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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Writing exercises, practical tasks.

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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.

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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/.

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4 Ways to Talk about the Future in English | Advanced English Grammar

Apr 14, 2021 | Grammar , Verb Tenses

This lesson was originally published in September 2016. It was updated in April 2021 with new content, including a video and practice questions.

Hey! I have a question for you. What are you doing this weekend?

Think about your answer in English. Does your answer include the word WILL? For example, did you answer:

• I will go shopping this weekend.
• I will visit my family this weekend.
• I will see a movie.

Is this how you learned to talk about the future in your English classes?

To use will + verb  to talk about the future. For example:

• I  will visit  my grandmother today.
• She  will go to the movie theater with her friends this evening.

Grammatically, what you learned is correct but there is one big problem…  We don’t really talk like that in English!

In real life, we use 4 different ways to talk about our future arrangements, plans, intentions, wishes, expectations, and predictions. And we usually don’t use WILL to talk about the future.

Imagine these different questions:

• What are you doing tonight after work?
• What are your plans for the weekend?
• What vacation plans do you have for this summer?
• What do you think you will do this year for the holidays?
• What are the company’s predictions for sales next year?
• Which strategies will help to grow our sales by 5% next year? In 3 years?

Each of these questions focuses on the future. These are very common questions in daily conversation and for professional situations.

But here is the good news:

With this lesson, you are going to learn exactly how to speak about the future in English naturally!! We won’t focus only on grammar rules. Instead, let’s think about real-life future situations in English and how you can talk about them using grammar you already know in English.

English Grammar Tenses for Talking about the Future

Scheduled events / timetables.

Think about these questions and how you might answer them:

• How do you get to work? Do you take the bus or the metro? What time does your bus leave on Friday?
• If you are talking to a client on the phone and you have to go to a meeting soon, what might you say?
• Does your friend have a birthday party scheduled for this weekend? What time does it start?

These questions are focused on scheduled events that you cannot change .

For example, you cannot change the timetable for the trains or buses.

And if your friend has a birthday party scheduled for 25 people, you probably can’t change the date and time.

If you have a business meeting later in the day, most of the time it is something you cannot change.

Now think about how you might answer these questions:

• What time does the train leave on Friday morning?
• When does the next bus arrive?
• What time does your friend’s party begin on Saturday?

Generally, we use the  present simple  to talk about future scheduled events (events that you cannot control or change) and timetables (public transportation schedules, movie times, class times, programs, etc.) for example:

• The train  leaves  at 8:45 a.m. on Friday.
• The next bus  arrives  in 12 minutes.
• Susan’s party  starts  at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday evening.
• My next meeting  is  right after lunch and then I  have  another at 3:30 p.m.
• He  has  a dental appointment scheduled for this afternoon.
• Classes  starts  next Monday.
• We have to hurry! The movie  starts  in 5 minutes!
• The grocery store  closes  in just a few minutes .

In each of these examples, we’re focused on scheduled events or timetables. This means we’re focused on the  date  or  time  for which something is scheduled in the future.

Plans / Arrangements

Now, look at your calendar. What is written on your calendar? Do you have an upcoming plans or arrangements? Think about these questions:

• What are you doing this weekend?
• Where are you going for your summer holidays?
• Where are you meeting your client for lunch tomorrow?
• Where are you celebrating the holidays this year? At your home or your mother’s home?

These are common questions focused on your  plans or arrangements . This means it is something you’ve thought about and you’ve made arrangements, for example, made reservations, bought tickets, registered, had a discussion with someone else.

We generally use the  present continuous  form to talk about our future plans and arrangements. This can include the form going to + verb that you may have learned.

Now remember, the present continuous is also used to talk about what you are doing now, so let’s look at two examples to help understand the difference:

A: What  are  you  doing ? (question focused on now)

B: I ’m working  on the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting. (answer is focused on now)

A: What  are  you  doing  tomorrow? (question focused on future)

B: I ’m meeting  Sue for lunch to discuss the contract. (answer is focused on future)

Let’s look at more examples for talking about future plans:

• We ’re working  in the garden most of the weekend to get it ready to plant and then we ’re having  dinner with some friends Saturday night. What about you?
• We ’re going  to Corsica for a couple of weeks in August. I just booked our tickets. I’m SO excited!!!
• We ’re meeting  at Lucia tomorrow for lunch. Do you want to come?
• My family’ s coming  to my house for Thanksgiving this year. I ’m cooking  most of the dishes but my sister ’s bringing  dessert and my mom ’s making  a salad.

Intentions / Predictions with Evidence

Previously we talked about plans. With plans, arrangements have been made or discussed and agreed upon. An intention is something want to do, something you’ve thought about but you haven’t made any arrangements. For example:

• I ’m going to start  exercising after the New Year! I’ve been eating too much over the holidays. (No arrangements are made by you want to do this.)
• What  are  you  going to order ? (at a restaurant)
• He ’s going to travel  around Europe or Asia after he graduates from school next year.
• What  are  we  going to do  about this customer complaint?
• When  are  you  going to respond  to Susan about the conference? I think she’s waiting to hear from you.

Do you notice the pattern? For talking about intentions, we use the  going to + infinitive verb  form.

This is also the form generally used when you make a prediction based on evidence. For example:

• Look at the clouds coming in! It ’s going to rain  shortly. (We predict the rain based on the evidence of heavy rain clouds in the sky.)
• Did you know Susan’s pregnant? She ’s going to have  the baby in 3 months.
• If we continue at this rate, we ’re going to have  our best sales quarter yet.

Pronunciation Note:

In American English pronunciation, we often connect the sounds between  going + to . This is called  connected speech . In spoken form, going to sounds like  gonna . However, this is not appropriate in written form.

Predictions without Evidence / Factual Statements / Immediate Decisions

Now look at these final questions and think about how to answer them:

• What do you think life will be like in 20 years?
• What will happen if you don’t pass your exam?
• Do think it will rain while we’re on vacation? Should we pack a rain jacket?
• Will you be able to come to my party this weekend?

Finally! Talking about the future with  will . When you make a prediction based on something you believe, think, or feel, then it is common to use will + verb. This suggests it is your prediction but there is no fact or evidence for it. For example:

• Cars  will fly  and everyone  will live  in glass houses by 2040.
• I don’t think it  will rain . That would be very unusual for August.
• I ’ll come  to your party if I can get my project finished at work. We’re under a tight deadline.

We also use will to talk about factual future statements. For example:

• I’m sorry you’re having a bad day. But tomorrow the sun  will rise  and it  will be  a new day.
• We  will have  a full moon tonight.

And lastly, if you’ve made an immediate decision at the moment of speaking, then will is often used. For example:

A: The phone’s ringing!

B: I ’ll get  it.

A: Oh no! I’ve spilled milk all over the floor and I’m already running late. I don’t have time for this.

Now It’s Your Turn to Practice Talking About the Future

I’d love to hear from you and help you practice using these forms correctly and naturally in English.

Take a few minutes this week to answer 2-3 of these questions. Be sure to share in the comments section below this lesson:

• Where are you going for your next vacation?
• What are you going to do after you graduate from university?
• How are you going to celebrate if you get the new job?
• What do you think life will be like in 50 years?
• What are your plans for your next holiday? (Talk about Christmas, Eid, Easter, the New Year, etc.)
• Do you have plans after work this evening?

Use the video and lesson to help you. Or if you have any questions, the best place to connect with me or others is in the comments section.

I look forward to hearing from you!!

~ Annemarie

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Hi Annemarie, thank you. I have learned a lot from you. I have a question about ‘will’ and factual future statements. What is the difference between the use of ‘will’ and the simple present? Can they be replaced?”

Thanks for the question! Can you give me an example you are considering, Shabnam?

• Hi again. take this sentence from your examples “I’m sorry you’re having a bad day. But tomorrow the sun  will rise  and it  will be  a new day.” rising the sun is a fact why do you use “will” here?

in fact why we don’t use simple present? why we should use will here?

Good question. We certainly can say, “The sun rises every day.” And while it’s correct, it changes the meaning that is expressed with, “The sun will rise and it will be a new day.” In the first example with the Present Simple, the focus is on the fact. And it focuses on every single day – not only tomorrow. In the second example, we’re trying to encourage a friend. And we’re not focused every day, we’re focused only on tomorrow. The change in the grammar structure helps to shift that focus and make it a more encouraging statement for our …  Read more »

Your explanation is the best I have ever met. Thank you so much!!!

Thank you for your valuable lessons Annemarie and the whole team that’s included. Here are my answers to the fourth questions: What are you doing this weekend? I’m having lectures. What time does your favourite coffee shop open tomorrow? My favourite cofee shop opens at 7 o’clock. What are you going to do for fun next summer? I’m going to spend a week at the seaside and I’m going to Palma de Mallorca for a fortnight. What do you think life will be like in 20 years? I think there will be increased population and flying to Mars will be …  Read more »

Wonderful, Iveta! You’ve got it just right.

I have 1 question about your answer to ‘What are you doing this weekend?”

Do you mean you are giving lectures (you are speaking) or are you attending lectures (you are listening)?

Such an in-depth lesson! Would you object to carrying out something like that for the Past either? Thank you so much for your attention.

I will certainly add this as a future lesson topic. Thank you.

Hello Annemarie,

What are all the answers to the questions shown on this page? Thanks a lot!

Hello Annemarie, Can I answer your questions without using the tenses you suggest, such as the following example: Q: What are you doing this weekend? A: Sleeping all weekend. Q: Where are you going for your next vacation? A: To Spain or Portugal. Q: What are you going to do after you graduate from university? A: Travelling abroad. Q: How are you going to celebrate if you get a new job? A. I’m stingy. No celebration! Q: What do you think life will be like in 50 years? A: No more life! The world has already reached its end! Q: …  Read more »

Hi James,in speaking we do often use fragments rather than full sentences. So yes, you could use these instead.

