E.g. I will have been studying at the University for a year by next September.
| TENSE FORM/EXPRESSION
| MEANING
| EXAMPLE
| |
| The Present Indefinite
| · a future action due to a timetable, a programme or a calendar (a timetabled action);
| Their plane lands at 5 o’clock in the morning.
| |
| The next meeting is on 2nd August.
| |
| · a future action in adverbial clauses of time and condition.
| He’ll call you when he gets to the place.
| |
| If she comes back, let me know.
| |
| The Present Continuous
| · a fixed personal or impersonal arrangement;
| We’re leaving from Heathrow airport at 7.30 p.m.
| |
| The corporation is opening three new overseas offices next month.
| |
| · a future action in progress in adverbial clauses of time and condition.
| I’ll be mowing the lawn while she is cooking lunch.
| |
| GOING TO/GONNA + Infinitive
| · an intention or decision;
| We’re going to leave next morning.
| |
| · a prediction based on present evidence.
| The sky is overcast. It’s going to rain.
| |
| The Present Perfect
| · an action completed before a definite moment in the future in adverbial clauses of time and condition.
| I’ll help you only after I’ve donethe cleaning.
| |
| The Future Indefinite
| · a future action previously arranged in some detail (more formal than TO BE GOING TO);
| The conference will begin on 12th November.
| |
| · a statement of a fact;
| Next month I’ll be17.
| |
| · a prediction based on past experience (guesswork, analysis, judgement, etc.);
| Don’t you know? Our team’s playing. The stadium will be full on Sunday.
| |
| · an on-the-spot (immediate) decision.
| ‘Someone’s knocking at the door.’ ‘OK, I’ll answer it.’
| |
| The Future Continuous
| · an action in progress at a definite moment in the future;
| She will be working in the lab from 5 till 7 tomorrow.
| |
| · a fixed arrangement or a future action seen as a part of routine;
| Professor Johnson will be giving another lecture next week.
| |
| ‘Shall I borrow that book for you?’ ‘Please don’t trouble yourself. I’ll be going to the library anyway.’
| |
| · a polite inquiry about people’s plans.
| Will you be using you camera this week? I’d like to borrow it.
| |
| The Future Perfect
| · an action completed before a definite moment in the future;
| Come at 6. I’ll have translated the text by that time.
| |
| · an action which begins before a definite moment in the future, will continue up to that moment and will still be in progress at that moment (mostly with stative verbs).
| I’ll have known her for ten years by next June.
| |
| The Future Perfect Continuous
| · an action which begins before a definite moment in the future, will continue up to that moment and will still be in progress at that moment.
| We’ll have been studying English for seven years by next September.
| |
| TO BE TO + Infinitive
| · an official arrangement (mostly used in writing, news articles);
| Two men are to appear in court on charges of armed robbery on 15th January.
| |
| · a formal command or instruction.
| You are to do Exercise 7 in writing.
| |
| TO BE DUE TO + (Infinitive)
| · a future action expected to happen at a particular time (not so totally fixed as TO BE TO).
| Carriageway repairs are due to start on 27th May.
| |
| The BA 748 is not due (to arrive/land) till 14.25.
| |
| TO BE ABOUT TO + Infinitive
| · an action (planned or unplanned) or intention in the nearest future.
| Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. The concertis about to start.
| |
| TO BE ON THE POINT/VERGE OF + Infinitive/Noun
| |
|
| She was on the point of saying something but changed her mind.
| |
| Some species of birds are on the verge of extinction.
| |
| TO BE LIKELY TO + Infinitive
| · supposition referring to the future.
| Parents are unlikely to come back before nine.
| |
| TO BE SURE/BOUND/CERTAIN TO + Infinitive
| |
| She’s sure to like Bob when she sees him.
| |
| You’re bound to fail if you go on like that.
| |
E.g. We expect him to come at 6.
