

Educational institutions all over the world have shut their doors. From nurseries to universities, business schools to l... Read More

6 Benefits of Learning English

Whatever your new year’s resolution was this year, it probably didn’t involve staying at home all day. For many of u... Read More

9 Tips For Studying A Language

With the recent outbreak of Covid-19, many of us may have to gather our books and study from home. Schools are clos... Read More

10 Ways To Learn English At Ho

Being stuck inside can make you feel like you’re going crazy. But why not use this time to your advantage, and work on... Read More

Important Information –

Dear students, Due to the recent emergency measures from the Government concerning COVID-19, Oxford House premises wi... Read More

7 Books You Should Read To Imp

Reading is one of the best ways to practice English. It’s fun, relaxing and helps you improve your comprehension skill... Read More

Your Guide To Moving To The US

So that’s it! It’s decided, you’re moving to the USA. It’s time to hike the soaring mountains, listen to country... Read More

How to write a C1 Advanced Ess

The is an excellent qualification to aim for if you’re thinking of studying or working abroad. It’s recognised by u... Read More

Small Talk For Business Englis

Like it or not, small talk is an important part of business. Whether it’s in a lift, at a conference, in a meeting roo... Read More

English Vocabulary For Going O

It’s time for that famous celebration of love and romance - Valentine’s Day! It is inspired by the sad story of Sain... Read More

IELTS: Writing Part 2 –

When it comes to exams, preparation is the key to success - and the IELTS Writing Paper Part 2 is no exception! It is wo... Read More

5 Unmissable Events at Oxford

At Oxford House, we know learning a language extends beyond the classroom. It’s important to practise your skills in m... Read More

Am I ready for the C1 Advanced

Congratulations! You’ve passed your Cambridge B2 First exam. It was a hard road but you did it. Now what’s next? Som... Read More

Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle. When you see its lush green landscape and breathtaking views, it’s easy to see w... Read More

How SMART Goals Can Help You I

New year, new you. As one year ends and another begins, many of us like to set ourselves goals in order to make our live... Read More

15 New English Words You Need

Each year new words enter the English language. Some are added to dictionaries like . Others are old words that are give... Read More

Our Year In Review: Top 10 Blo

2019 went by in a flash - and what a year it’s been! We’re just as excited to be looking back on the past 12 months ... Read More

Telephone Interviews In Englis

Telephone interviews in English can seem scary. Employers often use them to filter-out candidates before the face-to-fa... Read More

How to Write a Great Article i

Writing in your only language can be a challenge, but writing in another language can be a complete nightmare ! Where do... Read More

A Black Friday Guide to Shoppi

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. Traditionally, it signals the start of the Christmas shopping period. Expect... Read More

Passing C1 Advanced: Part 3 Re

The (CAE) is a high-level qualification, designed to show that candidates are confident and flexible language users who... Read More

AI Translators: The Future Of

Many people believe that artificial intelligence (AI) translators are surpassing human translators in their ability to a... Read More

8 Of The Best Apps For Learnin

Apps are a great tool for learning English. They are quick, easy to access and fun. It’s almost like having a mini cla... Read More

6 Ways To Improve Your Speakin

There are four linguistic skills that you utilise when learning a new language: reading, writing speaking and listening.... Read More

So, you’ve moved onto Part 3, and after completing Part 2 it’s probably a welcome relief to be given some help with ... Read More

8 Resources To Build Your Busi

Whether it’s in meetings, telephone conversations or networking events, you’ll find specific vocabulary and buzzword... Read More

5 Ways to Become a Better Lear

It’s time for some back-to-school motivation. The new school year is about to start and everyone is feeling refreshed ... Read More

Our 10 Favourite YouTubers To

Haven’t you heard? Nobody is watching the TV anymore - 2019 is the year of the YouTuber! If you’re an English langu... Read More

So, you’ve completed the of your Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE). Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy the rest of the e... Read More

The Secret French Words Hidden

“The problem with the French is that they have no word for entrepreneur.” This phrase was attributed to George W. B... Read More

