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:

• past tense
• present tense
• future tense

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 Tenses	Examples	Uses
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.

Tense
What is Tense? Type of tense Table of English Tenses	Tense at a glance Structure of All Tense
Present Tense
What Is the Present Tense? Simple Present Tense Present Continuous Tense	Present Perfect Tense Present perfect continuous tense Present Conditional Tense
Past Tense
What Is the Past Tense? Simple Past Tense Past Continuous Tense	Past Perfect Tense Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Future Tense
Future Tense Simple Future Tense Future Continuous Tense	Future Perfect Tense Future Perfect Continuous Tense Conditional Sentences