Simple Future Tense Chart & Table in English with Rules, Usage Examples, Definitions and Best Practices for English Learners

Simple future tense chart and examples

Simple Future Tense Table & Chart

When learning a new language, one of the first things you need to do is understand the different tenses. Tense tells you when an action takes place, and it is essential for making yourself understood. For example, if you want to say that you will visit a friend tomorrow, you need to use the simple future tense. If you use the present tense instead, it sounds like you are saying that you are visiting them right now.

As you can see, understanding this indefinite tense is vital for effective communication. There are many different tenses in English, but the simple future tense is one of the most important. It is used to talk about actions that will happen in the future, and it is very common in everyday speech. If you want to learn English effectively, make sure you spend some time mastering this part of speech.

TenseFuture FormulaExample
Simple Future TenseFormula: Subject + Verb + ed/verb in the future tense + the rest of the sentence“I will live in Florida for my retirement”
Future Continuous TenseFormula: Subject + Helping Verb (will be) + Main verb + ing + the rest of the sentence“They will be singing this weekend at the fair.”
Future Perfect TenseFormula: Subject + Helping Verb (will have) + Past participle of the main verb + the rest of the sentence along with the time frame.“I will have eaten all of the candy during the movie.”
Future Perfect Continuous TenseFormula: Subject + will have + Been + Verb + ing + the rest of the sentence“She will have been helping them fix the fence.”

What is Simple Future Tense?

The simple future tense definition is used to “describe an action that will take place in the future”. For example, “I will go to the store.” To form the simple future tense, you simply add the appropriate ending to the verb you are using. For regular verbs, you add “-ed” to the ends of verbs; for irregular verbs, you use the specific verb form listed in a dictionary.

The simple future tense can also describe prophecies or predictions, as in “The sun will rise in the east tomorrow.” In general, the simple future tense is used when talking about something that has not yet happened but is expected to happen. It is a good way to describe plans or intentions for the future. They are not negative sentences, but positive and assuring ones.

There are four subgroups of the Future Tense Form:

  • Simple Future Tense – used to describe habitual actions or facts that are true in the future.
  • Future Continuous Tense – used to describe actions that will happen in the future.
  • Future Perfect Tense – used to describe actions that will happen in the future.
  • Future Perfect Continuous Tense – used to describe actions that will be happening for some time.

Future Tense Further, it consists of four forms:

1. Simple

2. Perfect

3. Continuous

4. Perfect Continuous

Future Tense Forms Chart

Future SimpleThe future simple tense describes an event that will take place in the future. It is typically used with a time frame, such as “I will go to the store tomorrow.” The future simple tense is also sometimes used without a time frame, in which case it indicates that the speaker believes that the event is certain to occur. For example, “The sun will rise tomorrow.”
Future ContinuousThe future continuous tense is used to describe an action that will be happening at a specific time in the future. For example, “I will be studying for my exam at 6 pm tonight.” In this sentence, the word “studying” is in the future continuous tense, because it refers to an action that will be happening at a specific time in the future (6 pm).
Future PerfectThe future perfect tense is one of the four English verb tenses used to describe events or actions that will have taken place at a specific time in the future. The other three tenses are the present, past, and future. The future perfect tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “will” followed by the verb “have” and the past participle of the main verb.
Future Perfect Continuous TenseThe future perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that will be completed at some point in the future. For example, “I will have been studying for four hours by the time you get home.” This tense is formed by using the modal verb “will” followed by the present participle of the verb (in this case, “studying”). The future perfect continuous tense is often used to describe how someone will feel at a specific point in the future.

Future Tense Chart, Forms, and Examples Table

TenseFormsExamples
Future
Simple Future TenseHe will wear sneakers.
She will see you later.
He will shout at the TV.
She will hope to stop soon.
They will make so much noise.
FutureFuture Perfect TenseHe will be wearing sneakers.
She will be seeing you later.
He will be shouting at the TV.
She will be hoping to stop soon.
They will be making so much noise.
FutureFuture Continuous TenseHe will have worn sneakers.
She will have seen you later.
He will have shouted at the TV.
She will have hoped to stop soon.
They will have made so much noise.
FutureFuture Perfect Continuous TenseHe will have been wearing sneakers.
She will have been seeing you later.
He will have been shouting at the TV.
She will have been hoping to stop soon.
They will have been making so much noise.
All English Tenses

Simple Future Tense

What is “simple” future tense? Anyone who has ever made a mistake while speaking or writing in the past tense knows how important it is to get the verb tenses right. The same is true of the future tense. While it is not always necessary to use the future tense, doing so can avoid confusion and help to ensure that your meaning is clear. For example, consider the following sentence: “I am meeting with the boss tomorrow.” If you use the present tense instead of the future, it sounds like you are already meeting with the boss, which may not be what you intended to communicate.