Thank you so much for teaching us. It’s more easy learn English with you. Best regards

Thank you so much for your comment, Maria. We’re excited to know you enjoy Annemarie’s lessons.

Hello Annemarie ,

Thank you so much for this lesson ; from now on” I see the future” much clearer and things are not too complicated after your course ; I will never forget :” clarity means power”!

Best regards ,

Hello Annemarie Thanks for your wonderful chapter on the topic of future tense.

We’re glad the lesson was useful for you, Aili!

1.I’m going to study in the library with my classmates. 2.I’m travelling to Peru for a couple of weeks in March. 3.I’m going to start looking for a job after fished my all courses. 4.I’ll hold a big party if I can get a new job. 5.All the houses will disappear and human will explore the Universe. 6. I’m going to back hometown for celebrity the New Year with my family. 7.Yes, I do. I’m having dinner with some friends this evening.

Thank you, Annemarie. Listening your lesson is always helpful for me. Here is a grammar question about an example sentence: Under the Plans/Arrangements, a sentence showed “We’re meeting at Lucia tomorrow for lunch. Do you want to come?” You are using “at” instead of “with”; does that mean to meet at someone’s place instead of a person? Thank you.

Thank you Annemarie for another amazing lesson! It’s all crystal clear. 1. The next weekend I’m getting to the park with my family because I’m going to wind down, get relaxed and take a breather. Depending on the weather, we’re going to have a picnic there, so as to make something different surrounded by nature. 2.The coffee shop near the park opens at 9,00 o’clock in the morning, so we are taking away drinks and snacks. 3. For the next summer I’m going to travel everywhere it will be safe. No matter where, because travelling is the goal!! 4.I think …  Read more »

For the plans/arrangements section, I think “will be doing…” and present continuous can be use interchangeably, right? For example:

A: What are you doing tomorrow? (question focused on future) B: I’m meeting Sue for lunch to discuss the contract. (answer is focused on future)

or B: I’ll be meeting Sue ….

Hi Annemarie,

Thank you very much for this lesson so well explained. However, I cross a lot of texts where “will” is used everywhere. I think because the writers are not English native (like me :))

What about “would” ? and “will need to..”

Thank you again.

homework: I’m going for a hike tomorrow. I think if we go on like at the moment, we won’t have any green parks any more since there will be built skyscrapers everywhere. I have to hurry up because the movie starts at 8 pm. it looks as if it is going to snow again.

Hi Lorette. Thank you for sharing your examples. Practice is the best way to learn something new. We wish you much success as you continue.

Dear Annemarie, Thank you very much for this wonderful lesson that helps me to improve a very needed part of my conversational English skills. This might sound very strange but I didn’t realise that until your lesson regarding talking future without ‘will’ and ‘ am going to ‘ forms. Thank you very much for giving a detailed and straightforward explanation in this lesson.

This lesson took my attention to that there is always space for improvements when it comes to English. Sevda

Hi Sevda, I’m so pleased to know this was an eye-opening lesson and that it might help you advance your skills!

Hello Annemarie, thanks for the very clear and useful lesson. Now I have a clear indication about future tenses

I’m glad to hear that, Dario!

Hello Annemarie, thank you very much for another fantastic lesson. Your teaching method is excellent and effortlessly absorbed and understood. I have a question I’d love for you to explain, please. In your lesson you’ve mentioned these two examples: 1st- Classes start next Monday. 2nd- We have to hurry! The movie starts in 5 minutes!. Both have the word “START”, but one with an “S” at the end and the other without. So, when can I use the “S” at the end of a verb? Please advise. Thanks again, and very much obliged.

Actually, in both instances, I use “starts.” If there is a problem with the text, I will need to review it.

Hi Lee, It is normal she used start and starts because in the first sentence we talk about classeS (plural) it’s like you say they start. vs. it or s/he startS.

1st-Classes is plural, so you don’t use s.

Hi Annemarie, thanks again for your excellent lesson. It was sensational and helpful.

A- What are you doing this weekend? Q- I’m going to spend my time with my daughter at her Condo this weekend. A- Where are you going for your next vacation? Q- I’m going to NY to visit my other daughter as soon as COVID permits me.

Thanks for sharing your examples, Nasrin! You’ve got a good start.

I have a question to clarify:

The grammar in number 1 tells me this is an intention but not a plan. You are thinking about this but you haven’t made arrangements.

In number 2, the grammar tells me that you’ve made arrangements to visit NY. For example, perhaps you’ve bought tickets or reserved a hotel. Is that right?

Thanks Annemarie for your recommendation. I hope this time it’s correct. If it’s not please let me know, I’ll appreciate it very much

Q- What are you doing this weekend? A- I’m visiting my daughter at her condo this weekend. We are cooking together and watching a movie. Q- Where are you going for your next vacation? A- I’ll spend a week with my son and his family at his house and will enjoy my time with them.

Thanks Annemarie. This is other useful lesson.! Answers 1: I’m going to watch a netflix film. I’m going to prepare my worksheet lessons and I’m walking around my neighborhood to exercise a little. And I’m going to organize and clean my house. Anwer 2: My favorite coffe shop ” El gualilo” opens at 9:00 a.m Anwer 3: Next summer, As soon as it’s safe to travel, I’m goint to travel to San Andres Island with my family. Answer 4: I think life will be very dependent on technology in 20 years.

Excellent examples, Sandra! You definitely grasped this lesson and the different ways to talk about the future. 👏👏

This weekend I’m staying at home with my children and if the weather is good we’re going out for a walk. I’m going to visit the seaside with my family for my next vacation. I’m going to go on a trip to Palma de Mallorca after I graduate university. I’m going to prepare dinner and invite my family to celebrate the new job. I think life will be tied to and dependent on technology. I’m going to visit my parents for Easter holiday. I’ll go to the gym after work. P.S.: Annemarie, I’d like to thank you for all your …  Read more »

So many good examples of plans, intentions, immediate decisions, and more! Good work here, Iveta. And I’m thrilled to know my lessons are so helpful to you. Thank you for letting me know.

Also, I was impressed with your use of the expression “to be tied to something.” 🙌

This weekend, I’m visiting my brother to present him my business proposal. After our meeting, since it only takes an hour, we’re going to visit my mother who lives near his house.

Nicely done, Mar! I see two ways of talking about the future here: plans and intentions. 🙌

Tomorrow I work at 5 am, in the evening I ‘m going to visit my parents (which I shouldn’t because of Corona restrictions), but I need to pick up some gardening gear. After this current Pandemic ends, I am probably going to visit my girlfriend In Vietnam. If my girlfriend obtains a Visa this year, she is going to visit me and my family in Belgium . When this actual crisis ends, the way our lives are organised will change in debt. But in my opinion, in a few years the way society is organises will not differ a lot …  Read more »

What are you doing this weekend? This week I’m going to the cinema with my friends! Where are you going for your next vacation? Next vacation I’m going to my parent’s house What are you going to do after you graduate from university? After the graduation I’m going to search work How are you going to celebrate if you get the new job? If I get the new job I’am going to celebrate in a big restaurant. What do you think life will be like in 50 years? I think that the life will be more difficult in 50 years, …  Read more »

Thanks for your wonderful chapter on the topic of future tense. I m a simple graduate from LNMU Darbhanga Bihar India. The people of the state I belongs to is not very educated specially in English all because of lack of knowledgeable person like you. The way you teach is awesome. Although I m also not comfortable in English but I have a great wish to talk like you. I know my wish is not going to complete without help a person like you. If I made any mistakes plz ignore it. Thanks

Thank you for your kind comments. I’m thrilled to know you enjoy my lessons and find them useful. Stay focused on what you want and do the work that’s necessary. Fluency and confidence require commitment and daily effort. There’s no other way. If you’d like to work with me and make progress the way my students do, be sure to join me for Fluency School .

1.I am going to take ielts exam next month. 2.It’s going to rain after two hours. 3.My boss said tomuch work today.i said don’t worry I will help. 4.my flight leaves at 8.00pm on Friday. 5.my bus arrives at 7.00am in the morning. 6.My company going to take a new people . 7.i am going to plan in celebrate coming new year.

1. I will do general cleaning in my house. 2. I wil go to Olongapo with my family to visit my grandmother. 3. I will search a job to help my family in financial problem. 4. I will treat my parents to their favorite restaurant. 5. I will think that our technology is in higtech form. 6. I will plan to surprise my husband and cook his favorite food. 7. I will go to church after my work.

Hello Maribeth, Thank you for sharing your practice sentences! In this lesson, we focused on 4 different ways to talk about the future in English. In your sentences, you’ve used “will” for the future. We can also use the Present Simple, Present Continuous and ‘Going to’ for the future. How could you change some of your example sentences to use these other forms? For example, in Question 1 I asked, “What are you doing this weekend?” I used the Present Continous. If you remember in the lesson, we often use the Present Continous when we’re talking about future plans. How …  Read more »

Hi Annemarie, Thanks for correcting me,I don’t know and forgot the Verb tense and I want to learn about the verb tense.all my answer are wrong??

A1. I am visiting my mother A2. I am going to UK A3: I am starting work in famous company A4: I am making reservations in a big hotel A5 : we will live in the moon A6: I am going to celebrate my 11 anniversary A7: I see movie at 10 pm

Hello Manal, Wonderful! I’m so glad you’ve tried to answer each of these questions! Well done. In your example of, “I’m starting work in [a] famous company,” is this already decided? Have you already accepted the job? In A5, this is a great example answer and you’ve correctly used will to make a prediction. When we talk about living on the moon, we use “on the moon” instead of “in the moon.” And finally, in A7, I see you’ve used an example of the timetable and the present simple. With “I” as the subject, we’re talking about plans, not timetables. …  Read more »

Hi Annemarie, Am feeling great to join you. Hoping to be confident while giving a speech in English. Thank you.

Dear Daizy, Thank you so much for your comment. I’m thrilled to have you join Confident English. Do you have to give a speech soon? Do you often give speeches for work or for school?

