Future Tense (with Examples)

Future Tense (with Examples)

The future tense expresses a future event or a future state of being. For example:
  • I will jump in the lake.
    • (future event)
  • I will be happy.
    • (future state of being)
The tense of a verb is determined by when the action took place. The three main tenses are:

Examples of the Types of Future Tense

The future tense is categorized further depending on whether the action will be in progress or will be completed. The four future tenses are:

The 4 Future TensesExamplesUses
simple future tense
  • I will go.
  • We will celebrate our anniversary by flying to New York.
 The simple future tense is used for an action that will occur in the future.
future progressive tense
  • I will be going.
  • The Moscow State Circus will be performing in Cheltenham for the next 3 weeks.
 The future progressive tense is used for an on-going action that will occur in the future.
future perfect tense
  • I will have gone.
  • By the time you arrive, we will have finished the meal and the speeches.
 The future perfect tense is used to describe an action that will have been completed at some point in the future.
future perfect progressive
  • I will have been going.
  • In July next year, you will have been studying for three years.
 The future perfect progressive tense is used for an on-going action that will be completed at some specified time in the future.

Diagrams for the Four Future Tenses

The infographics below show how each future tense is formed and a quick overview of how each one is used:

Simple Future Tense


For example:
  • I will play after breakfast.

Future Progressive Tense


For example:
  • I will be playing for an hour.

Future Perfect Tense


For example:
  • I will have played by breakfast.

Future Perfect Progressive Tense



For example:
  • I will have been playing for 2 hours by breakfast.
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See Also

What are verbs? Past tense Present tense Future tense
Tenses Simple past tense Past progressive tense Past perfect tense Past perfect progressive tense Simple present tense Present progressive tense Present perfect tense Present perfect progressive tense Simple future tense Future progressive tense Future perfect tense Future perfect progressive tense Glossary of grammatical terms