Simple grammar – Verbs in the future tense
There are 2 common ways to talk about future action.
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I’ll play tennis tomorrow.
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*I’ll is a contraction of ‘I will.’ Contractions are often used in spoken English.
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I’m playing tennis tomorrow.
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They are saying the same thing, but there is a small nuance that determines if we use I will or I am doing in natural English.
↙Click the word to check pronunciation.
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nuance noun a very slight difference that is hard to notice.“A great chef is aware of every nuance of flavor in their food.”
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Let me explain this slight difference with 2 more examples.
① Andrew: Henry is struggling with his current assignment.
Brad: I have some free time so I’ll help him after lunch.
② Kevin: I’m helping Henry move next Saturday. He asked a few of us at work yesterday and I said yes.
Example 1 uses I’ll help and example 2 uses I’m helping.
Why?
There is a small difference between these 2 examples that is hard to see. Can you find it?
Hint: When did the person in the first example decide to help Henry? When did the person in the second example decide to help Henry?
① In the first example Brad just found out about Henry’s trouble, then he decided to help Henry as he was speaking.
② In the second example, Henry asked Kevin yesterday if he could help him move, and Kevin said ‘yes.’ Kevin has already decided to help, this is a planned activity.
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If a future action has just been decided at the time of speaking we use “I will.”
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It’s starting to rain. I’ll go upstairs and shut the windows in our bedroom. (This action was decided at the time of speaking.)
I have some free time so I’ll help him after lunch. (Brad just found out about Henry’s trouble, he decided to help Henry as he was speaking.)
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If a future action has already been decided or planned we use “I am doing.”
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I’m having a barbeque party next weekend, I hope it doesn’t rain. (The decision to have a party was made before the time of speaking.)
I’m helping Henry move next Saturday. (Henry asked Kevin yesterday if he could help him move, and Kevin said ‘yes.’ This is a planned activity.)
Lisa is strong so she will carry the heavy boxes!
More explanations with examples.
① Will
Will is an easy way to make the future tense of a verb, so it’s common among many of the ESL students that I have taught. Just put the word will in front of your verb and now you’re talking about the future. As we saw above will is not always the best choice to talk about the future so be careful. Below are some natural ways we use will.
*In conversation the contraction I’ll, he’ll, she’ll etc. is more common. I have used contractions for the examples in this section.
It’s common to use will after the phrase “I think…”
It’s a nice day today, I think I’ll ride my bike to work.
I think Wendy will be late for the morning meeting, she’s stuck in traffic.
I think she’ll be stuck for at least an hour!
Offer
Math is hard, I’ll help you with your homework after dinner.
If you need a hand to pack your things before the moving van comes we’ll come over and help you tonight.
Agree
Mom: Can you clean up the dishes after dinner?
Son: Sure, I’ll do it right after dessert.
Promise
Daughter: Dad can you come to my school band performance this Friday after work?
Dad: Absolutely! I’ll be there in the front row!
The negative form – won’t – is also common when we promise NOT to do something in the future.
Paul is so rude! We won’t invite him to any more of our parties.
You can trust me, I won’t tell anyone your secret.
Your secret is safe with me.
When you ask someone to do something will is the natural fit.
Will you help me with this?
Will you carry a few of these boxes for me?
And when you ask someone about a future situation.
Will you be there on Sunday?
Will it rain tomorrow?
② I am doing…
As we learned in the first example, I’m doing is used for planned activities, actions we have already decided to take.
I’m watching TV all weekend, it’s been a long week.
I’m going to watch TV for 18 hours straight!
The grammar going to (verb) is also natural in English.
I’m going to watch TV all weekend, it’s been a long week.
Jill’s going to meet her college friend on Saturday.
My wife and I are going to look at houses tonight after work.
We were going to play hockey on Saturday but the arena is closed for repairs.
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What are you doing tomorrow? How about next year? Write about your future plans in the comments and practice this new grammar!I'm going to Canada next summer. 🌞