I have a series of lessons on presentations that may be helpful to you. You can find the first one here: Prepare for Your Presentation .

I wish you much success! ~ annemarie

I understand this tenses but little bit confusing everything collaborated in my mind.while speaking time not coming accurately please help me..

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• 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

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

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Future Tense

Tenses are verbs that specify the time frame in which an action or event occurred. Tenses are divided into three categories based on the time of occurrence:

Present Tense

A Tense is a word form used to denote the time of an incident in relation to the time of speech. It denotes the end of a task or the continuation of one. Whether you're a school student or preparing for a competitive Examination or another English proficiency test, having a thorough understanding of Tenses will undoubtedly help you score higher. Let's look at some samples of different Tenses rules and usage!

What is the Future Tense?

The Future Tense agenda includes any action that is scheduled to occur in the Future. Future Tense, like any other Tense, can be identified by the verb form and auxiliaries utilized.

Types of Future Tense

Simple Future Tense Rules

When describing an action that will take place in the Future, the Simple Future Tense is employed. It expresses assurance and facts. The following is an example of how to use this Tense:

Subject + will/shall + V1 + Object

We'll relocate to another city.

He'll arrive in New York tomorrow.

Future Continuous Tense Rules

The Future Continuous Tense portrays an action that will most likely occur in the future and last for a predetermined amount of time. It's made up of the words 'will+be+the present participle (the root verb + -ing).' The following Tense is used:

Subject + will be/shall be + the present participle (the root verb + -ing)

I'll be sleeping till around 6 a.m. tomorrow. 

They'll be playing at this time the next day.

Future Perfect Tense Rules

The Future Perfect Tense is used to indicate an action that will take place at a Future date and time. The Tense is generated by combining the words "will" and "have" with the verb's past participle. It's used for:

Subject + will have/shall have + past participle

I plan to finish the homework by Monday.

Before her father arrives, she will have cleaned the house.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense Rules

The Future Perfect Continuous Tense describes an action that will last until a Future date. It's made up of the participle will+have+been+present. It's used for:

Subject + will have been + V1 + the verb's present participle (verb root + -ing).

He'll have run for an hour on the treadmill the next day.

We'll have spent the entire winter soaking in the afternoon sun.

Future Tense Rules

The Future Tense is used to represent Future occurrences that haven't happened yet but may happen in the Future. It's a Future-Tense version of the verb that doesn't exist right now.

She'll be performing her dance to classical music.

We'll be moving to the house in upstate New York first thing tomorrow morning.

In ten minutes, the train will depart.

1. The bus ------------( to arrive) at 12:30.

2. We --------------( to have)  lunch at mountain top café.

3. Rohit --------------( to fly) to New Delhi on Wednesday evening.

4. Are you still reading that book? If you---------------( to finish) by 4 pm we can go out for ice cream.

5. I-----------( to see) my mother in May.

6. Look at the weather. It -----------------( to rain) in a few minutes.

7. Wait! I ---------------( to drive) you to the airport.

8. I’m sorry but you need to stay in the office until you __________ (to finish) your work.

9. I don’t think you __________ (to have) any problems when you land in Boston.

Will arrive

are going to have

Will fly 

Will finish

Are going to finish

FAQs on Future Tense

1. What is the Future Tense?

The Future Tense is the Future action that will happen in the upcoming events. It is designated by the verb well and defines the actions of the Future. It is divided into three categories that are simple Future Tense, continuous Future Tense, and perfect Future Tense. It can also lead to a past or present event that is yet to be done. For Example, she will cook dinner today. Here the woman will be performing a task in the Future and hence represents Future Tense.

2. What is a Simple Future Tense?

A Simple Future Tense is an event that will occur in the Future. It is information that one may deliver about themselves. For Example, he will play today-  is general information about the person and his actions in the Future. It will start and end in the Future itself. The simple Future Tense has ‘will’ in its form with the ‘past participle of the verb’. Students need to thoroughly know about past participle forms and use them in their sentences.

3. What is a Continuous Future Tense?

A Continuous Future Tense is an event that will occur in the future and will continue. It describes an ING form of action. For Example, he will be playing cricket today- is there information of an act that the player is about to perform and will continue to do for a while. It will start in the Future and continue for a few seconds. The continuous Future Tense has ‘will’ in its form with ‘be + ing form of past participle’.

4. What is a Perfect Future Tense?

A Perfect Future Tense is an event that will occur in the future and start in the present. It describes the form of ‘would plus have plus verb form’. It is one of the most complicated forms of Future Tense. For Example- I will have finished this book. The Example states the person has started reading the book in the present and will finish it in the near future. Another Example is- She will have cooked dinner- here also the woman has started cooking the dinner in the present and will complete the task in the near future.

5. Is the Future Tense helpful?

Yes, the Future Tense is very helpful. The free PDF explains the basic concepts of Future Tense. You will be able to know the simple Future Tense, continuous Future Tense, and Future perfect Tense with the help of illustrated examples. There are further categories of each Tense that can be well understood with the help of this PDF. One is required to practice daily and apply the Future Tense in their daily lives.

Writing tenses: 5 tips for past, present, future

Understanding how to use writing tenses is challenging. How do you mix past, present and future tense without making the reader giddy? What is the difference between ‘simple’ and ‘perfect’ tense? Read this simple guide for answers to these questions and more:

• Post author By Jordan
• 28 Comments on Writing tenses: 5 tips for past, present, future

What are the main writing tenses?

In English, we have so-called ‘simple’ and ‘perfect’ tenses in the past, present and future. The simple tense merely conveys action in the time narrated. For example:

Past (simple) tense: Sarah ran to the store. Present (simple) tense: Sarah runs to the store. Future (simple) tense: Sarah will run to the store

Perfect tense uses the different forms of the auxiliary verb ‘has’ plus the main verb to show actions that have taken place already (or will/may still take place). Here’s the above example sentence in each tense, in perfect form:

Past perfect: Sarah had run to the store. Present perfect: Sarah has run to the store. Future perfect: Sarah will have run to the store.

In the past perfect, Sarah’s run is an earlier event in a narrative past:

Sarah had run to the store many times uneventfully so she wasn’t at all prepared for what she saw that morning.

You could use the future perfect tense to show that Sarah’s plans will not impact on another event even further in the future. For example:

Sarah will have run to the store by the time you get here so we won’t be late.

(You could also say ‘Sarah will be back from the store by the time you get here so we won’t be late.’ This is a simpler option using the future tense with the infinitive ‘to be’.) Here are some tips for using the tenses in a novel:

1. Decide which writing tenses would work best for your story

The majority of novels are written using simple past tense and the third person:

She ran her usual route to the store, but as she rounded the corner she came upon a disturbing sight.

When you start drafting a novel or a scene, think about the merits of each tense. The present tense, for example, has the virtue of:

• Immediacy: The action unfolds in the same narrative moment as the reader experiences it (there is no temporal distance: Each action happens now)
• Simplicity: It’s undeniably easier to write ‘She runs her usual route to the store’ then to juggle all sorts of remote times using auxiliary verbs

Sometimes authors are especially creative in combining tense and POV. In Italo Calvino’s postmodern classic , If on a winter’s night a traveler ( 1979), the entire story is told in the present tense, in the second person. This has the effect of a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ novel. To rewrite Sarah’s story in the same tense and POV:

You run your usual route to the store, but as you round the corner you come upon a disturbing sight.

This tense choice is smart for Calvino’s novel since it increases the puzzling nature of the story. In If on a winter’s night a traveler , you, the reader, are a character who buys Calvino’s novel If on a winter’s night a traveler , only to discover that there are pages missing. When you attempt to return it, you get sent on a wild goose chase after the book you want.

Tense itself can enliven an element of your story’s narration. In a thriller novel, for example, you can write tense scenes in first person, present tense for a sense of danger unfolding now . Tweet This

A muffled shot. He sits up in bed, tensed and listening. Can’t hear much other than the wind scraping branches along the gutter.

2. Avoid losing clarity when mixing tenses

Because stories show us chains and sequences of events, often we need to jump back and forth between earlier and present scenes and times. This is especially true in novels where characters’ memories form a crucial part of the narrative.

It’s confusing when an author changes tense in the middle of a scene. The fragmented break in continuity makes it hard to place actions in relation to each other. For example:

Sarah runs her usual route to the store. As she turned the corner, she came upon a disturbing scene.

This is wrong because the verbs do not consistently use the same tense , even though it is clear (from context) that Sarah’s run is a continuous action in a single scene.

Ursula K. Le Guin offers excellent advice on mixing past and present in her writing manual, Steering the Craft :

It is highly probable that if you go back and forth between past and present tense, if you switch the tense of your narrative frequently and without some kind of signal (a line break, a dingbat,a new chapter) your reader will get all mixed up as to what happened before what and what’s happening after which and when we are, or were, at the moment. Ursula K. Le Guin, Steering the Craft

In short, make sure there are clear breaks between sections set in different tenses and that actions in the same timeline don’t create confusion by using different tenses for the same scene’s continuous events.

These 10 exercises for practicing tenses provide a fun way to focus on mastering the basics.

Get a professional edit for perfect tense

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3: Mix the tenses for colour and variety

Le Guin raises a good point about writing tenses. Le Guin describes the downside of telling a story almost exclusively in present tense:

It all rather sounds alike…it’s bland, predictable, risk-free. All too often, it’s McProse. The wealth and complexity of our verb forms is part of the color of the language. Using only one tense is like having a whole set of oil paints and using only pink. Le Guin, Steering the Craft

Instead mix different tenses where appropriate, but signal changes between time settings:

For example:

That morning, she had run her usual route to the store. As she turned the corner, she had come upon a disturbing scene. Apart from the glass and metal sprayed across the road like some outgoing tide’s deposit, there were what looked like two stretchers, mostly eclipsed from view by a swarm of emergency workers. Now, safely home, she decided to lie down, all the while trying to get that scene out of her mind.

