Predict Your Day with Future Tenses! 🔮

Today, we’re going to have some fun predicting the future! We’ll learn how to talk about what we think will happen tomorrow using different English future tenses. Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think! 😄

What are Future Tenses?

Future tenses are verb forms that tell us about actions or events that will happen in the future. In English, there are a few different ways to talk about the future, and each one has slightly different uses and meanings.

Let’s Meet the Future Tenses! 👋

We’ll focus on the most common future tenses for beginners:

• Will + base form of the verb
• Going to + base form of the verb
• Present Continuous (for future arrangements)

1. “Will”: The Simple Predictor 🔮

We often use “will” to talk about things we think or believe will happen in the future. It’s also used for spontaneous decisions or offers.

Structure:

Examples:

• I will probably sleep well tonight.
• I think it will be hot tomorrow.
• “The phone is ringing!” “I will answer it.” (Spontaneous decision)
• “I’m thirsty.” “I will get you some water.” (Offer)

2. “Going to”: Making Plans! 🗓️

We use “going to” to talk about future events that we have already planned or decided to do. It’s also used when we can see present evidence that something is about to happen.

Structure:

Examples:

• I am going to study English tomorrow morning. (Planned)
• We are going to have a picnic on Sunday. (Planned)
• Look at those dark clouds! It is going to rain! (Present evidence)

3. Present Continuous: Future Arrangements! 🤝

Sometimes, we can use the present continuous tense to talk about fixed arrangements or appointments in the near future. We usually use it with a specific time or place.

Structure:

Examples:

• I am meeting my friend at 2 pm tomorrow.
• They are flying to Phnom Penh next week.
• We are having a class party on Friday.

Let’s Predict Your Tomorrow! ✨

Now it’s your turn! Write down what you predict will happen tomorrow using the future tenses we learned. Try to use each tense at least once!

My Predictions for Tomorrow:

• I think I will wake up early. (“Will” for a prediction)
• I am going to eat noodles for breakfast. (“Going to” for a planned action)
• My teacher is giving us a new lesson tomorrow. (Present Continuous for a future arrangement – a scheduled lesson)
• Maybe I will go for a walk in the evening. (“Will” for a less certain prediction)
• I know my friends are going to play football after school. (“Going to” based on what I know)

Tip! 💡

Pay attention to the context to understand which future tense is best to use. Are you making a general prediction? Do you have a specific plan? Is it a fixed arrangement?

Additional Tips💪

Key Differences:

Common Time Expressions for the Future:

• tomorrow
• the day after tomorrow
• next week/month/year
• in two days/weeks/months
• soon
• later
• in the future

Practice Time! ✍️

Fill in the blanks with the correct future tense:

1. I think it ______ (rain) tonight.
2. We ______ (visit) Angkor Wat next month. (It’s our plan!)
3. She ______ (have) a birthday party on Saturday. (It’s arranged.)
4. “I’m so tired!” “I ______ (make) you some tea.”
5. Look out! That car ______ (crash)!

Answer Key:

1. will rain
2. are going to visit
3. is having
4. will make
5. is going to crash

Here is a PDF worksheet you can download with 25 practice sentences about Planning your day with future tenses. The answers are on a separate page.

Additional Helpful Content

• Study about Be Going To – Learn ‘Be Going To’ for Future Plans

External Links for More Learning 🔗

• British Council – LearnEnglish: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/english-grammar/future-tenses
• EF English Live: https://englishlive.ef.com/blog/english-grammar/how-to-talk-about-the-future-in-english/
• Cambridge Dictionary: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/english/future

Have fun predicting your day, and keep practicing your English!👋