The Ultimate Guide To Gràcia

The Gràcia Festival, or , is an annual celebration taking place in the lovely, bohemian neighbourhood of Gràcia in upt... Read More

5 Things To Do In Barcelona In

Barcelona residents will often tell you than nothing happens in August. It’s too hot and everyone escapes to little vi... Read More

4 Past Tenses and When to Use

Do you have difficulty with the past tenses in English? Do you know the difference between the past simple and past perf... Read More

How To Write A Review: Cambrid

Students who are taking their B2 First Certificate exam (FCE) will be asked to do two pieces of writing within an 80 min... Read More

8 Hidden Benefits of Being Bil

Unless you were raised to be bilingual, speaking two languages can require years of study and hard work. Even once you�... Read More

7 Films to Practise Your Engli

What’s better than watching a fantastic, original-language movie in a theatre? Watching a fantastic, original-language... Read More

The 10 Best Instagram Accounts

Ever wonder how much time you spend on your phone a day? According to the latest studies, the average person spends on ... Read More

Challenge Yourself This Summer

Here comes the sun! That’s right, summer is on its way and, for many, that means a chance to take a well-deserved brea... Read More

You’ve done the hard part and finally registered for your , congratulations! Now all you need to do is pass it! H... Read More

These 5 Soft Skills Will Boost

Everyone is talking about soft skills. They are the personal traits that allow you to be mentally elastic, to adapt to n... Read More

Which English Exam Is Right Fo

Are you struggling to decide which English language exam to take? You’re not alone: with so many different options on ... Read More

Passing C2 Proficiency: A Guid

We’re sure you’ve done a great job answering the questions for of your . But now you’re faced with a completely d... Read More

Sant Jordi – Dragons, Bo

Imagine you have woken up in Barcelona for the first time in your life. You walk outside and you notice something unusua... Read More

5 Ways To Improve Your Listeni

Have you ever put on an English radio station or podcast and gone to sleep, hoping that when you wake up in the morning ... Read More

The Simple Guide To Communicat

What’s the most challenging thing about going on holiday in an English speaking country? Twenty years ago you might ha... Read More

Stop Making These 7 Grammar Mi

No matter how long you've been learning a language, you're likely to make a mistake every once in a while. The big ones ... Read More

How To Pass Your First Job Int

Passing a job interview in a language that’s not your mother tongue is always a challenge – but however daunting i... Read More

5 Ways To Practise Your Speaki

“How many languages do you speak?” This is what we ask when we want to know about someone’s language skills... Read More

You have survived the Use of English section of your , but now you are faced with a long text full of strange language, ... Read More

Improve Your English Accent Wi

Turn on a radio anywhere in the world and it won’t take long before you’re listening to an English song. And, if you... Read More

10 English Expressions To Fall

It’s nearly Valentine’s day and love is in the air at Oxford House. We’ll soon be surrounded by heart-shaped ballo... Read More

7 Graded Readers To Help You P

Graded readers are adaptations of famous stories, or original books aimed at language learners. They are written to help... Read More

6 Tools To Take Your Writing T

Written language is as important today as it has ever been. Whether you want to prepare for an , to respond to or it’... Read More

EF Report: Do Spanish Schools

The new year is here and many of us will be making promises about improving our language skills in 2019. However, how ma... Read More

Our 10 Most Popular Blog Posts

It’s been a whirlwind 2018. We’ve made so many amazing memories - from our twentieth-anniversary party to some enter... Read More

Time For A Career Change? Here

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get a job in an international company? Perhaps you’ve thought about tr... Read More

Eaquals Accreditation: A Big S

We are delighted to be going through the final stages of our accreditation, which will help us provide the best languag... Read More

A Guide To The Cambridge Engli

Making the decision to do a Cambridge English language qualification can be intimidating. Whether you’re taking it bec... Read More

8 Top Tips To Get The Most Out

A language exchange (or Intercambio in Spanish) is an excellent way to practise English outside of the classroom. The a... Read More

The Haunted History And Terrib

The nights are drawing in and the leaves are falling from the trees. As our minds turn to the cold and frosty winter nig... Read More