Mixing the tenses can help to show the cause and effect of interlocking events. The use of the past perfect to describe the scene of an accident in the example above is effective because the past perfect shows what is already complete. It gives it an irrevocable quality, the quality of a haunting, living-on-in-memory event. Finished, but not finished in the character’s mind’s eye.

4. Practice showing shadowy past or present actions using verb forms

In addition to simple and perfect tenses, there are different ‘moods’ that show verbs as hypothetical or possible actions. In addition to the indicative mood (‘she runs to the store’) there is also the subjunctive mood (‘If she runs to the store’) and the potential mood (‘she may run to the store’).

The different moods are useful because they can show possibilities and scenarios that might have happened, or might still happen, under different circumstances. Here are examples for correct uses for each of the tenses (in active voice):

Subjunctive mood:

Present tense: If she runs to the store… Past tense: If she ran to the store… Future tense: If she should run to the store… Present perfect tense: If she has run to the store… Past perfect tense: If she had run to the store… Future perfect tense: If she should have run to the store….

Think of this mood as setting up a possibility. For example: ‘If she runs to the store, she better be quick because we’re leaving in 5.’

The potential mood helps us show shadowy, more hypothetical, uncertain scenarios:

Present tense: She may run to the store. Present perfect tense: She may have run to the store. Past perfect: She might have run to the store.

In each of these examples, the action is a possibility and the mood (using the various forms of ‘may’) shows this.

These verb moods in conjunction with tense are useful. They help us describe situations in which a narrator or character does not have full knowledge of events, or is wondering how events might pan out. They help to build suspense in the build-up to finishing a book .

5. Practice rewriting paragraphs in different tenses

It’s often easiest to get the hang of tense by doing. Pick a paragraph by an author and rewrite in each of the tenses. Here, for example, is a paragraph from David Sedaris’ essay, ‘Buddy, Can you Spare a Tie?’:

The only expensive thing I actually wear is a navy blue cashmere sweater. It cost four hundred dollars and looks like it was wrestled from the mouth of a tiger. “What a shame,” the dry cleaner said the first time I brought it in. The sweater had been folded into a loaf-sized bundle, and she stroked it, the way you might a freshly dead rabbit. David Sedaris, ‘Buddy, Can you Spare a Tie?’ , When You Are Engulfed in Flames

Rewritten in past simple tense:

The only expensive thing I actually wore was a navy blue cashmere sweater. It cost four hundred dollars and looked like it was wrestled from the mouth of a tiger. “What a shame,” the dry cleaner said the first time I brought it in. The sweater was folded into a loaf-sized bundle, and she stroked it, the way you might a freshly dead rabbit.’

Here is the same passage in past perfect:

The only expensive thing I had actually worn was a navy blue cashmere sweater. It had cost four hundred dollars and had looked like it had been wrestled from the mouth of a tiger. “What a shame,” the dry cleaner had said, the first time I brought it in. The sweater had been folded into a loaf-sized bundle, and she had stroked it, the way you might a freshly dead rabbit.

The effect is of a character describing the defining experiences before another event (before buying an even more expensive item of clothing, for example). For example, you could write ‘Before I bought that lavish suit…’ before the paragraph.

To perfect writing tenses, make your own exercises and practice rewriting extracts from your story in each tense to see the changing effect this has on your narrative.

Do you need feedback on your use of tense in a story? Get novel help from our writing community or your own, experienced writing coach.

Related Posts:

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• Tags how to write tense , tense and narration , writing tenses

Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town.

28 replies on “Writing tenses: 5 tips for past, present, future”

A fine explanation of tenses. A subject often ignored, having been overlooked except by students of language. In short, changes in tense are great aids to tension.

Thanks, Bob! It’s true that it’s not discussed as commonly as certain other topics such as characterization.

Reading such articles clear all the confusion. Thanks!

I have question though, I am writing in past tense, all the events are happening in past tense. But, say, my protagonist is in a situation where she has to decide something and she is anticipating something, in short, it’s future for her, how do we go about that.

She was still sitting on the same bench, as she didn’t want to leave the light. She was sure that ………………………………………………………………….

What I want to write here is, she knew that she will not find any cab at this hour. a. She was sure that she will not find any cab at this hour. b. She was sure that she was not going to any cab at this hour. c. She was sure that she couldn’t get a cab at this hour.

In my current scene, I am trying to show the thought process of the protagonist and I have encountered 2 or 3 places where I have come across this situation. Am I doing something wrong? Should I not come across such situation at all if I am writing in past tense?

I understand reading helps, but at this moment, my mind is blank and I am not able to recollect anything that I (must) have read.

Please suggest.

Hi Jayendra,

Thanks for your question and the feedback. Number a. would be incorrect because ‘will’ is in the simple future tense (it would be correct in ‘She is sure she will not find any cab at this hour’). B would be correct with a few small tweaks: ‘She was sure she wasn’t going to find any cab at such a late hour’ (or ‘…any cab so late at night.’) Incidentally, ‘this’ implies present, continuous time so it is a little jarring in past tense (hence the alternatives above). c. Similarly, this option would be better as ‘She was sure she wouldn’t find a cab at such a late hour.’ ‘Would not’ is the right past tense form here, in present tense it would be ‘will not’. It implies future action in relation to the present time of the narration.

I hope that helps!

Hey Bridget, thanks for your reply. It feels silly now. If I was able to come up with “could”, why couldn’t I think of “would”! 🙂

Thank you for this article. Tense has been driving me insane as it feels like there are hundreds of exceptions when it comes to usage of “simple present verbs” in past tense narratives. It makes me want to disregard the entire subject and rely on an editor to catch any mistakes that I don’t naturally leave out.

For example. When you said, “Past perfect: Sarah had run to the store.” “Run” is a present (simple) tense verb, which would make you think that it can’t be used at all in a past tense narrative, but it clearly can if you phrase it correctly. This holds true with literally dozens of other verbs, adverbs, and other “tense” related words. I’m finding my work being hampered by this as I literally stumble over myself thinking I buggered up a word in my narrative, only to later find out it was a perfectly acceptable usage. I’m really at the breaking point over this, and I’m close to just disregarding it all together and relying on pure instinct and proofreading, then review by an editor at a later date. Then of course, there’s the whole deal with acceptable tense shifting…

Am I incorrect for thinking this way? Will this kind of mindset bar me from any chance of ever getting published or even being given an offer by an agent? Is there room in this world for easily confusable writers? I don’t know, and I can’t imagine how confusing this must be for foreign speakers, either. As I’ve been speaking english all my life and writing as a hobby for nearly a decade.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. I actually do have an actual question. How do you use simple present tense usages of “being” when writing in second person past tense? Because the phrase, “You are…(whatever character’s name) comes up quite a bit. However, there’s no way to get around the fact that you have to use “are,” in the past tense continuous, and I can’t find any info on if that is correct or not.

I have a question. Would it be incorrect if my story is in first person point of view and narrated in the past tense, but the internal monologue of my narrator is in the present tense?

Ex. “Don’t you ever go anywhere else, Red?” My name isn’t Red. I can’t remember where that nickname came from. “I go to school.” I said. I could feel him rolling his eyes at me. I think he’s done that before. “Come with me today.” I looked at him then, a little puzzled. It was a bad idea and yet I said: “Okay.”

It sounds right in my head but I feel like the tenses are too all over the place to be correct. The narrator has memory problems so I want what he’s thinking to be read but I’m just not sure if this is correct. I’m more comfortable with past tense writing but should I switch to present tense?

I have the same question!

Hi Hannah, this comment slipped by, my sincere apologies for that.

Regarding your question, the tense switching does jolt the reader out of the story. If you’re more comfortable with past tense, I’d suggest putting the internal monologue in past, too. For example:

“I go to school,” I said. I could feel him rolling his eyes at me. He’d done that before.’ Similarly, for ‘I can’t remember where that nickname came form’, you could simplify it to make past tense less clunky as: ‘Where did that nickname come from?’

I hope your story is much further along now!

I’m a translator struggling with getting the past perfect correct in the story I’m working on. I find your article very helpful. Thank you 🙂

I have one question:

That morning, she had run her usual route to the store. As she turned the corner, she had come upon a disturbing scene. Apart from the glass and metal sprayed across the road like some outgoing tide’s deposit, there were what looked like two stretchers, mostly eclipsed from view by a swarm of emergency workers.

The above example sentences describe an event that had happened in the past from the narrator’s perspective, and that’s why the past perfect is used. Okay, no problem. But why isn’t everything in the past perfect? Why is it okay to leave some parts in simple past?

“As she turned the corner” instead of “As she had turned the corner” “there were what looked like two stretchers” instead of “there had been what looked two stretchers”

This is the exact issue I’m having in my story. When I put every single verb in the past perfect, the sentences sound very heavy, especially when the section describing the past event is long. But I’m not sure which parts are okay to leave in simple past.

Thank you for the feedback and for your question. You struck the exact reason there – stylistically, to put every single verb in past perfect does read clunkier and isn’t necessary. As long as there is a past-perfect verb establishing the time-frame of events, the rest of the events that are still contextually happening in the earlier time period don’t necessarily need past perfect. For example:

‘It happened last week. I had stopped by the vet shop to get my dog’s flea tablet [past perfect – prior action is established]. I was standing at the counter waiting to pay when I saw the new vet through the back entrance.’ If you wrote ‘I had been standing at the counter waiting to pay when I had seen the new vet…’ each instance of past perfect situates the action in a time period before the ‘main action’. Whereas the scene the narrator is describing is the main event unfolding after a prior action (stopping at the vet shop) situated before this encounter by past perfect tense.

There’s a useful article explaining past perfect further here: http://www.englishlessonsbrighton.co.uk/use-past-perfect-build-narratives/

Thank you so much for your quick response, Jordan! Your explanation and the link you shared are very helpful 😀

It’s a pleasure 🙂 Glad I could help! Good luck with your story.

