What is Future Tense? Classify future tense and discuss each type in detail with concepts, rules & examples.

What is Future Tense? Classify future tense and discuss each type in detail with rules & examples.

What is future tense?

The time of an action that will occur in the future is called future tense.

In short, it is the future time of an action. 

For example –

 I shall play cricket.

 We shall play together.

 You will play with us.

 He will be our coach.

 She will prepare some snacks.

 People will be encouraging us.

 The boys will have run to and fro.

Types of Future Tense:-

Like Present and Past, Future tense is also divided into four subdivisions. These are –

1. Future Indefinite Tense

2. Future Continuous Tense

3. Future Perfect Tense

4. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

 

1. Future Indefinite Tense

The time of actions that will take place in future is termed as future indefinite tense. 

It is also known as Simple Future Tense.

Examples include –

• I shall come tomorrow.

• You will read newspaper next year.

• He will pass the exam.

• They will behave politely.

Sentence structure:-

Subject + Shall/Will + V1( present form of verb) + Object + Complement.

Use of Shall:-

In future indefinite tense shall is used with 1st person singular and plural number (I & we).

For instance:

• I shall take the test.

• We shall answer these questions.

Use of Will :-

In future tense will is used with 2nd & 3rd person singular and plural numbers ( You/He/She/It/They/Singular/Plural noun)

Model examples:-

 I shall fly kite.

 We shall bathe in the river.

 You will learn this lesson.

 He will give up politics.

 She will win the match.

 Mr. Basu will receive our chief guest.

 Mr. & Mrs. Gupta will attend the ceremony.

N.B. 1. Generally Shall agrees with 1st person Singular and Plural number & Will agrees with both the 2nd and 3rd person Singular and Plural number but Shall &Will replaces each other when there is a sense of strong intention or determination.

E.g. 

• I will pass the final exam.

• He shall solve the problem.

N.B. 2. If an action is designed to take place in the near future , Present Continuous Tense is used in lieu of Simple Future Tense.

E.g. 

• My brothers are going to Delhi tomorrow.

• Students are coming here to practice reasoning.

Use of Future Indefinite Tense:-

Simple future tense is used to express –

 Future actions, actions that will take place in future.

2. Future Continuous Tense

The time of all actions that will continue in future is called future continuous tense.

It is also known as Future Progressive Tense.

Examples include –

 I shall be writing with pencil.

 You will be helping the needy.

 They will be watching television.

 Rina will be cooking food.

 Rakesh & Brajesh will be playing together.

Sentence structure :-

Subject + Shall/ Will + be + V4 ( present participle/verb+ing) + object + complement.

Use of Shall/Will:-

Same as mentioned in future indefinite tense.

Model examples:-

 Rana will be singing here for us.

 The musicians will be playing the musical instruments.

 The old lady will be walking to her home.

 We shall be coming around the mountains.

 I shall be brooding over the weekend plans.

Use of Future Progressive Tense:-

The future continuous tense is used to express all the actions that will continue in the future.

3. Future Perfect Tense:-

The time of all actions that will be completed by a  predefined time in the future is called future perfect tense.

In case there are two actions, the former will be expressed in Future Perfect Tense & the latter will be written in Simple Present Tense.

For example –

 I shall have finished my assignment by the evening.

 We shall have returned home before the Sun sets.

 The President will have signed the bill before it reaches the Supreme Court.

Sentence structure:-

Subject + shall have/ will have + V3 ( past participle form) + object + others.

Use of Shall/Will:-

Same as mentioned in future indefinite tense.

Model example:-

 I shall have finished my project by the forthcoming August.

 He will have published the content before our address is ready.

 They will have enjoyed the party before it strikes 12a.m.

 The police will have caught the decoits before they leave the house. 

Use of Future Perfect Tense:-

It is used to express all actions that will be finished by a definite time ahead.

4. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

The time of an action which will be continuing till a predefined time in the future is called future perfect continuous tense.

Sentence structure:-

Subject + Shall have been/Will have been + V4 + Object + Complement.

In case there are two actions, the former should be written in future perfect continuous tense, and the latter in simple present tense.

Model examples:-

 I shall have been reading the book until my father returns home.

 Doli will have been teaching English through the next 20 years.

 Our teacher will be guiding us till the exam is over.

Use of Future Perfect Continuous Tense:-

To express any action in progress within a prefixed period of time in the future.

Highlights of The Future Tense:-

 The time of an action is called tense.

 The time of all actions of future is called future tense.

 Future tense is divided into four subdivisions.

 simple future tense is used to express future actions, actions that will take place in future.

 The future continuous tense is used to express all action that will continue in the future.

 Future perfect tense is used to express all actions that will be finished by a definite time ahead.

 Future perfect continuous tense is used to express any action in progress within a prefixed period of time in the future.

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