Questions tagged [future-constructions]

The English language doesn't have an explicit future tense, which means future constructions are effected through other means, including modal verbs, going-to structure, and futurive non-past. Any question regarding the future aspect of English should use this tag.

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Continuity verbs

I know that we have some verbs which naturally convey the idea of continuity for instance "work" I could say 1 I will have worked for 2 years by May 2 I will have been working for 2 years by ...
Bob's user avatar
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Future perfect continuous 2

1 I will have done it by Monday 2I will have been doing it by Monday Both are correct. 1 shows that something is done before Monday and 2 that is continuous to Monday or maybe even later. Is this ...
Bob's user avatar
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Future perfect continuous 1

Is there any difference between these two 1 I will have been teaching for 20 years this summer 2 I will have taught for 20 years this summer 3 By the time you come back I will have been reading this ...
Bob's user avatar
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It won't have BEEN millions... (making assumptions about the past)

I am still unsure about when to use 'would' and when 'will' while making conjectures about the events in the past. Is the difference merely in the degree of certainty? Besides, I am not sure what ...
sanya6's user avatar
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Future tenses in

We can use the future simple to show that one action will happen after another for example "When she comes I will tell her the truth" We can use the future continuous to show that two ...
Bob's user avatar
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Is it correct to use "would" in the context provided?

Is it grammatically possible to use both "would come" and "was coming" in the context below: Earlier, the temperature had fallen. And now clouds began moving in. I knew a storm ...
Appolinaria's user avatar
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Long actions with continuous

1 When I was little I went to school 2 When I was little I was going to school My friend who's a native told me that when I state general information about my childhood 1 is idiomatic and 2 could ...
train bee 282's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
241 views

If we must take the train to the place, we will have to wake up early that day. - "Should" in if-clause to mean "have to"?

Example 1 If we have to take the train to the place, we will have to wake up early that day. Example 2 If we must take the train to the place, we will have to wake up early that day. Example 3 If ...
vincentlin's user avatar
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1 vote
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Future simple vs continuous

1 When I reitre I will be planting plants 2 When I reitre I will plant plants Are both versions correct and naturl? I'm asking because my teacher clamis that with so long actions such as "...
train bee 282's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
68 views

I will tell him what my schedule "is/will be" like - the differences?

Example 1 I will tell him what my schedule will be like. Example 2 I will tell him what my schedule is like. My analysis: I will tell him (future time 1) what my schedule will be (future time 2)...
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I will decide whether I (will) approach him at the food court or not. - differences in meaning?

Example 1 I will decide whether I approach him at the food court or not. Example 2 I will decide whether I will approach him at the food court or not. What are the differences in meaning? Does ...
vincentlin's user avatar
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What is the difference between "will", "be going to" and present continuous when expressing something in the future? [closed]

Are all of these sentences grammatically correct? Have all of them exactly the same meaning? Anita is taking an English exam tomorrow. Anita is going to take an English exam tomorrow. Anita will take ...
Mohamad Mohseni Ahuii's user avatar
1 vote
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Specific and general possibility in the future

I study English grammar using a grammar book. There is a unit about modal verbs. The unit includes seven topics. Three of them are the most difficult for me. They are about ability, possibility and ...
Artem Malyshev's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
129 views

"Over the coming months, the giraffes range far and wide." - Why is the sentence not in a future tense, despite having "over the coming months"?

"Over the coming months, the giraffes range far and wide." BBC - Giraffes released into new home (see:3:18-3:23) As we know, "Over the coming months ...." clearly refers to future, ...
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In two hours, he <will deliver><will have delivered> it

Please, help me understand how these verbs work in English. Should I use the simple or the perfect aspect to talk about the final moment of the actions (when the intended effect comes in power)? ...
IlyaTretyakov's user avatar
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They'll deliver it in two hours. (meaning, we'll have this in two hours)

Browsing through an online store, a girl points at a certain item and says, "Wow, let's order this! They(or A courier) 'll deliver it in two hours (meaning, two hours from now, if we do order it ...
IlyaTretyakov's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
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Be going to grammar

Can I omit the phrase in brackets? If I had known (that) he wasn't going (to be) here,... My teacher said that the answer should be 'If I had known that he wasn't going here'. I guess that because of ...
ChemistryLearner's user avatar
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1 answer
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How long will you be drinking your tea for? [closed]

Your friend is drinking (a cup of) tea. You know she'll be free after that. You want to know how long she'll be engaged in this (so that you know when she'll be free). Please tell me which of these ...
IlyaTretyakov's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

"It'll be the first time he has met his dad." / "........ he meets his dad." / ".........he'll meet his dad."