Hi Jordan. I have a question regarding exceptions. Are there any? I’m busy writing a short and it currently starts out as “I live on the top floor of a two storey apartment complex.” I then proceed to recollect in past tense. The entire story takes place over the course of 1 night and ends with the protagonist still living there. I think – as I’m typing this out – I should probably change it to past tense right? The rest of story is written in past tense. I should treat the entire event as a recollection rather than get caught up in the fact that the protagonist is still currently living there. It just felt like I was setting it up as a “Once upon a time I lived on the top floor…” which is not really my intention. It’s part of series so “I” will still be living there. It just seemed like a nice opener using present tense. Any ideas on how I can achieve the same effect?

Thank you for sharing this interesting question. I can’t see any reason why you couldn’t begin and end on present. As long as the cuts between present and past are clear/signaled to your reader it should be fine. For example:

‘I live on the top floor of a two-storey apartment complex. You’ll know why I’ve shared this detail soon, as it connects to what I’m about to tell you about a strange event that happened two weeks ago.

I was….’

If you bookend a section in present tense this way, with a clear transition between the tenses using narration, it should be fine. The main thing with tenses is not to hop between tenses within the same narrative time-frame (for example ‘I am running down a dark street. I heard footsteps behind me.’ Here, there’s nothing to signal the passage between present and past and it’s confusing.

I hope this helps!

Hey! I’m a self-taught proofreader, not a writer myself (haven’t a creative bone in my body, sadly), and I’m having a great deal of difficulty learning present tense. Up until now, all the stories I’ve proofread have been in past tense, so I’m trying to teach myself how to correct tense errors.

However, many of the websites I’ve come across aren’t tutorials, they’re essays about why not to use present tense in fiction! Well, that’s up to the author to decide! The issue I’m having is mostly with knowing when to allow usage of past tense to go and when to correct it.

For instance, in this sentence: “Thrown by the jump in numbers, most viewers click back in the video just to double-check that Danny had indeed jumped from #3 to #6, before shrugging and continuing to watch.” I’m thinking that “had” needs to be “has”, but I’m not 100% sure. I like to be mostly sure before suggesting a change. Thanks. 🙂

Hi Tracy! Here the past perfect tense (‘had’) is acceptable because it describes an action completed before the present narrative time-frame (e.g. ‘I’m walking to the store now which had been closed this morning’ would be correct if the narrator were walking in the afternoon). If you wrote ‘I’m walking to the store now which has been closed this morning’ this would imply that it is still morning in the time of narration, due to ‘has’ here being in the present perfect tense (describing a past action or condition (‘being closed’) stretching into the present time).

‘Has’ in your example would read a little strangely as it could imply that Danny ‘has’ (in the present, continuing moment) jumped from #3 to #6.

I would say, since the video has already been recorded, that ‘had’ makes sense because Danny’s error (jumping from #3 to #6) ‘had’ been made at the time of recording, and had been viewed prior to the viewer’s realization. So both moments are squarely in the past rather than stretching into the present.

Does that make sense? 🙂 Tense will get you!

It absolutely does, thank you! I’m going to have to go back and reread certain things now, but I definitely understand this. So things that happened prior to the time frame in the story can be past tense, even in a present tense story! Thank you again, so very much, I’m trying so hard to learn this, but I just find it difficult. xD Your explanation certainly simplified it for me, though! ^_^

This post also sums up the differences very well: https://www.dailywritingtips.com/has-vs-had/

So, in short, can I use different tenses in my work of a story writing? In direct speech inverted commas are needed.Isn’t it?

MIXING PAST AND PRESENT TENSES

The following paragraph has a mixture of past and present tense. I believe it to be grammatically wrong but, to my mind, it doesn’t jar when I read it back and it gives the reader a sense of immediacy. My question is: Is it an absolute no-no or is there a degree of artist license here?

Archie flicked on the chainsaw’s master switch and pumped the primer a few times. Resting the saw on the ground he gave the cord a good hard yank. It clacked through its gears but didn’t catch. The second pull bit and snapped back stinging his fingers as it recoiled. “Son of a….” he yelped. The third pull sprung the chainsaw into life with a metallic shrill sending out a cloud of blue smoke that wafted across the laundry. Archie let it idle in a high pitched grumble and then tested it with a few pumps of the throttle that sent the chain shinning around the blade. “Seems okay” he yelled over the noise before killing the master switch. “I guess the real test will be half way through a tree.

Thank you for sharing that, there’s a great descriptive density to it and a clear sense of scene.

I’m curious as to why you think it mixes tenses? To my eyes, it’s all in past tense. You do have a participle phrase or two (e.g. ‘Resting the saw on the ground’) that provide a present/unfolding action, but these are used correctly within past tense for the overall narration (you do use it correctly to show one action that is ongoing during another – the finite verb ‘he gave…’ after that participle phrase still keeps the tense within past as expected).

It would be mixed if you had finite verbs in different tenses for events occurring in the same time-frame, e.g. ‘He rests the saw on the ground and gave the cord a good hard yank.’ This would be jarring because there would appear to be two different time-frames for actions unfolding within the same scene, thanks to present verb ‘rests’ and past verb ‘gave’. I hope this helps!

Great article, many thanks!

Brief question – when writing in the past tense, can you still use present tense for general statements? For example:

I woke up as usual at 5:47 station time when air supply unit number five, that occupied the majority of the level below our quarters, sprang into action, producing a constant humming that would last for the next eight hours. It is never completely quiet on a space station, there are always sounds, vibrations and audible movements, and you learn to live with it. It never bothered me, it was the only life I knew.

Hi Stephan, it’s a pleasure. I’m glad you found it helpful.

Thank you for sharing your question. That does scan fine. In the first instance, there is a participle phrase which creates the sense of a presently unfolding action within the past time-frame (‘producing a constant humming…’). This is correct usage.

Then the flip to present informs the reader of a general, ongoing state of affairs which is where we would use present tense. It depends on the site in time from which the narrator is speaking. If they are no longer living in the quarters when narrating this, then perhaps ‘It was never completely quiet on the space station…’ would make more sense (past tense for recounting conditions no longer being experienced). But if they are still based at the station, then present tense narration for a general state of affairs in their environment fits, as presumably it still isn’t ever completely quiet when they’re narrating this.

I hope this helps! Thanks for the great question.

Thank you for this article. I found it helpful. Both of my main characters at one point recall their dreams. Since they are recalling them, I would write them in past tense correct?

Hi Chelsea, it’s a pleasure! Not necessarily. I find authors often use present tense for this (especially if the main narration is in past tense). It would look something like:

But then I remembered the dream I had…

I’m standing in a wide, open field. I hear someone calling from the other side …

Present tense does create a sense of the unfolding moment that suits the sense of reenacting an interesting event, so personally I would lean towards that. I hope this helps. Just remember whichever tense you’re using to have a narrative link that clarifies that the narration is now crossing over into the dream description (in my example above, it’s the words ‘But then I remembered the dream I had).

Thank you for reading our blog!

Wow, This was fantastic

Hi Danny, thank you for reading our blog and for your feedback!

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The English Grammar Tenses Collection

Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses

What does TENSE Mean?

It comes from the Latin word "tempus", which means "time".

Table of Contents

Simple present, simple present story 1, simple present story 2, simple present story 3, simple present story 4, present progressive, present progressive story 1, present progressive story 2, present progressive story 3, present progressive story 4, present perfect, present perfect story 1.

Linda has just walked outside with Grandmother. She wears an apron. So far, she has finished cleaning and washing. She has also gathered seeds and crumbs.

Now Linda and Grandmother are outside. Linda has just dropped some seeds on the ground to feed the birds. The birds have not come yet.

Recently, Grandmother has moved in with Linda's family. She now enjoys living with them.

Grandmother has already sat down on the bench. She also wears an apron. She has just finished cooking.

Present Perfect Story 2

Present perfect story 3, present perfect story 4, present perfect progressive, present perfect progressive story 1, present perfect progressive story 2, present perfect progressive story 3, present perfect progressive story 4, simple past, simple past story 1, simple past story 2, simple past story 3, simple past story 4, past progressive, past progressive story 1, past progressive story 2, past progressive story 3, past progressive story 4, past perfect, past perfect story 1, past perfect story 2, past perfect story 3, past perfect story 4, past perfect progressive, past perfect progressive story 1, past perfect progressive story 2, past perfect progressive story 3, past perfect progressive story 4, simple future, simple future story 1, simple future story 2, simple future story 3, simple future story 4, future progressive, future progressive story 1 , future progressive story 2, future progressive story 3, future progressive story 4, future perfect, future perfect story 1, future perfect story 2, future perfect story 3, future perfect story 4, future perfect progressive, future perfect progressive story 1, future perfect progressive story 2, future perfect progressive story 3, future perfect progressive story 4.

Examples of English Tenses

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• 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?

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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.

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Verb Tense Consistency

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.

Throughout this document, example sentences with nonstandard or inconsistent usage have verbs in red .

Controlling shifts in verb tense

Writing often involves telling stories. Sometimes we narrate a story as our main purpose in writing; sometimes we include brief anecdotes or hypothetical scenarios as illustrations or reference points in an essay.

Even an essay that does not explicitly tell a story involves implied time frames for the actions discussed and states described. Changes in verb tense help readers understand the temporal relationships among various narrated events. But unnecessary or inconsistent shifts in tense can cause confusion.

Generally, writers maintain one tense for the main discourse and indicate changes in time frame by changing tense relative to that primary tense, which is usually either simple past or simple present. Even apparently non-narrative writing should employ verb tenses consistently and clearly.

General guideline: Do not shift from one tense to another if the time frame for each action or state is the same.

Explains is present tense, referring to a current state; asked is past, but should be present ( ask ) because the students are currently continuing to ask questions during the lecture period.

CORRECTED: The instructor explains the diagram to students who ask questions during the lecture.

Darkened and sprang up are past tense verbs; announces is present but should be past ( announced ) to maintain consistency within the time frame.