Why Oxford House Is More Than

If you’re a student at , you’ll know it is far more than just a language academy. It’s a place to socialise, make ... Read More

10 Crazy Things You Probably D

From funny bananas, super long words and excitable foxes, our latest infographic explores 10 intriguing facts about the ... Read More

Meet our Director of Studies &

If you’ve been studying at Oxford House for a while there’s a good chance that you’ll recognise Judy - with her bi... Read More

Which English Course Is Right

The new school year is about to begin and many of you are probably thinking that it’s about time to take the plunge an... Read More

5 Ways To Get Over The Holiday

We head off on vacation full of excitement and joy. It’s a time to explore somewhere new, relax and spend time with ou... Read More

10 Essential Aussie Expression

Learning English is difficult! With its irregular verbs, tricky pronunciation and even harder spelling, lots of students... Read More

5 Great Apps To Give Your Engl

The next time you’re walking down the street, in a waiting room, or on public transport in Barcelona take a look aroun... Read More

Here’s Why You Should Move T

Many students have aspirations to move abroad. This might be for a number of reasons such as to find a new job, to impro... Read More

Improving Your Pronunciation W

What do English, Maori, Vietnamese and Zulu have in common? Along with another , they all use the . If your first la... Read More

How To Improve Your English Us

Netflix has changed the way we spend our free time. We don’t have to wait a week for a new episode of our favourite TV... Read More

Oxford House Community: Meet O

The year has flown by and we are already into the second week of our summer intensive courses. Today we look back at th... Read More

6 Amazing Events to Make It an

Things are hotting up in Barcelona. There’s so much to see and do during the summer months that it’s hard to know wh... Read More

How to Improve Your English Ov

The long summer holiday is almost here and we’ve got some top tips on how you can keep up your English over the summer... Read More

World Cup Vocabulary: Let’s

Football, football, football: the whole world is going crazy for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar! The beautiful game i... Read More

The 10 Characteristics Of A �

Learning a second language has a lot in common with learning to play an instrument or sport. They all require frequent p... Read More

Catch Your Child’s Imaginati

Imagine, for a moment, taking a cooking class in a language you didn’t know - it could be Japanese, Greek, Russian. It... Read More

Exam Day Tips: The Written Pap

Exams are nerve-wracking. Between going to class, studying at home and worrying about the results, it’s easy to forget... Read More

10 Reasons to Study English at

Learning a second language, for many people, is one of the best decisions they ever make. Travel, work, culture, educati... Read More

Shadowing: A New Way to Improv

Speech shadowing is an advanced language learning technique. The idea is simple: you listen to someone speaking and you ... Read More

The Best Websites to Help Your

Our children learn English at school from a young age - with some even starting basic language classes from as early as ... Read More

15 Useful English Expressions

When was the last time you painted the town red or saw a flying pig? We wouldn’t be surprised if you are scratchin... Read More

Help Your Teens Practise Engli

Teenagers today are definitely part of the smartphone generation and many parents are concerned about the amount of time... Read More

IELTS: Writing Part 1 –

Are you taking an IELTS exam soon? Feeling nervous about the writing paper? Read this article for some top tips and usef... Read More

Business skills: How to delive

Love them or hate them, at some point we all have to give a business presentation. Occasionally we have to deliver them ... Read More

10 phrasal verbs to help you b

A lot of students think English is easy to learn - that is until they encounter phrasal verbs! We are sure you have hear... Read More

6 Unbelievably British Easter

Have you heard of these fascinating British Easter traditions? Great Britain is an ancient island, full of superstition... Read More

Guide to getting top marks in

Your is coming to an end and exam day is fast approaching. It’s about time to make sure you are prepared for what man... Read More

4 Ways English Words are Born

Have you ever wondered where English words come from? There are a whopping 171,476 words in the . From aardvark to zyzz... Read More

Writing an effective essay: Ca

Students take language certifications like the Cambridge B2 First qualification for lots of different reasons. You might... Read More

5 Powerful Tools to Perfect Yo

Foreign accent and understanding When you meet someone new, what’s the first thing you notice? Is it how they look?... Read More

