Simple Future TenseThere are two forms to express future tenseWill + simple form of the verbEx. I will see her at five.Be + going to + simple form of the verbRaman is going to sign up for ESL 182RW

next week.

Yes/No QuestionsMove the “will” to the front of the subject.

Ex. Vicki will teach ESL 182RW next semester.

Will Vicki teach ESL 182RW next semester?

Yes/ No Questions“Be” + Going ToMove the “be” verb to the front of the subject

for the going to form

Ex. Vicki is going to teach ESL 182RW next semester.

Is Vicki going to teach ESL 182 RW next semester?

Wh-QuestionsMove the wh-question word to the front of

the yes/no question form.Ex. Will Vicki teach ESL 182RW next

semester?

When will Vicki teach ESL 182RW next semester?

Wh-QuestionsBe + Going ToMove the wh-question word to the front of

the yes/no question form.

Ex. Is Vicki going to teach ESL 182RW next semester?

When is Vicki going to teach ESL 182 RW next semester?

NegativesAdd not between will and the verb.Vicki will not teach ESL 182RW next

semester.

Add not after the “be” form of the verb in the be +going to form

Vicki is not going to teach ESL 182RW next semester.

WillIndicates promise, determination, volunteer

action, prediction or inevitability for the future

Helen’s money will disappear. (prediction)We’ll need a bigger classroom.(inevitability)I’ll spend your money carefully! (promise)Karl will get an “A” in this class.

(determination)

Be + Going ToUsed for prediction and inevitability, but not

promise volunteered action or determination.Crystal is going to meet a tall, handsome

man. (prediction)We’re going to need more laptops.

(inevitability)

Do not use Will for an action or event planned for the future.

Use Be Going to for an action or event planned for the future.

Ex. Jacie is going to go to Vietnam in the fall.NOT Jacie will go to Vietnam in the fall.

In the negative, will not (won’t) can mean refusal.

I won’t do my homework.Be Going To can also be used to mean refusalI am not going to do my homework.

Will is used for polite requests and invitationsYone, will you please close Google Talk?Would and Could can also be used this wayYone, would/could you please close Google

Talk?We do not use Be Going to for polite

requests.

Shall (another form of will) is mainly used with I or We in the question form.

Shall I end class early?Shall we leave class at 11:00?Very Formal

Simple Present (meaning the future)Simple present has a future meaning in

subordinate (dependent) clauses that express time and condition with these words.

TIMEwhen, whenever, while as (=while), until, before,

after, as soon as, by the timeEx. When Karl finishes the dishes, he and his wife

will watch TV.CONDITIONif, unless, in case Ex. In case you need me, I’ll be

in my office.

Simple Present (Future Meaning)Will or “be + going to” is used in the main

clauses of a future tense sentence that contains a dependent clause if time or condition. The main clause determines the tense of the whole sentence. Will is most commonly used.

Ex. When the ceremony is over, Yone and Jia will leave for their honeymoon.

Simple Present (Future Meaning)The simple present has a future meaning

with certain specific verbs that indicate a scheduled event.

start, begin, end, open, close, arrive, leave, take off, get to, land, rise, set

Ex. The wedding begins at 2:00 next Saturday.

Present Continuous(Future Meaning)Present continuous is used for a planned future

event or action. It is generally interchangeable with the “be + going to” form.

Ex. I’m driving to the mall later this afternoon.The present continuous is not used for the

future with verbs such as rain, snow, get sick, or die because these are not planned events and also not used with non-action verbs.

Present Continuous(Future)In the negative, the present continuous indicates: the negative of a plan for the future.

Ex. Tobey’s not coming to class tomorrow.RefusalEx. I’m not giving you the answers to the quiz!When the present continuous means in the future,

some indication of time is given in either the sentence or the context. Ex. What are you doing tomorrow?

Present Continuous(Future)The present continuous is oftern used in

subordinate(dependent ) clauses that express time and condition with these words:

when, while, as (=while), until, by the time, if, unless, in case

Ex. Whenever Helen is doing her homework, Grace will watch and take notes.

Present Continuous(Future)Will or “be+ going to” is used in the main

clause of sentences with dependent clauses of time or condition.

Sometimes the present continuous is used in the main clause when time is mentioned.

Ex. We’re talking about simple present tomorrow while we are working in groups.

Future TenseMore explanations:http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simple

future.html