CORRECTED: About noon the sky darkened , a breeze sprang up , and a low rumble announced the approaching storm.

Walk is present tense but should be past to maintain consistency within the time frame ( yesterday ); rode is past, referring to an action completed before the current time frame.

CORRECTED: Yesterday we walked to school but later rode the bus home.

General guideline: Do shift tense to indicate a change in time frame from one action or state to another.

Love is present tense, referring to a current state (they still love it now;) built is past, referring to an action completed before the current time frame (they are not still building it.)

Began is past tense, referring to an action completed before the current time frame; had reached is past perfect, referring to action from a time frame before that of another past event (the action of reaching was completed before the action of beginning.)

Are installing is present progressive, referring to an ongoing action in the current time frame (the workers are still installing, and have not finished;) will need is future, referring to action expected to begin after the current time frame (the concert will start in the future, and that's when it will need amplification.)

Controlling shifts in a paragraph or essay

General guideline: Establish a primary tense for the main discourse, and use occasional shifts to other tenses to indicate changes in time frame.

• Rely on past tense to narrate events and to refer to an author or an author's ideas as historical entities (biographical information about a historical figure or narration of developments in an author's ideas over time).
• Use present tense to state facts, to refer to perpetual or habitual actions, and to discuss your own ideas or those expressed by an author in a particular work. Also use present tense to describe action in a literary work, movie, or other fictional narrative. Occasionally, for dramatic effect, you may wish to narrate an event in present tense as though it were happening now. If you do, use present tense consistently throughout the narrative, making shifts only where appropriate.
• Future action may be expressed in a variety of ways, including the use of will, shall, is going to, are about to, tomorrow and other adverbs of time, and a wide range of contextual cues.

Using other tenses in conjunction with simple tenses

It is not always easy (or especially helpful) to try to distinguish perfect and/or progressive tenses from simple ones in isolation, for example, the difference between simple past progressive ("She was eating an apple") and present perfect progressive ("She has been eating an apple"). Distinguishing these sentences in isolation is possible, but the differences between them make clear sense only in the context of other sentences since the time-distinctions suggested by different tenses are relative to the time frame implied by the verb tenses in surrounding sentences or clauses.

Example 1: Simple past narration with perfect and progressive elements

On the day in question...

By the time Tom noticed the doorbell, it had already rung three times. As usual, he had been listening to loud music on his stereo. He turned the stereo down and stood up to answer the door. An old man was standing on the steps. The man began to speak slowly, asking for directions.

In this example, the progressive verbs had been listening and was standing suggest action underway at the time some other action took place. The stereo-listening was underway when the doorbell rang. The standing on the steps was underway when the door was opened. The past perfect progressive verb had been listening suggests action that began in the time frame prior to the main narrative time frame and that was still underway as another action began.

If the primary narration is in the present tense, then the present progressive or present perfect progressive is used to indicate action that is or has been underway as some other action begins. This narrative style might be used to describe a scene from a novel, movie, or play, since action in fictional narratives is conventionally treated as always present. For example, we refer to the scene in Hamlet in which the prince first speaks (present) to the ghost of his dead father or the final scene in Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing , which takes place (present) the day after Mookie has smashed (present perfect) the pizzeria window. If the example narrative above were a scene in a play, movie, or novel, it might appear as follows.

Example 2: Simple present narration with perfect and progressive elements

In this scene...

By the time Tom notices the doorbell, it has already rung three times. As usual, he has been listening to loud music on his stereo. He turns the stereo down and stands up to answer the door. An old man is standing on the steps. The man begins to speak slowly, asking for directions.

In this example as in the first one, the progressive verbs has been listening and is standing indicate action underway as some other action takes place. The present perfect progressive verb has been listening suggests action that began in the time frame prior to the main narrative time frame and that is still underway as another action begins. The remaining tense relationships parallel those in the first example.

In all of these cases, the progressive or -ing part of the verb merely indicates ongoing action, that is, action underway as another action occurs. The general comments about tense relationships apply to simple and perfect tenses, regardless of whether there is a progressive element involved.

It is possible to imagine a narrative based on a future time frame as well, for example, the predictions of a psychic or futurist. If the example narrative above were spoken by a psychic, it might appear as follows.

Example 3: Simple future narration with perfect and progressive elements

Sometime in the future...

By the time Tom notices the doorbell, it will have already rung three times. As usual, he will have been listening to loud music on his stereo. He will turn the stereo down and will stand up to answer the door. An old man will be standing on the steps. The man will begin to speak slowly, asking for directions.

In this example as in the first two, the progressive verbs will have been listening and will be standing indicate ongoing action. The future perfect progressive verb will have been listening suggests action that will begin in the time frame prior to the main narrative time frame and that will still be underway when another action begins. The verb notices here is in present-tense form, but the rest of the sentence and the full context of the narrative cue us to understand that it refers to future time. The remaining tense relationships parallel those in the first two examples.

General guidelines for use of perfect tenses

In general the use of perfect tenses is determined by their relationship to the tense of the primary narration. If the primary narration is in simple past, then action initiated before the time frame of the primary narration is described in past perfect. If the primary narration is in simple present, then action initiated before the time frame of the primary narration is described in present perfect. If the primary narration is in simple future, then action initiated before the time frame of the primary narration is described in future perfect.

Past primary narration corresponds to Past Perfect ( had + past participle) for earlier time frames

Present primary narration corresponds to Present Perfect ( has or have + past participle) for earlier time frames

Future primary narration corresponds to Future Perfect ( will have + past participle) for earlier time frames

The present perfect is also used to narrate action that began in real life in the past but is not completed, that is, may continue or may be repeated in the present or future. For example: "I have run in four marathons" (implication: "so far... I may run in others"). This usage is distinct from the simple past, which is used for action that was completed in the past without possible continuation or repetition in the present or future. For example: "Before injuring my leg, I ran in four marathons" (implication: "My injury prevents me from running in any more marathons").

Time-orienting words and phrases like before, after, by the time , and others—when used to relate two or more actions in time—can be good indicators of the need for a perfect-tense verb in a sentence.

• By the time the senator finished (past) his speech, the audience had lost (past perfect) interest.
• By the time the senator finishes (present: habitual action) his speech, the audience has lost (present perfect) interest.
• By the time the senator finishes (present: suggesting future time) his speech, the audience will have lost (future perfect) interest.
• After everyone had finished (past perfect) the main course, we offered (past) our guests dessert.
• After everyone has finished (present perfect) the main course, we offer (present: habitual action) our guests dessert.
• After everyone has finished (present perfect) the main course, we will offer (future: specific one-time action) our guests dessert.
• Long before the sun rose (past), the birds had arrived (past perfect) at the feeder.
• Long before the sun rises (present: habitual action), the birds have arrived (present perfect) at the feeder.
• Long before the sun rises (present: suggesting future time), the birds will have arrived (future perfect) at the feeder.

Sample paragraphs

The main tense in this first sample is past. Tense shifts are inappropriate and are indicated in bold .

(adapted from a narrative)

Inappropriate shifts from past to present, such as those that appear in the above paragraph, are sometimes hard to resist. The writer becomes drawn into the narrative and begins to relive the event as an ongoing experience. The inconsistency should be avoided, however. In the sample, will should be would , and rise should be rose .

The main tense in this second sample is present. Tense shifts—all appropriate—are indicated in bold.

(adapted from an article in the magazine Wilderness )

This writer uses the present tense to describe the appearance of a dragonfly on a particular July morning. However, both past and future tenses are called for when she refers to its previous actions and to its predictable activity in the future.

Click here for exercises on verb tense.

Future Plans Essay

500+ words future plans essay.

Everyone has dreams and plans for the future. In our childhood, we dream of becoming a doctor, an engineer, an astronaut, etc. It’s we who really know best what we like. We know what we want in our life. Future plans can be different for different students. Below is just a sample essay that students can use for reference. This future plan essay will help students to write an effective essay on their future plans. They can also get the list of CBSE Essays on different topics for their practice. It will boost their score in English exams and also help them to participate in various essay writing competitions.

My Future Plan

I often wonder about my future as I am about to finish my schooling. There are a number of questions in my mind, and the one which mostly revolves around my mind is which profession I should choose. It is difficult for me to make a choice because I am aware that the decision will impact my entire life. I always dream of a profession that I can enjoy, that brings a challenge to me and satisfies me. I believe in a job that is like a hobby for me. I just don’t want to do the job to make money. Instead, I want to love my profession and duty. Also, my job should be such that I contribute to society and help people.

From my childhood, I always wanted to treat people and cure their diseases. So, to fulfil this dream of becoming a doctor, I have some future plans. Firstly, I have to complete my secondary schooling. Then, I have to complete my higher secondary education, and thereafter, I would like to study in a prestigious medical college and later become a doctor.

Studying medical science takes a long time. It is a difficult course and requires a tremendous amount of hard work and patience. I hope that I will be able to meet all the challenges and complete my studies well. After the completion of my studies, I would like to work in a hospital, so I can make my dream come true.

During my studies, I will have to work on different biology projects. The experience of working on these projects will give me insight into science and help me in becoming a good doctor. In addition, I also have to develop patience and diligence. During the summer vacations, I will have to work under a good doctor as an assistant nurse. It will help me to get real-life experience of how doctors work. Moreover, the learning will help me to deal with patients, nurses, doctors and staff of the hospital. It will be the best kickstart for my career as a future medical student.

As for now, I am focusing on my studies and looking forward to completing my schooling. I do have a future plan for my family. But, before that, I would like to travel the world. I want to visit different countries like America, Finland and London and travel to all the continents. After finishing my education and going on a world trip, I would like to settle down in my life. So, I will get married and would love to have a small family. I would like to have a small home in a natural and calm place where I can live and enjoy myself with my family.

Students must have found “Future Plans Essay” useful for improving their essay writing skills. Visit BYJU’S website to get the latest updates and study material on CBSE/ICSE/State Board/Competitive Exams at BYJU’S.