In a similar vein, using the future tense can help to prevent people from misunderstanding your intent. If you say “I will call you tomorrow,” there is no ambiguity about when you intend to make the call. In short, using the future tense can save you from a lot of potential confusion. Below we will give you a future tense sentence and future simple tense examples to practice with.

Types of Simple Future Tense

In English Grammar Tenses, there are four types of future tense, these are:

1. Simple Future Tense

2. Future Continuous Tense

3. Future Perfect Tense

4. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

1. Simple Future Tense: When the verb defines an activity that is going to happen at a future date or regularity, then a verb is used in a simple future tense form.

General Formula for Simple Future Tense:

Subject + Verb in the base form/third person plural form (will) + the rest of the sentence

Simple Future Tense Examples:

  • Sarah will walk the dog before school.
  • Kara will hear me when I walk through the door.
  • Jon will sing in the school play.
  • Wendy will hunt with her father.
  • Andrew will wait for me to arrive.
  • Eddy will go to the principles office.
  • Ari will call me when she gets home.
  • Arthur will bring me a different shirt.
  • William will catch his train on time.
  • Parna will watch the game on TV.
  • Allie will get a good grade on her test.
  • Boris will bake a loaf of bread.

2. Future Continuous Tense: When the verb defines the action which is going to happen, then that verb is used as a Future Continuous Tense.

The general formula for Future Continuous Tense:

Subject + Helping Verb (will be/shall be) + Main verb + ing + the rest of the sentence

Future Continuous Tense Examples:

  • The dog will be wanting a walk soon.
  • We will be running for our appointment.
  • You will be sorry you missed it.
  • It will be boring at the church.
  • I will be winning the race this weekend.
  • Father will be planting vegetables.
  • Mother will be cooking dinner.
  • You will be laughing about this later.
  • We will be flying to China next week.
  • The seagulls will be stabbing at our boxes.
  • I will be hearing from them soon.
  • They will be seething with rage.

3. Future Perfect Tense: When the verb defines a future action in the present form, then that verb is used as a Future Perfect Tense.

General Formula for Future Perfect Tense:

Subject + Helping Verb (will have) + Past participle of the main verb + the rest of the sentence along with the time frame

Future Perfect Tense Examples:

  • She will have enjoyed popsicles that summer.
  • They will have fallen out of the kayak.
  • I will have scored a goal during soccer.
  • Hew will have lost my pencil.
  • We will have brought a bottle of wine.
  • She will have painted a portrait of her family.
  • He will have forgotten why he was angry.
  • She will have wanted the best for them.
  • We shall have shopped at the bookstore.
  • He shall have crawled to the finish line.
  • She shall have fetched the milk from the curbside.
  • I shall have washed my hair for hours.

4. Future Perfect Continuous Tense: When the verb defines or denotes the action to show that something will start in the future, then that verb is used as Future Perfect Continuous Tense.

General Formula for Future Perfect Continuous Tense:

Subject + Will Have + Been + Verb+ ing + the rest of the sentence

Future Perfect Continuous Tense Examples:

  • I will have been learning about the solar system.
  • You will have been learning about the solar system.
  • He will have been learning about the solar system.
  • She will have been learning about the solar system.
  • They will have been learning about the solar system.
  • I will have been winning the game of chess.
  • You will have been winning the game of chess.
  • He will have been winning the game of chess.
  • She will have been winning the game of chess.
  • They will have been winning the game of chess.
  • I will have been soaking my feet.
  • You will have been soaking your feet.

Importance of Tense Chart in English Grammar

There are 12 tenses in the English language. Each tense has a different function and helps to express different meanings. These tenses can be used in a variety of situations. Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with all twelve tenses and their usage. Below is a chart detailing each tense and when it should be used. Below you will find our present, future and past tense formula chart.

