Questions tagged [future-tense]
The future tense is a verbal construction that marks the event described by the verb as not having happened yet.
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In-depth explanation of the difference between “will” and “going to”?
Background
My wife and I take English classes provided by our companies, so we have different teachers. So now it happened that we had the same topic: future.
Both teachers are native English speakers,...
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votes
2answers
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“When I grow up, I am going to be a doctor”- Is it correct?
When I grow up, I am going to be a doctor.
Is this sentence correct? Personally I think my growing up will happen in future and "I am going to be a doctor" sounds like it is going to happen in next ...
13
votes
2answers
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Some of you will have met me before vs Some of you met me before
I really do not get how "will" and past infinitive is used here. This comes from an example in a textbook, explaining usage of will in assumptions:
Some of you will have met me before.
I wonder, ...
5
votes
3answers
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Can the Past Continuous be used for future events?
I am taking Spanish classes next week.
Despite that it is Present Continuous, it tells us about the future. But if I put it to the past, will it retain its meaning?
That day I started new life. I ...
3
votes
1answer
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“Will” vs “going to” vs present continuous
Would you please tell me which tenses are suitable here?
... the sun (KEEP) burning forever?
Sometime in the next twenty-five years, a spaceship with a human crew (LAND) on Mars.
My grammar book ...
1
vote
1answer
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“is getting” vs “will get”
Are there difference between those sentences?
Alex is getting married next month.
Alex will get married next month.
Seems that the first one is expressed in present continues, and the ...
6
votes
4answers
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How to say that you have plans to go to the movies tonight?
How to say that you have plans to go to the movies tonight (but you are not sure yet, maybe you will have a pizza)? I mean there are options:
I am going to the cinema tonight.
Way too much ...
5
votes
3answers
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“While” and “When” phrases in the future tense
When I am using the future tense, why do "while" and "when" clauses have to be in the present tense?
For instance,
"While I am eating you will be speaking on the phone"
and
"I will be ...
3
votes
4answers
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Future Simple and Future Perfect
I've read the question about Future Simple and Future Perfect, but I still can't understand the exact usage of these two tenses.
Is there any diffrence between the following?
I will do my homework ...
4
votes
3answers
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Using the future tense in a sentence containing a dependent clause starting with “when”
Which of the following sentences is correct?
When we know what she decides, we will see what to do.
When we will know what she decides, we see what to do.
When we will know what she decides, ...
5
votes
4answers
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Does “to” refer to a future event
I stuck at page 338, Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Here's an excerpt,
Certainty adjective controlling subject-to-subject raising
1.[The government] is unlikely to meet ...
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votes
2answers
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Using Simple present tense for future event / Plan / Schedule
Can we use simple present tense to communicate our future plans? Actually recently I read some strange sentences like,
a) The plane arrives at 18.00 tomorrow.
b) She has a yoga class tomorrow ...
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votes
4answers
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Why can't you say don't instead of won't?
Our textbook says,
A: "I have to go shopping this afternoon."
B: "Don't forget the bread."
A: "No, I won't."
About the last sentence, why can't you say "No, I don't."?
i.e. Why is "No, I don'...
2
votes
2answers
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Why must the future tense not be used after 'unless'?
[Source:] !! Do not use the future tense after unless
[✓] I won't go unless you go
[✘] [I won't go] unless you will go. [✘]
Why not? Even if the above is prescriptive, what may be some reasons? ...
12
votes
2answers
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Why is the present simple tense used for an event that is in the future?
I would like to know the difference between "be going to," the present continuous, and the present simple. We use one of them when we talk about future, but I can't differentiate them. For example:
...
11
votes
2answers
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Why is 'what will you do tomorrow evening' incorrect?
‘What will you do / are you doing tomorrow evening?’ ‘Nothing.
I’m free.’ (Essential Grammar in Use)
The book says ‘are you doing’ is correct. But I don’t know why ‘will you do’ is not correct?
