FUTURE TENSE USAGE --- FUTURE INDEFINITE TENSE --EXPLANATION WITH EXAMPLES AND EXERCISES

FUTURE TENSE 

In Future Tense work is referred to be done in time to come.

Some grammarians do not consider it as a tense. It is referred as FUTURE TIME REFERENCE.

Future Time in English can be expressed in the following ways:

1. Simple Present Tense.
2. Present Continuous Tense.
3. To be/ be to
4. Be about to
5. Be going to


---- Simple Present Indefinite Tense can be used to express a series of planned actions in the future particularly a journey.

His office starts at 10 a.m.
He goes to see her tomorrow.

----- When the planned action for future is definite, Present Continuous Tense is used.
Boys are taking their examination next Monday.
Guests are coming next week.

----To be or Be to is used to express necessity or duty or something planned for the future.

I am supposed to be there tomorrow at 8 a.m.
I am to finish this book by tomorrow.

----- 'Be about to' is used to express events or actions likely to happen Ina very short time.

We are about to leave for his office.
The train is about to leave.
The guests are about to reach.

----- 'Be going to' is used to express events or actions that happen in the future as a result of present intention or situation.

It is going to rain heavily this winter.
She is not going to'help you.
Prices are not going to be down in recent future.

To express Future Time modals 'Shall or Will' are used.


Use of Future Indefinite Tense :

Future Indefinite Tense is used to :

----express an action that is yet to take place :

Boys will play a match tomorrow.

----express an action of habitual nature.

I shall remind you again and again.

---express the speaker's opinion for something to be done the future. Verbs like believe, know, suppose, think etc. are used in it. Adverbs like perhaps, possibly, surely etc. are also used.

I think they will not come today. I suppose that he will not help you. He will surely reach in time.

--- Shall is used with the first person to express an offer or suggestion.

Shall I open the door?                                           Which dress shall I wear?

---Will is used with the first person to express willingness, determination etc.

I will do it myself.   I will help her under all circumstances. I will not meet her again.

FUTURE INDEFINITE TENSE

In this tense work is done in future time.  Continuity or completion of activity is not mentioned nor considered. The action is to  be in the time to come. So words relating to future time like tomorrow, next day, ensuing month or coming Monday etc are used in this tense.  

For Example :

• I shall go to Delhi.

• John will start his factory.

• Boys will not play a match.

AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES

In Positive sentences helping verbs 'shall or will' with the main verb is used. 

First person. 

In affirmative sentence, In case of First person singular and  plural ‘Shall’ with first form of verb is used. 

For Second & third Person singular and plural ‘will’ with first form of verb is used.

For Example :

• His brother will appear in the examination next year.

• I shall pay all my debts within two months.

• Girls will sing a song,

• You will go to your office in the morning.

NEGATIVE SENTENCES

In negative sentences with ‘shall or will’ not (never) is used before first form of verb. 

For example :

• I shall not waste my time.

• She will not cook food.

• You will not join us.

INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES

In Interrogative sentences shall or will is used before Subject. First form of verb is used. Words like 'never or 'ever' is also used.

Interrogative sign is used at the end  of the sentence.

For Example: 

• Shall we travel by bus?

• Will you fetch me a glass of water?

• Will they go out for a morning walk?

In case of Interrogative sentences starting with words 'wh' , the sentence starts with the word 'wh' followed by will or shall , subject and first form of verb . The sentence ends with a sign of interrogation mark. Examples will clarify the point.


Examples :

Who will bell the cat?

Which boy will lead the team?

Where will you go during vacation?

When will the guests arrive?

How will you  solve this problem?

Why will she not come here?

Whom will the team elect captain?
What will you pay for this?

In certain conditional cases two actions connected with each other are to take place in future. In such cases the sentence relating to earlier action is in Present Indefinite Tense whereas the sentence of the action taking place later is in Future Indefinite Tense.

 For example :

If it rains I shall not go to office tomorrow.

If you permit I shall take your brother along with me.

  

EXERCISE NO  1

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Future Indefinite Tense.

 1. Our guests........ ......... (arrive) here tomorrow.

2. The chairman ....... ......... ( preside) over the meeting.

3. The teacher ......... ........  (punish) those students.

4. I .......... .......  (attend) the office tomorrow.

5. They ........ ....... (visit) you next month.

 EXERCISE NO  2

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Future Indefinite Tense.

1. It ........  not ...........(rain) today.

2. Girls ......... not ........ (sing) songs.

3. You ......... not ......... (pay) the bill.

4. I ........ never ........ (tell) a lie.

5. They ........ not ....... (accompany) you.

EXERCISE NO 3

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Future Indefinite Tense.

1. ......... you .......... (teach) us English?

2. .......... we ........... ( go ) out for a picnic on Sunday?

3. ......... she ........(deliver) a lecture tomorrow?

4. ......... the boys .......... (play) a match the next Sunday?

5. ......... you .......... (lend) me your book?

EXERCISE NO 4

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Future Indefinite Tense.

1. How .........   you ......... ( travel) tomorrow?

2. When .........  you ........... (set) on your journey?

3. Where .......... you ......... (stay) at night?

4. Who .........  .......... (take) decision in the case?

5. Whom ......... you .......... (send) to bring fruit?

EXERCISE NO 5

Fill in the blanks in following conditional sentences using appropriate form of given verb in Future Indefinite Tense as deem fit.

1. If the sun.......... (shine), our clothes....... (go) dry.

2. If you......... ( work ) hard, you ......... certainly...... (get through).

3. I .........( go) only  when you...... (return).

4. If you.........( stay) a little more, we .........(dine) together.

5. I ........( visit)  you if I........ (return) in time in the evening.

 EXERCISE NO 6

Fill in the blanks in following conditional sentences using appropriate form of given verb in Future Indefinite Tense as deem fit.

