IELTS Grammar Topics

The main ways to talk about the future:

1. will

To talk about a more distant or uncertain future. It is often combined with “probably” or “likely”.

• I will probably go to the cinema tomorrow night.

• He will likely retire in a few years.

To talk about planned/ arranged events in a formal style.

• The first presentation will begin at 9.15am.

To make predictions. Especially if the prediction is based on our opinion or experience.

• I’m convinced that the stock market will plummet next week.

• Please visit this weekend, the kids will really enjoy seeing you.

We often use will to make predictions with certain verbs and phrases: expect, hope, imagine, reckon, think, wonder, be sure.

• I bet she will forget to send the report again.

• I think he’ll get here soon.

• I imagine the event will be cancelled.

To talk about a spontaneous decision.

• As the sun’s just come out, I think I’ll go for a walk.

To make a spontaneous promise or offer.

• Don’t worry, I’ll give you a lift home.

2. going to

To talk about something we intend to do. Going to emphasises that a decision has been made.

• I’m going to study biology at university after I finish school.

To make predictions (an alternative to will), especially when based on some present evidence.

• They are already 3 - 0 up, so they are going to win the match.

• Tom is going to pass the exam.

• The sky looks very cloudy. It’s going to start raining soon.

In 1st conditionals, instead of will, especially if something negative is conditional on something else happening.

• You’re going to crash if you keep driving so fast.

• You’re going to fail the exam unless you study more.

3. The Present Continuous

To talk about fixed plans or arrangements. The present continuous suggests that the plans are more fixed/ arranged than going to. It’s also often used for the near future (the same day etc.).

• We’re getting married next month. The wedding day is the 25th.

• My brother is coming for dinner on Friday.

• I’m having lunch with John later.

4. The Present Simple

To talk about schedules (for buses, planes, trains, schedules for formal events).

• The train departs at 13:15.

• The keynote speech ends at 11:25 and is followed by lunch at 11:30

5. The Future Perfect

To talk about things that will have been completed at a point in time in the future.

• I will have finished the report by tomorrow afternoon.

• By the time you arrive, I will have cooked dinner.

• I will have left before you arrive.

The future perfect can be continuous. This emphasises the continuation/ ongoing nature of an action.

• By the time they finish the meeting, they will have been discussing the issue for over 3 hours.

6. The Future Continuous

To talk about things that will be ongoing/ in progress at a time in the future.

• This time tomorrow I will be driving to work.

• If you need to call me tomorrow, I will be working at home all day.

• I will be cooking dinner when you arrive.

To make predictions. The emphasis is on predicting an action in progress at a particular time in the future.

• By this time next year, I will be living in Sydney.

You can also make predictions using the future continuous as an alternative to will in order to show more certainty. However, these are still predictions and do not convey the idea of an arranged future event in the same way as using the present continuous.

• On Monday morning, my boss will be offering me a promotion. (certain)

• Hopefully, on Monday morning, my boss will offer me a promotion. (uncertain)

• On Monday my boss is formally offering me a promotion (it’s arranged).

Also, don’t forget that if you’re making a prediction based on evidence, we prefer to use going to rather than the future continuous.

• I heard the boss speaking on the phone; on Monday morning he is going to offer me a promotion.

To make polite inquiries and offers.

• Will you be attending the meeting on Thursday?

• Will you be having dinner at the hotel restaurant this evening, sir?

• We will be putting on an after dinner show in the ground floor bar at 9pm, so please join us.

7. Talking About The Future With Time Clauses

In time clauses, a future tense is not used - the present simple or the present perfect already refers to the future.

Time clauses begin with until/ before/ as soon as/ when/ after.

The present simple is used instead of will or going to in a future time clause.

• When I retire, I’m going to go fishing every day.

• We won’t start lunch until John arrives.

• As soon as I put the phone down, I will send you the documents.

• Make sure you put out the cigarette before the customers arrive.

The present perfect is used instead of the future perfect.

• Your mother won’t be able to sleep until you have got back home.

• As soon as you have finished, let me know.

• I’m going to finish reading this book before you have finished the series.

However, sometimes when is not used to create a future time clause. It functions as a pronoun, and means at what time. In these cases when does not define the time of another action in the same way as in the previous examples, and a future tense is used.

• Nobody knows when a new technological revolution will happen.

• The message told us when the event will take place.

• We aren’t sure when it will happen.

Notice that in these examples when does not define the time that “nobody knows”, “the message told us”, or “we aren’t sure”.

8. Other phrases to talk about the future (no future tense)

There is bound to be…

• There’s bound to be a riot if the police confront the protesters.

There is certain to be…

• There’s certain to be another sale in January.

There is no/ a good/ some chance of…

• There’s a good chance of rain in the afternoon.

There are (un)likely to be..

• There are unlikely to be any more problems in the department.

Exercise 1 :

Complete the dialogues in the most appropriate way using will, going to, the present simple or continuous, the future perfect or the future continuous. Use the verb provided in brackets.

1. A. Have you decided on where to go on holiday next year?

    B. No, not yet, but we __________ (probably go) to the same place as last year.

2. A. It’s getting hot in here.

    B. I __________ (open) the window.

3. A. When will the report be ready?

    B. I __________ (finish) by the end of the day.

4. A. What have you planned for the evening?

    B. I __________ (meet) my wife for dinner.

5. A. What time is your train? 

    B. It __________ (leave) at 7.15am

6. A. I’m afraid this meeting room isn’t free for another hour. 

    B. I have a meeting in 5 minutes. I __________ (have to) find another room.

7. A. What are your plans for when you finish school in 2 years?

    B. I __________ (go) to university and study engineering

8. A. What do you think you’ll be doing this time next year?

    B. I expect that I __________ (go) to university in Bristol. 

Exercise 2:

Complete the sentences in the various scenarios below with will, going to, the present continuous, the future perfect or the future continuous and the verb provided in brackets. (More than one option is often possible)

Scenario 1: Job Interview

You are a hiring manager conducting interviews for a prestigious company. Your task is to predict the outcomes of the interviews. Use the future tenses to complete the following sentences:

1. By this time next year, she __________ (graduate) from a top university.

2. I am confident that he __________ (perform) exceptionally well in the interview.

3. At 3pm tomorrow, we __________ (interview) the final candidate for the position.

4. By the end of this week, they __________ (make) their decision on the new hire.

Scenario 2: Space Exploration

You are an astronaut preparing for a mission to Mars. Use the future tenses to describe the upcoming events related to the mission:

5. By the time we reach Mars, the spacecraft __________ (travel) for several months.

6. During the mission, our team __________ (conduct) various experiments in low gravity.

7. Before the next decade ends, humans __________ (set foot) on Mars for the first time.

8. Once we land on the red planet, mission control __________ (monitor) our activities closely.

Scenario 3: Dinner with Friends

You are discussing your plans for the next year with friends over dinner. Use the future tenses to explain your future plans:

9. We are fed up with living in the city centre so we  __________ (sell) our apartment.

10. Also, we want to find something bigger so we've decided that we  __________ (look) for a house in the suburbs.

11. Based on the prices I’ve seen, we __________ (be able) to afford a 3 bedroom house.

12. Hopefully, this time next year we __________ (live) in our new house.

Exercise 3:

Is a future tense needed with when? Decide if when creates a future time clause in the following sentence. Complete the sentence with will or the present simple + the verb in brackets.

1. Please call when you __________ (arrive).

2. No doubt it will immediately start raining when I __________ (go out).

3. Do you know when she __________ (get) here?

4. Nobody is sure when the next market crash __________  (occur).

5. I’ll let you know when the package __________ (be delivered).

6. Her email says when the conference __________ (take place).

7. I will be very happy when the exams __________ (be over).

8. We can’t be sure when the construction __________ (be completed).

9. When the next election __________ (be held), I will vote for him.

Exercise 4:

Complete the following predictions with will, going to or the future continuous + the verb in brackets, based on what best fits the context. 

1. I’m sure that she __________ (love) the present you bought her.

2. He’s been working 14 hour days for months -  he __________ (give) himself a heart attack.

3. This time next week, I __________ (fly) to New York.

4. Please be quiet when you get home, as I __________ (probably sleep).

5. I think Tom and Jennifer __________ (get on) really well.

6. Based on what I see in his CV, he’s __________ (be) a very effective employee.

7. In my opinion,  electric vehicles __________ (not replace) petrol cars for many years.

8. Knowing her, she __________ (be) very angry when she finds out.

9. From the looks of the damage, you __________ (need) to spend a lot of money on repairs.

10. Between 9pm and 9.15pm tonight they __________ (watch) the 9 o’clock news on BBC 1.

Activity 1:

Using your own ideas, complete the sentences below. Use will, going to, the present continuous, the present simple, the future perfect or the future continuous.

1. The hotel is fully booked, so…

2. By the end of the day, I...

3. Thanks, but I don’t need a lift, I …

4. When you arrive, we ...

5. According to the airport website, their flight…

6. It’s all arranged, we…

7. This evening I…

8. Next week I…

9. Next year I…

10. At 7.30 pm tomorrow, I …

Activity 2:

Make predictions about your world, your country, or yourself beginning with the following phrases:

1. In my lifetime…

2. Before long…

3. In the near future…

4. By the end of the month…

5. In the next few years…

6. Over the next decade…

7. By this time next year…

8. By the end of the century…

9. At some point in the next few years…

10. Sooner or later, there’s bound to be…

11. I’m not sure when…