Essential Ski Vocabulary [Info

Are you a ski-fanatic that spends all week dreaming about white-capped peaks, fluffy snow and hearty mountain food? ... Read More

5 Tips to Get the Best Out of

Quizlet, Duolingo, Busuu...there are lots of apps on the market nowadays to help you learn and improve your English. But... Read More

10 False Friends in English an

Is English really that difficult? English is a Germanic language, which means it has lots of similarities with Germa... Read More

How to Improve your English wi

If you’ve been studying English for a long time, you’ve probably tried lots of different ways of learning the langua... Read More

Myths and Mysteries of the Eng

Learning another language as an adult can be frustrating. We’re problem-solvers. We look for patterns in language and ... Read More

10 Ways to Improve your Englis

Every year is the same. We promise ourselves to eat more healthily, exercise more and save money. It all seems very easy... Read More

10 English words you need for

Languages are constantly on the move and English is no exception! As technology, culture and politics evolve, we’re fa... Read More

Catalan Christmas Vs British C

All countries are proud of their quirky traditions and this is no more evident than . In South Africa they eat deep-fri... Read More

9 Ideas To Kickstart Your Read

You’ve heard about the four skills: reading, writing, and . Some might be more important to you than others. Although... Read More

How to Write the Perfect Busin

Business is all about communication. Whether it’s colleagues, clients or suppliers, we spend a big chunk of our workin... Read More

10 Phrasal Verbs You Should Le

Why are phrasal verbs so frustrating? It’s like they’ve been sent from the devil to destroy the morale of English la... Read More

How to Ace the Cambridge Speak

Exams are terrifying! The big day is here and after all that studying and hard work, it’s finally time to show what y... Read More

7 Podcasts To Improve Your Lis

Speaking in a foreign language is hard work. Language learners have to think about pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary... Read More

IELTS: Your Ticket to the Worl

Have you ever thought about dropping everything to go travelling around the world? Today, more and more people are quit... Read More

6 Language Hacks to Learn Engl

It’s October and you’ve just signed up for an English course. Maybe you want to pass an official exam. Maybe you nee... Read More

5 Reasons to Learn English in

Learning English is more fun when you do it in a fantastic location like Barcelona. Find out why we think this is the pe... Read More

FAQ Cambridge courses and Exam

  Is it better to do the paper-based or the computer-based exam? We recommend the computer-based exam to our stud... Read More

Cambridge English Exams or IEL

What exactly is the difference between an IELTS exam and a Cambridge English exam such as the First (FCE) or Advanced (C... Read More

Oxford House Language School C/Diputación 279, Bajos (entre Pau Claris y Paseo de Gracia). 08007 - Barcelona (Eixample) Tel: 93 174 00 62 | Fax: 93 488 14 05 [email protected]

Oxford TEFL Barcelona Oxford House Prague Oxford TEFL Jobs

Legal Notice – Cookie Policy Ethical channel

• Remember Me

Privacy Overview

paper-free learning

• conjunctions
• determiners
• interjections
• prepositions
• affect vs effect
• its vs it's
• your vs you're
• which vs that
• who vs whom
• who's vs whose
• averse vs adverse
• 250+ more...
• apostrophes
• quotation marks
• lots more...
• common writing errors
• FAQs by writers
• awkward plurals
• ESL vocabulary lists
• all our grammar videos
• idioms and proverbs
• Latin terms
• collective nouns for animals
• tattoo fails
• vocabulary categories
• most common verbs
• top 10 irregular verbs
• top 10 regular verbs
• top 10 spelling rules
• improve spelling
• common misspellings
• role-play scenarios
• favo(u)rite word lists
• multiple-choice test
• Tetris game
• grammar-themed memory game
• 100s more...

Future Tense

What is the future tense.

• I will jump in the lake.
• I will be happy.

Table of Contents

The Four Future Tenses Explained

Simple future tense, examples of the simple future tense, future progressive tense, examples of the future progressive tense, future perfect tense, examples of the future perfect tense, future perfect progressive tense, examples of the future perfect progressive tense, interactive verb conjugation tables, video lesson.