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Counselling

University of Virginia School of Law

Hail to the Class of 2024

Priya Kareddy, Julia Jean “JJ” Citron, Andre Earls, Daniel McCray, Kate Granruth, Haley Gorman, Casey Schmidt, Dennis Ting, Sumit Kapur, Grace Allaman, Sean Onwualu and Rachel Lia pose for photos in April. Photo by Julia Davis

Graduates and their guests will gather Sunday for commencement at the University of Virginia and the School of Law. As the community prepares for the celebration, read more about the Class of 2024 and their achievements in the stories below.

• Class of 2024 Graduation Ceremony Details
• Watch the UVA Final Exercises Livestream (9 a.m. ET)
• Watch the Law School Livestream (12:15 p.m. ET or view weather plan details )
• Meet Commencement Speaker Dasha Smith ’98

Graduate Profiles and Career Accolades

Camano Capitalized on Multiple Abilities Despite facing physical and health challenges from a significant congenital condition, Joseph Camano juggled academics, sports and music.

From the Lagoon to the Libel Show to Law Grad James Hornsby directed the school’s comedy sketch show and was involved in a host of other student activities.

Following a Dream Once Deferred, Leonard To Join Marine Judge Advocates Meet Lauren Leonard, vice president of Older Wiser Law Students and a future Marine judge advocate lawyer, who chased two deferred dreams at once at UVA Law.

23rd Powell Fellow To Address Housing Disputes Michael Pruitt will provide legal support to public benefits recipients as the 23rd Powell Fellow in Legal Services.

Zipperer Wins School’s First Immigrant Justice Corps Fellowship Grace Zipperer will serve as an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow at the Empire Justice Center in New York.

10 Students in the Class of 2024 Will Take on Roles in the Federal Government Ten students in the Class of 2024 have obtained positions with the federal government after graduation.

JAG Officers Enhance Legal Education With UVA LL.M. Degrees Already equipped with their J.D.s, five military lawyers furthered their legal education by earning master’s degrees.

Leaders and Award-Winners

Crowley, Hernandez Tragesser Receive Rosenbloom Award Casey Crowley and Sophia Hernandez Tragesser received the Law School’s 2024 Rosenbloom Award, which honors students with a strong academic record who have significantly enhanced the academic experience of their peers.

41st Annual Softball Tournament Brings Home Record $40,000 for Charity Andrew Becker ’24 was this year’s NGSL commissioner, and Sally Levin and Grace Stevens were tournament directors.

Hudson Wins Swanson Award Keegan Hudson was this year’s recipient of the Gregory H. Swanson Award, named in honor of the first Black student to attend UVA and the Law School.

Citron, Hornsby, Hudson and Putfark Named Ritter Scholars Julia Jean “JJ” Citron, James Hornsby, Keegan Hudson and Elizabeth Putfark were named the 2023-24 Ritter Scholars.

UVA Law Tax Moot Court Team Finishes Fourth Kathryn Kenny, Kathryn Peters and Riley Ries were part of this year’s International and European Tax Moot Court competition.

Jessup Moot Court Team Competes in International Rounds Daniel Elliott was part of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition team, which advanced to the international rounds.

Singsank Clinches Pickleball Title for UVA Lauralei Singsank scored the winning shot for UVA at the pickleball collegiate national championship.

Gray, Maliyekkal Win 95th Lile Moot Court Competition Sean Gray and Aquila Maliyekkal won the 95th William Minor Lile Moot Court Competition.

Adams Named Tillman Scholar Tyler Adams, a U.S. Army veteran, was named a 2023 Tillman Scholar.

Ahmad Named Inaugural Women’s Health Summer Fellow Salwa Ahmad worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the Law School’s inaugural Women’s Health Summer Fellow.

Hamilton Wins UVA Oratory Competition Peter Lee Hamilton won UVA’s third annual student oratory competition.

Flanagan Wins Notre Dame Writing Competition Caitlin Flanagan won third place in Notre Dame Law School’s Program on Church, State & Society annual writing competition.

Cerja Leads Student Bar Association Tommy Cerja IV served as president of the Student Bar Association.

Assefa Leads Virginia Law Review Biruktawit “Birdy” Assefa served as editor-in-chief of the Virginia Law Review.

Gorman Honored for Highest GPA Haley Gorman won the Carl M. Franklin Prize for earning the highest GPA after two semesters and the Jackson Walker LLP Award for the highest GPA after four semesters.

Star Witnesses – Q&As With Students

Clark Builds Relationships as Therapist, Student Ambassador Kirsten Clark, a former therapist, discussed how therapy and lawyering skills intersect, and what she enjoys about representing the school as an ambassador.

Deering Grows His Portfolio Tristan Deering explained how his international business experience drew him to corporate and tax law.

Heck on the ‘Appeal’ of Law School Hunter Heck discussed her path to law school and how she prepared for the William Minor Lile Moot Court competition.

Kijewski Bridges Generations Jordan Kijewski talked about volunteering with Madison House and working for AmeriCorps before coming to law school.

Experiences Drive Mato To Help Others Sabrina Mato explored her interest in immigration law and her interest in building bridges among student communities.

Mercado Violand Advises Governor As he was starting his law student career, Fernando Mercado Violand was appointed to the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice.

Onwualu Trades in Playbooks for Casebooks Sean Onwualu, a former Syracuse football player and sports agency extern, discussed his most interesting classes and meeting Justice Stephen Breyer.

Sharma Tackles Sovereign Debt Law Rishabh Sharma, a former math teacher and wrestling coach, said he enjoyed studying international debt law at UVA Law while also working toward a master’s in education policy.

Experiencing the Law

Gray, McNerney Win Appeal at Sixth Circuit Sean Gray and Lauren McNerney recently won their case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit through the Appellate Litigation Clinic.

Ahmad, Hallisey Explore Health Care Issues in Kenya Students — including Salwa Ahmad and Sydney Hallisey — traveled to Kenya for their annual research trip over winter break, spending seven days learning about health care rights and related issues in the East African nation.

Hild, Pritchard Win on Appeal for Ukrainian Client Harry Hild and Meg Pritchard succeeded in a federal court appeal, allowing their client to remain in the U.S. after facing deportation to Ukraine.

Students Report on Transformative UN Trip Students in the International Human Rights Law Clinic — Maya Artis, Camille Blum, Nora Logsdon and Jina Shin — traveled to the U.N. headquarters in New York for a unique learning experience.

Students Teach Business Law Classes to Incarcerated Eight students — including Io Jones, Sumit Kapur, Katherine Poppiti and Liam Zeya — participated in a pilot program teaching business law classes to incarcerated people.

Ferguson, Hachten Help Pass Mental Health Reforms Michael Ferguson and Clare Hachten of the State and Local Government Policy Clinic worked with state Sen. Creigh Deeds on bills to reform temporary detention orders, or TDOs, which allow courts to direct a law enforcement officer to take an at-risk person into custody and transport them to a specified facility for mental health treatment.

Zipperer, Human Rights Project Studies Argentina’s Post-Dirty War Justice Eight students, including Grace Zipperer, traveled to Argentina to learn about human rights initiatives in Latin America in the aftermath of a Dirty War and military dictatorship.

Ahmad, Surgil Witness Tense Dialogue at OAS General Assembly Students in the International Human Rights Law Clinic attended the Organization of American States’ 52nd General Assembly in Lima, Peru, in October. The students — including Salwa Ahmad and Sabrina Surgil — recounted some of what they experienced there.

Ratliff, Stein Practice To Be Lawyers In this photo essay, William “Trey” Ratliff and Elizah Stein competed in first-year oral arguments.

When They Were First-Years

Ahmad, Keck Receive Virginia Public Service Scholarships Salwa Ahmad and Molly Keck were the 2021 recipients of the Virginia Public Service Scholarship.

First-Year UVA Law Students Receive Top Scholarship for Leadership Learn about five students — Jacob Baltzegar, Kayla Duperrouzel, Ricardo Hughes, Zain Imam and Lauralei Singsank — who received a Karsh-Dillard Scholarship.

Class of 2024 Sets Records in Academic Strength, Diversity Meet five 1Ls profiled among the entering class: Michael Martinez, Julie Mardini, Biruktawit “Birdy” Assefa, Tom Harrigan and Sam Bennett.

Scalia Carries on Family Tradition For incoming student Megan Scalia, pursuing a J.D. wasn’t a foregone conclusion.

Incoming Law Student Gained Insights on Justice as TV News Reporter TV news journalist Dennis Ting unclips his microphone to join the incoming first-year class.

Incoming Law Student Aims To Help Fellow Soldiers Army officer William “Trey” Ratliff came to UVA Law with plans to join the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps — and later fulfilled his goal .

Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, Virginia is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service.

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Up-and-Coming European Producers Pitch Their Projects in Cannes (EXCLUSIVE)

By Leo Barraclough

Leo Barraclough

International Features Editor

• German Film Business Eyes Funding Revamp Warily: ‘Time Is Running Out’ 12 hours ago
• Up-and-Coming European Producers Pitch Their Projects in Cannes (EXCLUSIVE) 12 hours ago
• France TV Distribution Closes Deals for ‘The Victoria System,’ Starring Damien Bonnard, Jeanne Balibar (EXCLUSIVE) 24 hours ago

European Film Promotion is playing host at the Cannes Film Festival to 20 up-and-coming European producers, selected for its Producers on the Move program. Variety invited the producers to share details of their upcoming projects.

Katharina Posch, Austria “I’m Not Here to Make Friends” Director: Julia Niemann “I’m Not Here to Make Friends” is a sleek and sunny psycho thriller about a reality TV show set on a remote island. Playing with elements of horror and satire it asks the question: Why do we want to be seen so badly?

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Kalin Kalinov, Bulgaria “Axis of Life” Director: Atanas Hristoskov “Axis of Life” is an English-language dystopian drama. Danish actor Lars Simonsen (“The Bridge,” 2013) is entrusted with the lead role while Clive Russell (“Game of Thrones”) and Italian actress Marina Suma are also part of the cast. The project is in post-production.

