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Future

There is no future tense in English. We use several different ways to talk about the future. The most common are:

  • They*’re going to** build a new shopping centre here.* (be going to)
  • Leena is working in Singapore next week. (present continuous)
  • I think they will postpone the match. (modal verb will)
  • Nadia arrives in about half-an-hour from now. (present simple)
  • I*’ll be running** ten kilometres a day for the next two weeks to get ready for the marathon.* (future continuous)
  • We’re late. Do you think the lecture will have started? (future perfect)
  • We*’re** just about to leave for the cinema.* (be about to)
  • The president is to visit Brazil in November. (be to)
  • The visitors are due to arrive at the factory early in the morning. (be due to)
  • I was on the point of leaving my job but then I got promoted so I changed my mind. (be on the point of)
  • She promised she would return soon. (future in the past)
  • They said they were having a holiday next April. (future in the past)