Full Tense Chart with Rules, Tense Formulas, and Examples

English Tenses Chart and Table:
TensesRules and FormulaExamples
Simple Present TenseSubject + Verb in the base form/third person plural form + the rest of the sentenceAndy calls his dog so he can feed him. Alison walks to school with her friends.
Present Continuous TenseSubject + Helping Verb(am/is/are) + Main verb + ing + the rest of the sentenceThe candles are being burned in the church. The children are sleeping in the tent.
Present Perfect TenseSubject + Helping Verb (have/has) + Past participle of the main verb + the rest of the sentence along with the time frameHe has forgotten his backpack. She has hiked the mountain.
Present Perfect Continuous TenseSubject + Have/Has + Been + Verb+ ing + the rest of the sentenceShe has been eating a vegetarian diet. He has been waiting for the rest of his family
Simple Past TenseSubject + Verb + ed/verb in the past tense + the rest of the sentenceWendy chatted with her piano teacher. Faye called a taxi driver.
Past Continuous TenseSubject + Helping Verb(was/were) + Main verb + ing + the rest of the sentenceLaura was clearing the snow today. She was playing in the snow after.
Past Perfect TenseSubject + Helping Verb (had) + Past participle of the main verb + the rest of the sentence along with the time frame.He had attended the dentist for years. She had taken vitamin C in the morning.
Past Perfect Continuous TenseSubject + Had + Been + Verb + ing + the rest of the sentenceShe had been taking supplements for her sore feet. I had been carving pumpkins on Halloween.
Simple Future TenseSubject + will/shall + V1 + ObjectI shall eat better in the New Year. I will eat more vegetables.
Future Continuous TenseSubject + will be/shall be + V1 + ing + ObjectI will be waiting for you to come home. I shall be keeping this onion for leftovers.
Future Perfect TenseSubject + will have/shall have + V3 + ObjectI will have lost my soccer game if I can’t get there in time. I shall have called the doctor.
Future Perfect Continuous TenseSubject + will have been + V1 + ing + ObjectI will have been viewing houses for 3 months before finding something I like. I will be been calling you for 3 hours by the time you answer.

Conclusion

We hope this blog has helped you to understand the importance of using the simple future tense with the charts and examples provided. In conclusion, the simple future tense is used to describe an event that will happen in the future. This tense is formed by using the modal verb “will” followed by the base form of the verb. The simple future tense is important because it helps us to communicate our plans and expectations clearly. Thanks for reading!

Frequently Asked Questions

Future tense rules with examples?


What is the “future” tense? There are two main types of this: the simple future and the present simple future. The simple future is used to describe future plans or intentions, while the present simple is used for predicting future events that are beyond our control.

Here are some examples of the simple future tense formula:

I’m going to study hard for my exams. (planned intention)
The sun is going to rise at 6 am tomorrow. (prediction based on current information)

And here are some simple future-tense sentences:

The new bridge will open next year. (scheduled event)
The match will start at 8 pm. (prediction based on a timetable)
I will speak French fluently one day. (future goal)

Simple future tense structure?


In English, the simple future tense describes an event that will take place in the future. The basic simple future tense examples are as follows: “Subject + will + verb.” For example, “I will go to the store.”

In addition, the simple future tense can be used with modifiers such as “probably” or “definitely” to express different levels of certainty. For example, “I will probably go to the store.” or “I will definitely go to the store.” The simple future tense is a versatile tool that can be used in a variety of situations. With a little practice, you’ll be using it like a native speaker in no time!

Future perfect tense rules?


The future perfect tense is used to describe an action that will be completed at some point in the future. To form the future perfect tense, you need to use the present tense of the verb “to have” followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, “I will have eaten dinner by the time you get home.” In this sentence, “eaten” is the past participle of the verb “to eat.”

Future tense formula?


The simple future tense structure is used to describe events that have not yet happened. It is typically expressed using the formula Subject + Verb + ed/verb in the past tense + the rest of the sentence. These can be in the 1st person or 3rd person depending on the subject matter. These are the basic rules of the future tense, but everything depends on the tense subject. 

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Bethany MacDonald

Bethany MacDonald

Bethany MacDonald has contributed articles LillyPad.ai since 2020. As their Blog Lead, she specialises in informative pieces on culture, education, and language learning

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