• I will play after breakfast.
• Susan will not go to Germany.
• What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality. (Greek biographer Plutarch)
• Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later. (Author Og Mandino)
• Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. (Physicist Albert Einstein)
• Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. (Robert A Heinlein)
• In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. (Activist Martin Luther King Jr)
• Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. (Chinese philosophe Confucius)
• Happiness is your dentist telling you it won't hurt and then having him catch his hand in the drill. (Producer Johnny Carson)
• I won't be a rock star. I will be a legend. (Singer Freddie Mercury)

• I will be playing for an hour.
• Will I be spending too much money if I buy the newer model?
• He will be fighting his way to the boxing championship.
• Always be nice to those younger than you because they are the ones who will be writing about you.
• In September, we will be enjoying all the fruit we planted last March.
• Those who are laughing now will be crying later.
• Soon I will be doing what I love again. (Guitarist Vinnie Vincent)
• I 'll be performing at 80 years old. Music is like fashion - it changes. But some things will always be the same. (Singer Toni Braxton)
• Every breath you take. Every move you make. Every bond you break. Every step you take, I 'll be watching you. (Singer Sting)
• She 'll be coming around the mountain when she comes.
• She 'll be riding six white horses when she comes.
• The next time you see a spider's web, please pause and look a little closer. You 'll be seeing one of the most high-performance materials known to man. (Biologist Cheryl Hayashi)
• In my case, there's no revolving door. I won't be going back to government. (Politician Mary Schapiro)

• I will have played by breakfast.
• By September, Jenny will have taken over that role.
• Will you have graduated by this time next year?
• I hope that, when I leave this planet, I will have touched a few people in a positive way. (Actor Will Rothhaar)
• The rain will not have stopped before the competition starts.
• You won't have sold a single car by tomorrow if you stay here.

• I will have been playing for 2 hours by breakfast.
• By the time the boat arrives, they will have been living without proper food for two weeks.
• Shops that will have been running for three or two years by then will have to close down.
• They will have been driving for ten hours by the time they arrive in Scotland.
• If it rains again tomorrow, then it will have been raining for three days.
• He will be agitated when he arrives because he will have been working for ten hours.
• When you are promoted next year, how long will you have been working on the factory floor?
• You will not have been waiting for over an hour when the taxi arrives. That's not true.

Top 10 Regular Verbs

Top 10 Irregular Verbs

All 4 Past Tenses

All 4 Present Tenses

All 4 Future Tenses

Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos .

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

Learning Resources

more actions:

This test is printable and sendable

Help Us Improve Grammar Monster

• Do you disagree with something on this page?
• Did you spot a typo?

Find Us Quicker!

• When using a search engine (e.g., Google, Bing), you will find Grammar Monster quicker if you add #gm to your search term.

You might also like...

Share This Page

If you like Grammar Monster (or this page in particular), please link to it or share it with others. If you do, please tell us . It helps us a lot!

Create a QR Code

Use our handy widget to create a QR code for this page...or any page.

< previous lesson

next lesson >

• Link to facebook
• Link to linkedin
• Link to twitter
• Link to youtube
• Writing Tips

Common Issues with Tenses

4-minute read

• 6th June 2022

Using verbs correctly is one of the trickiest parts of writing . Anyone can make mistakes with verb tenses, but it’s especially easy for those who aren’t native English speakers. In this post, we’ll explain the nine main tenses and highlight the most common mistakes writers make when using them. So, read on if you want to make verb tense mistakes a thing of the past!

What Are the Main Tenses in English?

Every action happens in the past, present, or future. Each of these time frames is further divided into the simple , continuous, or perfect form. Here’s an example of each:

●  Simple past – things that happened before now:

I wrote an essay last week.

●  Past continuous – an ongoing action in the past:

He was writing a poem yesterday morning.

●  Past perfect – an action that ended before a point in the past:

By lunchtime, he had written six lines.

●  Simple present – a habitual action:

She writes at her desk by the window.

The simple present is also used to describe actions happening at this moment:

I want a desk like that.

