Future Tense Verbs – Your #1 Guide (Free PDF worksheet)

I love to share my future plans and goals with my friends, family, and coworkers. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at how to use future tense English verbs, sharing helpful tips and real-life examples. By the time you finish reading, you’ll be equipped with the confidence to express yourself fluently in English using verbs in the future tense.

When we talk about actions that will happen in the future, we can use the auxiliary verb “will” followed by the base form of the main verb. “I WILL go to Paris next week.” OR use the verb “to be” with the main verb in its “-ing” form for planned actions. “I AM GOING to Paris next week.”

Keep reading this blog post to understand how and when to use both ways of FUTURE TENSE verb grammar. Plus – find a FREE downloadable PDF worksheet at the end of this post. Practice making your own future tense sentences with simple prompts to help you talk about your own life.

How to use Verbs in the Future Tense

I’ll play tennis tomorrow.
I’m playing tennis tomorrow.

These two sentences 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 hear the correct pronunciation)
nuance noun a very slight difference that is hard to notice.

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.
I’ll help him after lunch.”

*If a future action has just been decided at the time of speaking we use “I will.”

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.)

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.
I’m helping Henry move next Saturday.”

If a future action has already been decided or planned we use “I am doing.”

I’m shutting the windows in the bedroom before I go to sleep. I don’t want to catch a cold. (This is a planned action.)

Decided at the time of speakingPlanned activity
I willhelpI amhelping
He/She willwatchHe/She iswatching
We/They/You willgoWe/They/You aregoing

5 More Examples with WILL

  • I will go to the park tomorrow.
  • She will study for her exam tonight.
  • We will watch a movie this weekend.
  • They will visit their grandparents next month.
  • He will buy a new car next year.

5 More Examples with (TO BE) -ING

  • I’m studying English tonight.
  • She is working on her project all day.
  • We are having a party next Saturday.
  • They are traveling for all of next month.
  • He is playing soccer with his friends later tonight.

I will – Contractions

*In natural English conversation, we often use the contractions I’ll, he’ll, she’ll etc.

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.

The negative form – won’t – is also common when we promise NOT to do something in the future.

(Won’t is a contraction of will not)

  • Paul is so rude! We won’t invite him to any more of our parties.

When you ask someone to do something – will – is the natural fit.

  • Will you help me with this?

Compare: Present Continuous With Future Tense

  • Carol: Hey Mike! What are you doing?
  • Mike: I’m washing my car.

Mike is washing his car now. We can tell by Carol’s question. When we say “What are you doing?” in English, it means What are you doing now?

He has started washing his car but he has not finished.

I’m washing my car.” is the present continuous tense in this example.

  • Carol: Hey Mike! What are you doing tomorrow?
  • Mike: I’m washing my car.

In this question, Carol uses the adverb tomorrow. This tells us that she wants information about a future time.

Mike has decided to wash his car tomorrow. This is a future plan. 

I’m washing my car.” is the future tense in this example.

Adverbs for Future Time

  • Grant is playing rugby this afternoon.
  • I plan to be living in Spain next year.
  • Spring is starting in 2 months.
  • We’re watching Romeo and Juliet tomorrow in English class.
  • I’m starting school in 5 days.
  • I’m going to school soon.

More Future tense examples (with explanations)

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 the most 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.
  • Wendy just called me from her car, she is stuck in traffic. I think she’ll be late for the morning meeting.

We use will when we offer to do something for someone.

  • Math is hard, I’ll help you with your homework after dinner. (An offer to help with your homework.)
  • If you need a hand to pack your things before the moving van comes we’ll help you tonight. (An offer to help you pack.)

We use will when we agree to a request.

Mom: Can you clean up the dishes after dinner?
Son: Sure, I’ll do it right after dessert.

We use will when we promise to do something.

Daughter: Dad can come to my school band performance Friday after work?
Dad: Absolutely! I’ll be there in the front row!

The negative form –will not/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.

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. (This is my plan)

The grammar I’m 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.
    (This is a future planned activity that was changed. A plan that didn’t happen.)

Free PDF Future Tense Verbs worksheet

Download your free printable 3-page PDF worksheet. Practice making your own future tense sentences with simple prompts to help you talk about your own life.

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