Tibor Keser, Croatia “Spacehead” Directors: Marina Andree Škop, Vanda Raýmanová Siblings Milan, 13, and Alice, 10, move to an isolated house in the countryside to support Milan with his autistic episodes. When their parents mysteriously disappear, Alice seeks help from local kids, introducing them to her extraordinary brother. Together, they embark on a life-changing detective adventure – live action meets animation, intended for young cinemagoers.

Tonia Mishiali, Cyprus “Maya” Director: Tonia Mishiali Rebellious psychiatrist Maya visits her family’s isolated village for the first time, only to enter a patriarchal microcosm complete with superstitions and fables of goblins in the woods. She is soon led to big discoveries about the myths and… herself.

Delphine Schmit, France “Three Times Jenny” Director: Milena Beurer-Doenst A drama set in the fashion industry, following the journey of a young model in three episodes of her life, from rural France to the Paris fashion week, ending as a low-class model in China, where she understands the darker truths existing behind the glamour.

Fabian Driehorst, Germany “Struwwel” (animation) Director: Frédéric Schuld “Struwwel” is the nickname of an 11-year-old girl. After many years, she re-discovers the book her father once wrote for her when she was little. Magic happens, time stands still, and she gets an incredible Super-Weakness: statically charged, her hair stands on end, but she can’t touch anyone without hurting them. “Struwwel” is an animation feature for the whole family and inspired by Germany’s most famous picture book “Struwwelpeter.”

Maria Kontogianni, Greece “Hystera” Director: Asimina Proedrou The lives of three Greek women in Athens intertwine as a series of incidents makes them radically question their identity, in a story about motherhood, gender roles and breaking free.

Sara Nassim, Iceland “200 Kópavogur” Director: Grímur Hákonarson Grímur Hákonarson, who won Cannes’ Un Certain Regard in 2015 with “Rams,” delivers a 1960s-set story about two brothers who are some of the first inhabitants of a new suburban town in Iceland. The film follows them as they build themselves a house from the ground up. One day the older brother asks his younger brother for a favor, a favor that is going to have a deep impact on both of their lives.

Evan Horan, Ireland “Breed” Director: Kate Dolan “Breed” tells the story of Jess and Emer, a young lesbian couple, who travel back to Emer’s rural hometown to see her dying father. However, shortly after they arrive Jess discovers she’s pregnant, with no idea how that’s possible.

Giedrė Žickytė, Lithuania “A Tale of Two Mothers” Director: Giedrė Žickytė The remarkable story of a woman marked to die, but who survived with honor and dignity, guided by the love and faith instilled by her two mothers—one lost to the Nazis, the other to the Soviet Gulag.

Katarzyna Ozga, Luxembourg “Droneland” (series) Showrunner: Nicolas Steil, Sigi Kamml In a European future where citizens are under constant surveillance by thousands of drones, two Europol agents investigate the mysterious murder of a politician and uncover a devious conspiracy threatening to shake the European Union to its core.

Angela Nestorovska, North Macedonia “Tenant” Director: Marko Gjokovikj When a charismatic and controlling roommate’s true nature is unveiled, three friends are drawn into a tense battle of psychological warfare, uncovering dark secrets within themselves as they fight for their individuality and freedom.

Isabel Machado, Portugal “Postcards for the Future” Directors: Christine Reeh-Peters, Isabel Machado “Postcards for the Future” is a kaleidoscopic film essay blending real footage and AI-crafted animation, inspired by Donna Haraway’s insights and her visionary “Camille Stories,” about a future of responsibility to inhabit the multispecies place called Terrapolis.

Dragana Jovović, Serbia “In the Shadow of the Horns” Director: Ognjen Glavonić The second feature fiction by Ognjen Glavonić, following “The Load,” which played in Directors’ Fortnight in 2018. During his last year of high school, Vuk is trying to record an album with his black metal band and maintain a shaky friendship with his best friend, Igor. They try to overcome the prejudices and condemnation emanating from their environment.

Wanda Adamík Hrycová, Slovak Republic “Flight from Kabul” Director: Sahraa Karimi Zibaa, a successful Afghan filmmaker, is planning her wedding with Samir but their plans are horribly destroyed when the Taliban unexpectedly seize Kabul. Because Zibaa’s life is at risk, Samir suggests escaping to the conservative south. Zibaa’s sister-in-law begs her to save her nieces and flee the country. Caught between her love and the girls’ future, Zibaa has only one hour to decide.

Eva Åkergren, Sweden “The Curse – A Love Story” Director: Amanda Kernell Eva Åkergren is working on Amanda Kernell’s third feature film. With this film they return to Sápmi and follow a young female reindeer herder during her first year after her father’s death.

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White House Says Israel Still Has Provided No Plan to Protect Rafah Civilians

The national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, also said Israel had yet to connect its military operations to a plan for the future governance of Gaza.

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By David E. Sanger and Zach Montague

• May 13, 2024

President Biden’s national security adviser said on Monday that while the United States was committed to Israel’s defense, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government had still failed to provide the White House with a plan for moving nearly a million Gazans safely out of Rafah before any invasion of the city.

In a lengthy presentation to reporters, the adviser, Jake Sullivan, also said Israel had yet to “connect their military operations” to a political plan for the future governance of the Palestinian territory.

Mr. Sullivan, who has been at the center of the administration’s response to the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel and its aftermath, described in detail the administration’s objectives in intervening to achieve a cease-fire and a return of hostages, including Americans, still in the hands of Hamas. But beneath repeated expressions of support for Israel, he made clear Mr. Biden’s frustration in dealings with Mr. Netanyahu, after a series of heated conversations between the two men.

Mr. Sullivan insisted that the only weapons Mr. Biden was withholding from the Israelis were 2,000-pound bombs, for fear that the U.S. munitions, which can level whole city blocks, would be employed by Israel in its effort to rout Hamas leaders from their tunnel network, deep under the city.

The United States, he noted, was still sending defensive weapons, and a range of offensive arms that did not run the risk of major civilian casualties.

“We still believe it would be a mistake to launch a major military operation into the heart of Rafah that would put huge numbers of civilians at risk without a clear strategic gain,” Mr. Sullivan said. “The president was clear that he would not supply certain offensive weapons for such an operation, were it to occur.”

But he insisted it “has not yet occurred,” despite heightened bombing around the city, and said the United States was “still working with Israel on a better way to ensure the defeat of Hamas everywhere in Gaza, including in Rafah.”

Nonetheless, House Republicans are planning to push through a bill that would rebuke Mr. Biden for pausing the shipments of the 2,000 pound bombs. It would be a symbolic move — there is no way the bill would pass the Democratic-controlled Senate — but appeared to be part of an effort to turn the arms holdup into an election-year issue; many Democrats had been urging Mr. Biden to suspend or limit arms sales to Israel.

The vote is designed to split Democrats on an issue that has been cleaving the party and serve as another way for Republicans to present themselves as the true friends of Israel.

Representative Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, called Mr. Biden’s arms holdup a “disastrous policy decision” that was also “deliberately hidden from Congress and the American people.”

As recently as eight days ago, the State Department was still arguing that the weapons holdup was a technical matter. But after word leaked out, Mr. Biden himself acknowledged, in an interview on CNN, that he had made the decision.

When Mr. Sullivan said the United States was still working with Israel on a way to deal with terrorists in Rafah, he appeared to be referring to a series of tense interactions with the Israelis about alternatives to a full-scale invasion. Those largely center on targeted counterterrorism operations, similar to how Israel dealt with hunting down the perpetrators of the Munich Olympics terror attack in 1972.

Mr. Sullivan refused to discuss recent reports saying United States intelligence officials suspected that Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s most senior official in Gaza, was no longer in Rafah. But he acknowledged that if Mr. Sinwar had moved his base of operations elsewhere, the attack on the southern city made even less sense.

He was most blistering about Israel’s inability, seven months after the initial terrorist attack, to develop a plan for how Gaza would be administered after the war was over, or how to link their military assaults on Gaza to political objectives.

“We’re talking to Israel about how to connect their military operations to a clear strategic end game, about a holistic, integrated strategy to ensure the lasting defeat of Hamas and a better alternative future for Gaza and for the Palestinian people,” he said.

The failure of Israel’s current approach, he said, was made evident by the fact that areas in the North that were previously bombed have seen a return of Hamas, which ruled over Gaza, if often corruptly, for many years. He suggested the administration feared the same would happen in Rafah and elsewhere unless the military action was linked to a credible plan for Palestinian governance.

Annie Karni contributed reporting.

David E. Sanger covers the Biden administration and national security. He has been a Times journalist for more than four decades and has written several books on challenges to American national security. More about David E. Sanger

Zach Montague is based in Washington. He covers breaking news and developments around the district. More about Zach Montague

Our Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War

News and Analysis

The Biden administration has told Congress that it intends to move forward with a plan for the United States to sell more than $1 billion in new weapons to Israel .

Biden’s national security adviser said that Israel has still not provided the White House  with a plan for moving nearly a million Gazans safely out of Rafah before any invasion of the city.

Israelis gathered  across the country for the first national day of mourning since the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks, with protesters disrupting several ceremonies .

A Key Weapon: When President Biden threatened to pause some weapons shipments to Israel if it invaded Rafah, the devastating effects of the 2,000-pound Mark 84 bomb  were of particular concern to him.

A Presidential Move: Ronald Reagan also used the power of American arms to influence  Israeli war policy. The comparison underscores how much the politics of Israel have changed in the United States since the 1980s.

Netanyahu’s Concerns: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, under pressure from all sides, is trying to reassure his many domestic, military and diplomatic critics. Here’s a look at what he is confronting .

Al Jazeera Shutdown: The influential Arab news network says it will continue reporting from Gaza and the West Bank, but its departure from Israel is a new low in its long-strained history with the country .