1. Who ....... (help) you if you .......(not help) others ?

2. Where  you.......( stay ) when you .......(visit) that city? 

3. Whose book  you.........( borrow)  if you .......( need ) one?

4. Why  I .........( borrow)  from you when I ........(have) my book ?

5. How you........( come )out if you ......(fall) into this well?

EXERCISE NO 7

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Future Indefinite Tense.

A true friend ......... always ........... (stand) by you during the time of your difficulties. While other people .......... ........ (vilify) or (ridicule) you in your absence, he .........  ........   (avoid) to criticize you. He ........ not ........ ( blame) you for nothing but instead he .........   .......... (stand) up in your defence. He .......... ........ (support) your all actions through thick and thin.  He .......... ........ (come) to your rescue during days of your calamities. He .......... ......... (try) to share your comforts and woes equally. He ....... ....... (try) to soothe when you feel ruffled. 

EXERCISE NO 8.

Rewrite the Sentences in the following paragraph using Future Indefinite Tense.

A young, educated but unemployed boy decides to leave his house to find out a job for himself. He starts his journey for another town. On his way, after going for some miles, he feels tired. He decides to take some rest. On the side of the road, under a shady tree, he lies on grass. Soon he falls asleep. After a while, an old rich couple having no child of their own, passes that way. The young boy appears very handsome and sweet- natured to them. The old lady expresses her desire to her husband to adopt the young boy as their son. The old man too wants to have a successor but he rejects the idea. Both of them move away. Then there come two young girls talking with each other. They  catch sight of the sleeping young boy. He appears very handsome to them. One of them tells the other her wish to marry the young man. But the other girl rejects the idea because of the whereabouts of the young man being  not known. Both of them go away without taking any decision. Soon thereafter, two scoundrels appear there. They find the sleeping young boy of a very rich family. They think the boy having much money with him. They decide to kill the boy and loot his money. But at that time a loud noise of some boys talking is heard. They appear to be coming towards that side. Fearing of being caught those scoundrels run away without doing anything. At this time the young man also wakes up. He feels having enjoyed a good nap. He gets up.  Unaware of all that happened during his nap he starts his further journey.

(ANSWERS)

EXERCISE NO  1

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Future Indefinite Tense.

 1. Our guests will arrive here tomorrow.

2. The chairman will preside over the meeting.

3. The teacher will punish those students.

4. I shall attend the office tomorrow.

5. They will visit you next month.

 EXERCISE NO  2

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Future Indefinite Tense.

1. It will not rain today.

2. Girls will not sing songs.

3. You will not pay the bill.

4. I shall never tell a lie.

5. They will not accompany you.

EXERCISE NO 3

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Future Indefinite Tense.

1. Will you teach us English?

2. Shall we go out for a picnic on Sunday?

3. Will she deliver a lecture tomorrow?

4. Will the boys play a match the next Sunday?

5. Will you lend me your book?

EXERCISE NO 4

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Future Indefinite Tense.

1. How will you travel tomorrow?

2. When will you set on your journey?

3. Where will you stay at night?

4. Who will take decision in the case?

5. Whom will you send to bring fruit?

EXERCISE NO 5

Fill in the blanks in following conditional sentences using appropriate form of given verb in Future Indefinite Tense as deem fit.

1. If the sun shines, our clothes will go dry.

2. If you work hard, you will certainly get through.

3. I shall go only  when you return.

4. If you stay a little more, we shall dine together.

5. I shall visit you if I return in time in the evening.

EXERCISE NO 6

Fill in the blanks in following conditional sentences using appropriate form of given verb in Future Indefinite Tense as deem fit.

1. Who will help you if you do not help others ?

2. Where will you stay when you visit that city? 

3. Whose book will you borrow if you need one?

4. Why shall I borrow from you when I have my book ?

5. How will you come out if you fall into this well?

EXERCISE NO 7

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Future Indefinite Tense.

A true friend will  always stand by you during the time of your difficulties. While other people will vilify or ridicule you in your absence, he will avoid to criticize you. He will not  blame you for nothing but instead he will stand up in your defence. He will support your all actions through thick and thin.  He will come to your rescue during days of your calamities. He will try to share your comforts and woes equally. He will try to soothe when you feel ruffled.

    

EXERCISE NO 8.

Rewrite the Sentences in the following paragraph using Future Indefinite Tense.

A young, educated but unemployed boy will decide to leave his house to find out a job for himself. He will start his journey for another town. On his way, after going for some miles, he will feel tired. He will decide to take some rest. On the side of the road, under a shady tree, he will lie on grass. Soon he will fall asleep. After a while, an old rich couple having no child of their own, will pass that way. The young boy will appear very handsome and sweet- natured to them. The old lady will  express her desire to her husband to adopt the young boy as their son. The old man will want to have a successor but he will reject the idea. Both of them will move away. Then there will come two young girls talking with each other. They  will catch sight of the sleeping young man. He will appear very handsome to them. One of them will tell the other her wish to marry the young man. But the other girl will reject the idea because of the whereabouts of the young man being  not known. Both of them will go away without taking any decision. Soon thereafter, two scoundrels will appear there. They will find the sleeping young boy of a very rich family. They will think the boy having much money with him. They will decide to kill the boy and loot his money. But at that time a loud noise of some boys talking will be heard. They will   appear to be coming to that side. Fearing of being caught those scoundrels will run away without doing anything. At this time the young man will also wake up. He will  feel having enjoyed a good nap. He will get up. Unaware of all that happened during his nap he will start his further journey.

(Such exercises are for practice only though these may not make much sense or practical meaning)

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