●  Present continuous – an ongoing action happening right now:

I am writing a future bestseller!

●  Present perfect – an action that began in the past and is still happening now, or one that happened at an unspecified time:

He has written stories since he was a child.

I have written 1000 birthday cards.

●  Simple future – things that’ll happen and then stop happening:

I will read the first chapter of the book tomorrow.

●  Future continuous – things that’ll begin in the future and continue for some time:

I will be writing a book report.

●  Future perfect – an action that’ll end at some point in the future:

I will have written it by the end of the week.

With so many tenses to choose from, it’s no wonder people make mistakes. Don’t worry, though, because for most academic writing, you don’t need to use all of them. Essays and assignments are nearly always written in the simple present tense, and if you’re describing your own research methodology (e.g., an experiment or survey), you would use the simple past tense.

What Are the Most Common Verb Tense Errors?

Mistakes with verb tenses usually fall into one of three categories:

• Changing from one tense to another.
• Overusing continuous tenses.
• Confusion with irregular verbs.

Use tenses consistently

Your readers will get confused if you switch tenses unexpectedly:

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

The car drove into the tunnel, and it comes out the other end. ✘

The car drove into the tunnel, and it came out the other end. ✔

The car drives into the tunnel, and it comes out the other end. ✔

This doesn’t mean changing tense mid-sentence is always wrong. But make sure you’re saying what you intend to say!

I practiced using different tenses, and now I understand them better. ✔

Limit your use of continuous tenses

Your writing can easily become quite clunky if you use a lot of continuous verb forms:

It was pouring rain while we were camping, and the children were complaining because their blankets were getting wet.

It poured rain while we were camping, and the children complained because their blankets got wet.

The first sentence contains four present participles (i.e., verb forms that end in ing ), which makes it quite a chore to read and rather repetitive. In the second version, we’ve replaced three of them with the simple past tense. This makes the writing more concise and easier to read.

Watch out for irregular verbs

We form the simple past tense and the past participle of most verbs by simply adding ed to the base verb (e.g., walk – walked; open – opened ). However, there are many verbs that don’t obey such rules, and we call these irregular verbs . Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to learn how to conjugate irregular verbs because they don’t follow an obvious pattern, as these examples show:

I buyed bought a gigantic jar of honey.

It costed cost $10.

I hided hid it in the back of the cupboard.

I soon forgetted forgot all about it.

As you read English texts and listen to people speaking in conversation, you’ll recognize more irregular verbs and become familiar with how they work.

Proofreading for Perfect Grammar

We hope you now feel confident about using different tenses in your writing. If you’d like an expert to check your work for incorrect verbs and any other mistakes in grammar, spelling, or punctuation, our proofreaders are here to help. Send us a free trial document to find out more.

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

9-minute read

How to Use Infographics to Boost Your Presentation

Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...

8-minute read

Why Interactive PDFs Are Better for Engagement

Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...

7-minute read

Seven Key Strategies for Voice Search Optimization

Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...

Five Creative Ways to Showcase Your Digital Portfolio

Are you a creative freelancer looking to make a lasting impression on potential clients or...

How to Ace Slack Messaging for Contractors and Freelancers

Effective professional communication is an important skill for contractors and freelancers navigating remote work environments....

3-minute read

How to Insert a Text Box in a Google Doc

Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Introduction to Verb Tenses

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Only two tenses are conveyed through the verb alone: present (“sing") and past (“sang"). Most English tenses, as many as thirty of them, are marked by other words called auxiliaries. Understanding the six basic tenses allows writers to re-create much of the reality of time in their writing.

Simple Present: They walk.

Present Perfect: They have walk ed .

Simple Past: They walk ed .

Past Perfect: They had walk ed .

Future: They will walk.

Future Perfect: They will have walk ed .

Usually, the perfect tenses are the hardest to remember. Here’s a useful tip: all of the perfect tenses are formed by adding an auxiliary or auxiliaries to the past participle, the third principal part.

