Expressing the Future

Future can be expressed by means of six different tenses in English: Will-future, Going to-future, present simple, present continuous, future continuous and future perfect. In class we thoroughly studied the different possibilities of tense choice according to the needs of communication and usage. In this post you have a summary of all you need concerning the expression of future time.

A) [WILL + infinitive]: The future with 'will' is used for predictions, opinions, voluntary actions and promises, and sudden decisions. Observe these examples and compare:  
In 2150 people will live in a new planet. (prediction)
The film 'Zenith' will win several Academy awards. (prediction)  
I think my brother will come round for dinner this evening. (opinion)  
We hope you won't fail your final exams. (opinion)
I promise I will not tell anybody your secret. (promise)  
I'll study harder this term. (promise)  
I won't go with you today. (spontaneous decision)  
You look ill, I'll take you to the doctor's. (spontaneous decision)

B) [AM/IS/ARE GOING TO +Infinitive]: The future with 'be going to' is used for general plans and intentions, and predictions with evidence in the present time.
Be careful! You're going to fall off the ladder. (prediction with present evidence)
You failed the test, so you aren't going to pass English. (prediction with evidence) I'm going to give up smoking. (intention)
He isn't going to do a degree in medicine. (general plan)

C) [VERB/VERB+s/es]: The future with Present Simple is used to express timetable future, in other words, scheduled events in the near future. Look at the examples:  
The train to London leaves at 12.35 pm. (scheduled event)
The new theatre opens on July 2. (scheduled event)
What time do we board the plane? (scheduled event)

D) [AM/IS/ARE + Verb-ing]: The future with Present Continuous is used for future arrangements and formal appointments, and near-future plans.  
We're meeting Jane at the cinema at 9 o'clock. (near-future plan)  
I'm seeing the dentist at 5.20 pm. (formal appointment)  
John isn't coming to the party. She's going to a rock concert. (future arrangement)

E) [WILL BE + V-ing]: Future Continuous is used for uninterrupted actions in the future, actions interrupted by time or other actions, parallel future actions and in general it expresses an action that will be happening at a certain moment in the future. Also formal plans.
This time next month I'll be lying on a Caribbean beach. (uninterrupted action)
I will be waiting for you when your bus arrives. (interrupted action)
At midnight tonight we'll still be driving through the desert. (interrupted action)  
While Ellen is reading, Tom will be watching TV. (parallel future action)
Tomorrow morning we will be meeting at the university hall. (formal plan)

F) [WILL HAVE + Past participle]: Future Perfect expresses a completed action before something in the future, that is to say, an action that will be finished at a certain moment in the future. It refers to the past in the future.
By next November I will have received my promotion. (past action in the future)
Come round by 6 a.m., we'll have finished studying. (past action in the future)
By the time I finish this course, I'll have taken ten tests. (past action in the future)

Practice: Exercise 1, Exercise 2, Exercise 3, Exercise 4.