3
votes
1answer
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The usage of the present simple for the future actions
I've got a bunch of examples dealing with the same issue. I have had some opinions on them but some of the opinions are controversial. So, I hope to get a better picture from you. The issue deals with ...
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vote
2answers
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difference: be going; will
It’s not easy to discern which to choose among ‘be going to’ and ‘will’ to express a near future plan or intention. I’m going to bring up two cases.
[A] In a situation that when one says “Oh, I’m hot,...
2
votes
3answers
761 views
Present tenses with future reference
Consider this short dialogue please.
Alex: Hey, Mark, we are having a party on Saturday, do you want to come?
Mark: Thanks Alex, but I can't. I will be studying both Saturday and Sunday, because ...
4
votes
2answers
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Exercise from a test
I was taking an English test and I haven't know which sentence is wrong. could you help me out?
a) The telephone is ringing. I will go to answer it.
b) I feel like going dancing tonight. Would ...
3
votes
1answer
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Does “Pope to meet U.S. bishops” use the word “to” to emphasize?
Does this news article title use the word "to" to emphasize?
Pope to meet U.S. bishops amid sex abuse scandal, allegations of Vatican coverup
2
votes
1answer
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It will be delivered after it [ is | was | will be ] inspected?
I have a problem understanding the difference between these sentences. Before new chapter in my English book I was kind of ok with all three sentences, but now I'm having trouble understanding them ...
2
votes
2answers
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Use of shall with “I and we”
I _ meet my friend tomorrow.
Usually shall is used with first person: I and we.
So, in the above sentence is it fair to use shall in the blank.
Actually my book mentioned the answer as Will, ...
2
votes
1answer
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“I go to school tomorrow” to imply that I will attend school tomorrow
"I go to school tomorrow" to imply that I will attend school tomorrow. Is the aforementioned expression within inverted commas correct?
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vote
2answers
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When to use “be going to” / present continuous in future? [duplicate]
In our lesson we have
Be going to
future plans (personal)
prediction based on something we can see or hear
Present continuous
future arrangement
fixed plan
Is this right? Can someone explain this ...
0
votes
1answer
133 views
“will have become” vs “are”
I've stumbled upon a sentence:
We can use it until better alternatives will have become available.
Although it sounds valid to me, I believe it conveys the same idea as
We can use it until ...
0
votes
1answer
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'Will' vs 'Must'
He will have painted the walls by tomorrow.
He must have painted the walls by yesterday.
Does each one have two different connotations?
So, if we have four different likelihood meanings, would ...
6
votes
4answers
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“I will be loving you 'til we're 70” vs. “I will love you 'til we're 70”
From Ed Sheeran's song Thinking Out Loud:
And, darling, I will be loving you 'til we're 70
Why is it not
And, darling, I will love you 'til we're 70
?
Why is progressive used here?
9
votes
6answers
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Which sentence is most appropriate? “Next year Anny and I {will have been / will be} married for 25 years”
Which sentence would be most appropriate?
Next year Anny and I will have been married for 25 years.
Next year Anny and I will be married for 25 years.
(this sentence came out of a grammar book. I ...
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votes
5answers
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Using “will” vs “be going to” [duplicate]
It is a very confusing concept, when to use "will" or "be going to". Both of them refer to the future but there is a slight difference. One of the differences that I have found and ...
4
votes
1answer
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Is it possible to use 'shall' for intentions? is PEU wrong here?
M.swan PEU (3rd edition-unit:217) says,
" Topic: announcing decisions: will
We often use will when we tell people about a decision as we make it.for instant if we're agreeing to do something.
&...
2
votes
1answer
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what is the difference between “ when it rains” and “when it is going to rain”
I will buy an umbrella when it rains.
I will buy an umbrella when it is going to rain.
What is the difference between the first one and the second one?
Besides, can I change it to "when it is ...
6
votes
5answers
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Does 'will' *really* mark future reference?
I just heard that will doesn't mark future reference, even though in teaching English it's highly comfortable to think of it as so.
I will find a way to neutralize the bomb.
