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When learning English, understanding how to talk about the future is essential. But here’s the tricky part: English doesn’t have just one “future tense” — it has several ways to express future meaning, depending on the situation and intention.
In this post, you’ll find clear explanations and practical exercises to help you practice:
- Simple Future (will)
- Be going to + verb
- Present Continuous (used for future)
- Simple Present (used for scheduled events)
Let’s dive in and test your knowledge!
Future Tenses Exercises
The following “Future Tenses Exercises” will help you distinguish three ways to express the future: the simple present for scheduled events, the simple future forms, the present continuous for future plans, and the going to + verb construction.
1. True or False: Review of Future Tense Uses
Decide if each statement is True or False.
- We use will for instant decisions made at the moment of speaking.
- We use be going to for plans and intentions we decided earlier.
- We use the present continuous for spontaneous predictions about the future.
- We use the simple present to talk about official timetables and schedules.
- “I’m meeting Sarah tomorrow” is an example of the present continuous used for future.
- “It will rain tomorrow” is a spontaneous plan.
- “The train leaves at 8 p.m.” is an example of the simple present for future schedules.
2. → True
3. → False
4. → True
5. → True
6. → False (it’s a prediction)
7. → True
2. Categorizing Examples: Predictions, Instant Decisions, Plans
Sort these examples into three categories:
- Predictions and hopes
- Spontaneous ideas and instant decisions
- Plans and arrangements
Categorizing Examples: Predictions, Instant Decisions, Plans
- I hope they win the game.
- She’s going to study medicine at university.
- We’re meeting Tom at 6 p.m.
- I think it’ll be sunny tomorrow.
- Don’t worry, I’ll help you carry that.
- Oh no, I forgot! I’ll call him right now.
- Look at those clouds! It’s going to rain.
- Wait, I’ll open the window.
- We’re having dinner with friends on Saturday.
- I think they’ll pass the exam.
- I’ll get you a coffee.
- They’re going to move to Canada next year.
- She’s flying to Rome next week.
- I’ll answer the phone.
- I’ll probably visit my grandparents this weekend.
Predictions and Hopes | Spontaneous Ideas and Instant Decisions | Plans and Arrangements |
---|---|---|
… | … | … |
… | … | … |
… | … | … |
… | … | … |
… | … | … |
→ I think it’ll be sunny tomorrow.
→ I hope they win the game.
→ Look at those clouds! It’s going to rain.
→ I think they’ll pass the exam.
→ I’ll probably visit my grandparents this weekend.
Spontaneous Ideas and Instant Decisions
→ Don’t worry, I’ll help you carry that.
→ Oh no, I forgot! I’ll call him right now.
→ Wait, I’ll open the window.
→ I’ll get you a coffee.
→ I’ll answer the phone.
Plans and Arrangements
→ She’s going to study medicine at university.
→ We’re meeting Tom at 6 p.m.
→ We’re having dinner with friends on Saturday.
→ They’re going to move to Canada next year.
→ She’s flying to Rome next week.
3. Multiple Choice Exercise (7 Items)
Choose the correct option.
- Look at those dark clouds! It __________ soon.
- A) will rain
- B) is going to rain
- C) rains
- I think I __________ go to the gym later.
- A) am
- B) will
- C) going to
- We __________ dinner with my parents tomorrow.
- A) have
- B) are having
- C) will have
- The train __________ at 9:30 a.m. sharp.
- A) leaves
- B) leave
- C) leaving
- I __________ probably visit you next weekend.
- A) am going
- B) will
- C) am
- Watch out! You __________ drop that glass.
- A) are going to
- B) will
- C) are
- Oh no! I forgot! I __________ call her right now.
- A) am going
- B) will
- C) am
2. → B
3. → B
4. → A
5. → B
6. → A
7. → B
4. Correcting Mistakes About Future Tenses
Each sentence below has a mistake with future tenses. Rewrite each correctly.
- I will going to the gym tonight.
- She going to meet her friends later.
- Look at the sky! It will rain.
- I think I’m going to buy the blue jacket.
- We are going to watching a movie tomorrow.
- Hurry up! The train will leaving soon.
- I promise I go to the store after work.
Explanation: “Will going” is wrong; use “am going to go” or “am going.”
2. → She is going to meet her friends later.
Explanation: Missing the verb is in the “be going to” structure.
3. Look at the sky! It’s going to rain.
Explanation: We use be going to (not will) when there’s present evidence.
4. I think I’ll buy the blue jacket.
Explanation: I think pairs better with will for spontaneous decisions.
5. We are going to watch a movie tomorrow.
Explanation: “Going to watching” is wrong; it should be going to + base verb.
6. Hurry up! The train is leaving soon.
Explanation: Present continuous is used for scheduled events, not will leaving.
7. I promise I’ll go to the store after work.
Explanation: Promises use will, not just the base verb.
- She is going to visit us tomorrow.
- We are leaving for Paris next week.
- I think I will go to the party.
- The plane leaves at 8 p.m.
- Wait, I will help you with that.
- They are going to buy a new car.
- I am meeting John tomorrow afternoon.
5. Put the Verbs in Brackets in the Correct Future Form
Complete with the correct tense: present continuous, simple future, or be going to + verb.
- She __________ (meet) her friend at the café later.
- I think I __________ (stay) home tonight.
- They __________ (move) to a new apartment next month.
- Watch out! You __________ (spill) your coffee!
- Wait, I __________ (help) you with those bags.
- We __________ (visit) the museum this afternoon.
- It’s so hot! I __________ (get) some ice cream.
2. → will stay
3. → are going to move
4. → are going to spill
5. → will help
6. → are visiting
7. → will get
Summary Table: Future Tense Rules and Examples
Tense/Form | Use | Example |
---|---|---|
Simple Future (will) | Predictions, instant decisions, promises | I’ll help you. / I think it’ll rain. |
Be going to + verb | Planned intentions, near-future evidence | I’m going to start a new job. / Look! It’s going to snow. |
Present Continuous (future) | Fixed plans and arrangements | We’re meeting them at 6. |
Simple Present (future) | Scheduled events (timetables) | The train leaves at 9. |
More about Future Tenses!
Related Pages
- Get Your Copy of Present Continuous Worksheets, Flashcards, Games, And Activities
- Future Tense In English
- The Simple Future Tense
- The Present Continuous and “Going To” For Future Plans
- Grammar Exercise: Going To Or Will?
- Present Simple or Present Continuous Exercise
- Present Perfect Continuous (Progressive)