1.3: The Future
- Page ID
- 273134
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\dsum}{\displaystyle\sum\limits} \)
\( \newcommand{\dint}{\displaystyle\int\limits} \)
\( \newcommand{\dlim}{\displaystyle\lim\limits} \)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)
\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)
\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Overview: Future Tense Forms
Read these sentences...
- I will help you with the dishes.
- She is going to call her son to cheer him up.
- We might/may discuss the "Happiness in Denmark" article in class today.
- I am writing in my journal for twenty minutes this morning to boost my mood.
- The class meets from 8:30 to 10:30 am.
- He plans to do a happiness survey tomorrow.
What are some ways we make the future tense?
Future Tense Form
- "Will" + base form verb
- "Be" + "going to" + base form verb
- Modal of possibility ("may/might/could") + base form verb
- Present continuous
- Present tense
- "Plan to" + base form verb
- Future continuous
Meaning: "Will" + Base Form
- I will do my homework after class.
- I will bring plates to the party.
- I'll have the chicken teriyaki.
- It will probably rain tomorrow.
Which sentence is used to volunteer for a task? Which sentence is used to make a quick decision? Which sentence is used to make a promise? Which sentence is used to make a prediction?
Answers
- The first sentence is used to make a promise.
- The second sentence is used to volunteer for a task.
- The third sentence is used to make a quick decision.
- The fourth sentence used to make a prediction.
Meaning: "Be Going To" + Base Form
- It's going to rain this afternoon.
- We're going to conduct a survey on happiness this semester.
Which sentence is about a plan? Which sentence is about a prediction?
Answers
- The first sentence is about a prediction.
- The second sentence is about a plan.
"Be going to" is used for both plans and predictions.
Which of these events are usually planned?
- Getting a cold
- Having a party
- Doing your homework
- The weather
- Winning the lottery
- Visiting a friend
- Traveling
Answers
- Having a party
- Doing your homework
- Visiting a friend
- Traveling
Use "be going to," "plan to," simple present, or present progressive for events that are planned. Use "be going to," "will," "might," and "may" for predictions...
- She will get a cold if she doesn't take care of herself.
- This is a prediction.
- They are going to have a party.
- This is a plan.
- They plan to do their homework after class.
- This is a plan.
- Maybe it will rain this afternoon.
- This is a prediction.
Predictions with Evidence
Although both will and be going to are used for predictions. When the prediction is expected due to present evidence, we must use be going to.
- Look at those dark clouds! It's going to rain. (NOT It will rain)
- The lid fell off your coffee. It's going to spill!
- Larry only finished half of the test. He is definitely going to fail.
Key Takeaways for "Will" and "Be Going To"
| Use "will" for... |
Predictions, volunteering, promises, quick decisions Plans or decisions made at the moment |
Modify with... Certainly, definitely, probably, perhaps or maybe |
| Use "be going to" for... |
Predictions and plans already made before Predictions with evidence |
Modify with... Certainly, definitely, probably, perhaps or maybe |
More Ways to Talk About Future Plans
Present progressive for plans that are certain.
- We're traveling to Europe this summer. We have the tickets and reservations.
"Plan to" + base form verb for planned events, certain or uncertain, that require arrangement.
- They plan to get married in March.
- She plans to move in April, but she hasn't found a house yet.
Simple present tense for scheduled events in the future.
- The train leaves at 2:00 PM.
- The class starts at 9:00 AM tomorrow.
Modals "may/might/could" + base form of verb for uncertain events in the future, planned or predicted.
- I might go to the park tomorrow. (planned, uncertain)
- It could rain next week. (prediction, uncertain)
- We may eat out this evening. (planned, uncertain)
Key Takeaways for Present Progressive, Simple Present, "Plan To," and Modals of Future Possibility
| Use present progressive for... | Planned events that are certain | Sometimes modified with "probably" or "definitely" |
| Use simple present for... | Scheduled events | May be modified with "definitely" |
| Use "plan to" + base form for... | Planned events that are certain or not certain | Usually not modified |
| Use "might," "may," "could" for... | Predictions or plans that are uncertain | Not modified |
Future Clauses
Future tenses are often used in sentences with more than one clause (complex sentences). A clause is a sentence part that has a subject and verb combination.
An independent (main) clause has a complete thought. It can stand alone as a sentence.
A dependent clause does not have a complete thought. It cannot stand alone as a sentence. It starts with a subordinating conjunctions such as: if, when, after, as, since, before or until. it is connected to an independent clause to make a complex sentence.
Read the sentences below...
- If you express gratitude every day, you will begin to feel more optimistic.
- My grandmother is going to be so happy when she receives this thank you letter.
- I might go to the gym after I finish my homework. Exercise always cheers me up.
- Jim will move to Dallas next year if he gets a job in the tech industry.
What tense is used in each dependent (If or time) clause? What tense is used in each independent/main clause? Which sentence has a comma? Can you guess the rule about commas and dependent clauses?
Answers
In complex sentences in the future time, the dependent clause uses present tense, and the independent clause uses future tense. If the dependent clause comes first, it is followed by a comma.
Videos and Other Resources
Watch this video to learn more about future tenses... Watch this video for more information about the future continuous...
Watch this video and this video about future time clauses... For more information and exercises about future continuous, try this website and this website...
Practice Using the Future Tenses
Read the article "Five Things That Will Make You Happier" by Clara Moskowitz
Make a plan to boost your happiness for the rest of the semester. What do you plan to do? How do you predict it will help? How certain are you about the results? Write a paragraph using some of the future tenses to explain your plan.