1 st principal part (simple present): ring, walk

2 nd principal part (simple past): rang, walked

3 rd principal part (past participle): rung, walked

In the above examples, will or will have are the auxiliaries. The following are the most common auxiliaries: be, being, been, can, do, may, must, might, could, should, ought, shall, will, would, has, have, had.

Present Perfect

The present perfect consists of a past participle (the third principal part) with "has" or "have." It designates action which began in the past but which continues into the present or the effect of which still continues.

1. Simple Past : “Betty taught for ten years.” This means that Betty taught in the past; she is no longer teaching.

2. Present Perfect : “Betty has taught for ten years.” This means that Betty taught for ten years, and she still teaches today.

1. Simple Past : “John did his homework so he can go to the movies.” In this example, John has already completed his homework.

2. Present Perfect : “If John has done his homework, he can go to the movies.” In this case, John has not yet completed his homework, but he will most likely do so soon.

Present Perfect Infinitives

Infinitives also have perfect tense forms. These occur when the infinitive is combined with the word “have.” Sometimes, problems arise when infinitives are used with verbs of the future, such as “hope,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” or “want.”

I wanted to go to the movies.

Janet meant to see the doctor.

In both of these cases, the action happened in the past. Thus, these would both be simple past verb forms.

Present perfect infinitives, such as the examples below, set up a sequence of events. Usually the action that is represented by the present perfect tense was completed before the action of the main verb.

1. I am happy to have participated in this campaign! The current state of happiness is in the present: “I am happy.” Yet, this happiness comes from having participated in this campaign that most likely happened in the near past. Therefore, the person is saying that he or she is currently happy due to an event that happened in the near past.

2. John had hoped to have won the trophy. The past perfect verbal phrase, “had hoped,” indicates that John hoped in the past, and no longer does. “To have won the trophy” indicates a moment in the near past when the trophy was still able to be won. Thus, John, at the time of possibly winning the trophy, had hoped to do so, but never did.

Thus the action of the main verb points back in time; the action of the perfect infinitive has been completed.

Past Perfect

The past perfect tense designates action in the past just as simple past does, but the past perfect’s action has been completed before another action.

1. Simple Past : “John raised vegetables.” Here, John raised vegetables at an indeterminate time in the past.

2. Past Perfect : “John sold the vegetables that he had raised .” In this sentence, John raised the vegetables before he sold them.

1. Simple Past : “Renee washed the car when George arrived.” In this sentence, Renee waited to wash the car until after George arrived.

2. Past Perfect : “Renee had washed the car when George arrived.” Here, Renee had already finished washing the car by the time George arrived.

In sentences expressing condition and result, the past perfect tense is used in the part that states the condition.

1. If I had done my exercises, I would have passed the test.

2. I think Sven would have been elected if he hadn't sounded so pompous.

Further, in both cases, the word if starts the conditional part of the sentence. Usually, results are marked by an implied then . For example:

If I had done my exercises, then I would have passed the test.

If Sven hadn’t sounded so pompous, then he would have been elected.

Again, the word then is not required, but it is implied.

Future Perfect

The future perfect tense is used for an action that will be completed at a specific time in the future.

1. Simple Future : “On Saturday, I will finish my housework.” In this sentence, the person will finish his or her housework sometime on Saturday.

2. Future Perfect : “By noon on Saturday, I will have finished my housework.” By noon on Saturday, this person will have the housework already done even though right now it is in the future.

1. Simple Future : “You will work fifty hours.” In this example, you will work fifty hours in the future. The implication here is that you will not work more than fifty hours.

2. Future Perfect : “You will have worked fifty hours by the end of this pay period.” By the end of this pay period, you would have already worked fifty hours. However, as of right now, this situation is in the future. The implication here is that you could work more hours.

1. Judy saved thirty dollars. (past—the saving is completed)

2. Judy will save thirty dollars. (future—the saving has not happened yet)

3. Judy has saved thirty dollars. (present perfect—the saving has happened recently)

4. Judy had saved thirty dollars by the end of last month. (past perfect—the saving occurred in the recent past)

5. Judy will have saved thirty dollars by the end of this month. (future perfect—the saving will occur in the near future, by the end of this month)