I'm going to speak ...
4
votes
4answers
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May I use “will” in an “if” clause?
Which is of the following sentence is correct?
If you sit here 10 minutes, I will tell the manager you have been here for an hour.
If you will sit here 10 minutes, I will tell the manager you ...
3
votes
1answer
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The simple present for future? [duplicate]
I did search on the internet. but I couldn't still understand well how to use simple present for future. every grammar book says "simple present is used for events in the future which are 'timetabled, ...
2
votes
4answers
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'will submit' or 'will be submitting'
Which one is appropiate?
I will submit my assignments by tonight
I will be submitting my assignments by tonight.
I want to express that before the end of the day, I will submit my assignments.
3
votes
2answers
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“I will be” or “I'm going to be” [duplicate]
Let's say someone doesn't feel fine at the moment when another person asks how he feels. But he's sure that he should feel better soon - which one is correct:
"I will be fine"
or
"I'm going to ...
3
votes
3answers
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'We are having a party this evening' - Why do we use the present continuous?
I have a sentence:
We are having a party this evening.
I don't know why we use present continuous. In grammar, we don't use having for possess.
3
votes
1answer
192 views
“I will have somebody + inf”
I have this sentence on a paraphrasing exercise
I'll ask Peter to help me move the furniture
I have to use the word give in this sentence
I will have Peter __________ moving the furniture
I ...
2
votes
1answer
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It is getting expired, will expire or will be expired?
I want to say that someone's contract Is going to end on February 2019.
Can I use below patterns?
It is getting expired on February 2019.
It will expire on February 2019.
It will be ...
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vote
2answers
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'Will be' vs 'will have been done' by [deadline]
I don't think there is any difference, either in choice of grammar or meaning, between, e.g.,
'Everything will be done by Tuesday.'
'Everything will have been done by Tuesday.'
except for the ...
1
vote
1answer
508 views
Will or Be Going To
They ....... (play) golf this afternoon.
I'm bored, I think I ....... (do) a crossword puzzle.
They are making a lot of noise. They .......... (wake) the baby.
You've got a bad cold. I .......
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vote
2answers
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Hope + future tense (will) / Hope + present tense
I have been told that I can't say "I hope I get this job (for example)", instead of it I should say "I hope I will get this job".
Here's my question: does it make difference (cuz I feel like it does);...
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votes
1answer
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Would you please explain readily the difference between these?
Once I make another cake, I will have possessed 3 cakes.
Once I make another cake, I will possess 3 cakes.
Would anybody possibly explain the difference between these?
I would like to know clearly ...
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votes
6answers
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How do you say that tree rings (are - will be) closer if there isn't much rain [in a year]?
Which of these sentences is true?
If there is not much rain in a year, the rings in a tree are close together OR
If there is not much rain in a year, the rings in a tree will be close together
If I ...
4
votes
2answers
568 views
What is the meaning of “as if” here?
What is the meaning of "as if" in B?
A:The ceiling in this room doesn't look very safe, does it?
B:No, it looks as if it's going to fall down.
Can we omit it?
Another question, can we use ...
4
votes
1answer
747 views
Construction of future tense with 'when'
Consider this expression
This knowledge will come handy, when I am going to go there this summer.
This knowledge will come handy when I go there this summer.
I would like to know if the previous ...
4
votes
2answers
177 views
Will + Present Perfect constructions, application for past and future
And they will not have been in a bed or have had a shower in almost a week!
Does this sentence say that there will be a period of time in the future, and it will last a week, when they are not going ...
3
votes
3answers
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Future Pluperfect Tense
I was reading this question Future pluperfect and was really interested in how real is the Future Pluperfect tense.
I found this information:
This is from "The Future Pluperfect: Double Tenses in ...
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votes
4answers
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Is there tomorrow or Will there be tomorrow?
Which usage of "there" is proper for future tense?
Is there Liverpool's match tomorrow?
or,
Will there be Liverpool's match tomorrow?
Edit:
My point is that how can I use "there" ...