This is from a TV show in which a family reunites 14 years after. And the son, Zach, along with mom, are waiting at the airport for the father to show up. At that time, the presenter says: It'll be ...
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Can we use "later" for a future sense like this one: "I will start cooking a little later."

I know that we use "in" rather than "later" for future tense, such as "I will graduate in 6 months" rather than "I will graduate 6 months later". But when it ...
Yunus's user avatar
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"we will have picked you up in two hours”

Put the verbs into correct forms OK, we _______ (leave) you here and _______ (pick) you up in two hours when we _______ (get) back from the town centre. My answer and analysis: OK, we will leave ...
Ahmad Mohammad's user avatar
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1 answer
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Present perfect progressive or future: "have been saving up" or "going to save up"?

Put the verbs in brackets into a suitable tense form I ______ (save up) for three years because I want to buy a guitar. Although there is a period mentioned, yet I think using the present perfect ...
Ahmad Mohammad's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
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I will ask the staff member whether I (will) have applied for the test. - with or without "will"?

Background info: I asked a staff member to help me to key my info into the computer so I would be able to sit a test. A: Hey, have you applied for the test? (1) Me : I asked a staff member to do it ...
vincentlin's user avatar
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see things I happen to like

a. I'm looking at dresses I've never seen before. I might see something I'll happen to like. b. I'm looking at dresses I've never seen before. I might see something I happen to like. Is there any real ...
azz's user avatar
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Are the tenses well chosen?

Question to a seller over the phone 1 Could you let me know when this book will be in stock? Answer It will be in stock next Monday So I will order it on Monday when it is in stock Question to a ...
Yves Lefol's user avatar
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so that + Present / Future

wordreference.com: (1a) I’ll post the CD today so that you get it by the weekend. (1b) I’ll post the CD today so that you will get it by the weekend. wordreference.com: (2a) How do I transform a ...
Loviii's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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"I'll see that the problem <is> <will be> dealt with."

thefreedictionary.com: (1) I'll see that the problem is dealt with. my variant: (2) I'll see that the problem will be dealt with. To me, (1) is wrong because, as far as I understand its meaning, ...
Loviii's user avatar
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1 vote
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Use of "will" + infinitive for recurring activities/habits [closed]

While listening to Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero", I came across the line I'll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror (lyric video) which I intuitively understand to mean that she ...
TAR86's user avatar
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Mrs. Johnson tell me that it (will take/ takes / must take / has taken) two more months to complete the project

This is a question from the entrance exam of a certain university in Tokyo. You are supposed to choose the most appropriate phrase out of the four, but it confuses me. Mrs. Johnson tells me that it (...
kuwabara's user avatar
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1 answer
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Future Simple vs Future Continuous

What is the difference between these two sentences? (Additional question: Do I have to change the preposition, "in" to "by"?) The factory will produce five million cars a year in ...
dmjy's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
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The difference between ways of talking about the future

There are many ways of talking about the future. Context: I just want to let my friend know about this trip. We are visiting X city next week. (present continuous) We are going to visit X city next ...
LE HANH's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
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will vs. be doing vs. be going to [closed]

Q1. Which is the most natural after "My suitcase is very heavy"? "I’ll carry it for you." "I’m carrying it for you." "I’m going to carry it for you." Q2. ...
Juju's user avatar
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1 answer
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Is or was? Which one is suitable?

