Future tense(simple, continuous, perfect, perfect contunuous)

Question

I'm very confused about using the future tense, and i have some examples but i don't understand why are they using these tenses. Can anyone explain to me why. Thanks

Ex: This time next year, this garden will be looking beautiful.

I will be staying with you tonight.

I will have studied English when you get home.

I have been living in Britain for the rest of my life.

Compare: He will be helping us to paint our house.

He will help us to paint our house.

I don't use my car today, so you can borrow it.

I won't be using my car today, so you can borrow it.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,
Here are comments on the meanings of each tense usage.

I'm very confused about using the future tense, and i have some examples but i don't understand why are they using these tenses. Can anyone explain to me why. Thanks
Ex: This time next year, this garden will be looking beautiful. A prediction that there wil in the future be a oeriod of looking beautiful

I will be staying with you tonight. States a future intention or plan.

I will have studied English when you get home. The activity of studying English will occur in the future, and will be ended by the time you get home.

I have been living in Britain for the rest of my life. This refers to a period of time in the past, lasting up to the time of speaking.
'For the rest of my life' is an odd expression here, as it suggests 'until my death'.

Compare: He will be helping us to paint our house. Explains or predicts a future activity.

He will help us to paint our house. Indicates a future event.

I don't use my car today, Assume today is Friday. The speaker means it is not his habit to use his car on Fridays so you can borrow it.

I won't be using my car today, Explains a future plan or prediction

so you can borrow it.

Any qustions about this?

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

Phoenix Einstein1. He will be helping us to paint our house.
2. He will help us to paint our house.

Here is one possible way we might characterize the difference between the simple and continuous forms of the future.

1. The listener is invited to imagine a scene in the future in which he is actively working together with us, helping us, painting our house as we too are painting our house.
2. The listener is invited to imagine a project to paint the house which will begin at some time in the future. As part of the arrangements that were made for the project, help was found. "He" will help once we begin the work.

In short, the focus is different:

1. The scene of activity as it will look in the future.

2. An arrangement made for work to be accomplished in the future.

CJ

Phoenix Einstein · Answer

Thanks for explaning, but i still don't you how to use these tenses. Could give some specific examples please. Thanks

Clive · Answer

Hi,
Try this approach to begin with.
Tell us your plans for tomorrow.

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

Phoenix Einstein i I still don't you how to use these tenses.

No matter how many times and in how many different ways you hear it explained, it will do no good -- or very little. There is no magic formula. You have to imitate native speakers. Use these tenses the way you hear others use them.

In the meantime, try posting specific sentences that you have doubts about.

CJ

Future tense(simple, continuous, perfect, perfect contunuous)

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions