Episode 223: How to make predictions using the future tenses
In this podcast, we dive into grammar with a special focus on the future tenses. Listen out as we make predictions, and you can test yourself with questions at the end.
The future tenses in English
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We all have future plans, whether it’s organizing the week ahead, planning a holiday, or considering a career change. Fortunately, English has all the tools you need to express your intentions clearly! However, when learning English, it can be challenging to know which structure fits best. In this podcast, we break down the different future tenses and provide helpful examples to guide you.
Why not check out this quiz about future expressions. The quiz was created just before the 2018 Winter Olympics, which is now many years ago, but you can adapt it to any future sporting event. Open you mind and get creative, you’ll learn so much.
Recap & Takeaways
Listen out for these future tenses in the podcast.
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Simple Future: Formed with “will” + base verb (e.g., I will go). This form is often used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises.
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Be Going To: Formed with “am/is/are going to” + base verb (e.g., I am going to travel). This is often used for planned actions or predictions based on present evidence.
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Present Continuous for Future: Uses the present continuous form (am/is/are + verb-ing) to describe future arrangements (e.g., I am meeting him tomorrow).
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Future Continuous: Formed with “will be” + verb-ing (e.g., I will be studying). This form is used for actions that will be ongoing at a specific time in the future.
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Future Perfect: Formed with “will have” + past participle (e.g., I will have finished). This tense shows an action that will be completed before a specific future time.
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Future Perfect Continuous: Formed with “will have been” + verb-ing (e.g., I will have been working). It emphasizes the duration of an action that will be ongoing up until a future point.
Each form adds subtlety to how we discuss plans, predictions, and actions related to the future in English.