I have question about is or was this this situation. Please help me! The museum I went to yesterday is very beautiful. The museum I went to yesterday was very beautiful. Which one is correct? Thank ...
Hồ Duy Lợi's user avatar
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0 answers
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Simple Future vs Future Perfect

(1) I will finish the work in two hours. (2) I will have finished the work in two hours. There is a deadline of two hours. Are the two sentences correct and the same without any difference in ...
Sandip Kumar Mandal's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
65 views

"He said that if it <rained / rains> <tomorrow / the next day>, he <would / will> not go to the beach."

All sentences are mine: (1) If it rains tomorrow, he will not go to the beach. If "tomorrow" remains after backshift, it means tomorrow has not yet come, so backshift is optional. That is: ...
Loviii's user avatar
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"this is going to be the first time" + future simple

I hear that the future simple is not to be used with the "This is going to be the first time" This is going to be the first time I will drive a truck. wrong Natives say it should be: This is ...
user1425's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
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Is 'make sure no one knows you are playing this game' grammatically weird?

In some websites, there are sticky ads with slogans like these: Close the door tight and start playing this game! Make sure no one knows you are playing this game! The second sentence sounds kind of ...
Michael's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
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the difference with "if" sentences with "will"

"I'll order from you if It will be in stock" Gotube gave me this example here to show me that "will" was possible with if sentences, he said that in this case the condition was not ...
Yves Lefol's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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“If it is or is going to be/ will be in stock”

Now, I will first check if the CD I'd like to buy is or is going to be in your stock before ordering in the USA. Now, I will first check if the CD I'd like to buy is or will be in your stock before ...
Yves Lefol's user avatar
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6 votes
4 answers
1k views

Can we use "will" to describe future plans?

I was watching this video which says (at 0:55) we cannot use "will" to describe future plans because plans are not certain and we only should use "will" when we are certain about ...
alireza's user avatar
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2 answers
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Is there a difference in meaning between "I choose" and "I'll choose" when making a decision in the process of speaking?

Would you tell me if there is a difference in meaning between I choose and I'll choose when making a decision in the process of speaking? For example: Person A: We have two tablets of that brand. One ...
Dmytro O'Hope's user avatar
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"So that he will do" (future tense) or "so that he does" (present tense)

You must be sure to tell him this so that he will do it. You must be sure to tell him this so that he does it. Do these two sentences mean same? I am getting problem use of tenses after so that or ...
user avatar
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1 answer
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"Present continuous "or "going to" here

she is working/going to work in June and July as a nurse in a hospital in Roma. She will be helping old people .She found this job yesterday. Can I use present continuous in this case? It is a future ...
Yves Lefol's user avatar
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1 vote
3 answers
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I can't understand how this sentence is grammatically correct: "I miss my dad more than I will miss anything."

The following sentences are given as correct examples regarding Sequence of tense I miss my dad more than I missed anything. I miss my dad more than I will miss anything. I can't really understand the ...
Yunus's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
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Which one is more natural: "the light isn't turning on" or "the light won't turn on"?

Can you please tell me which one is more natural: the light isn't turning on or the light won't turn on? For example: The light in the bathroom isn't turning on, so I guess I need to go out to buy a ...
Dmytro O'Hope's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
49 views

The future simple vs. the future continuous in context

Can you please tell me if there is any difference in meaning between the future simple and the future continuous in the sentence below. The courier will drop off your order in 30 minutes and he will ...
Dmytro O'Hope's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
63 views

Difference between "will be doing" and "will do"

I've just learned the grammar of "will be doing" and I was trying to make sentences with that. But I got confused with the difference between "will do" and "will be doing"...
Mina's user avatar
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1 answer
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Future tense in the if-clause

I've heard it is not impossible to have the future tense in the if-clause of a conditional, but it is not common. I wonder which of the following statements sounds more natural. Even if AI algorithms ...
H D's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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nuance of "I will..." and "He will..."

I feel the meanings of "will" in the sentences below might be slightly different. I will buy a new car which is made in Italy. My father will buy a new car which is made in Italy. I think ...
Nigutumok's user avatar
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I’m confused about “will have to” and “has to.” Which do I use in this sentence?

“At every certain hour of the day, the surgeon ___ inspect the blood pressure of the patients.” To fill in the blank, should I write will have to or has to? Which is the most correct writing? Thank ...
skywalker's user avatar