Quiz time: the future
Test your knowledge and learn about future forms
Hello!
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Now for today’s lesson!
Do you know how many verb tenses there are in English? The answer might surprise you! Strictly speaking, there are only two: the present and the past! (Of course, it depends on what you mean by a tense. In the classroom, we talk about continuous, perfect and passive but these are not really tenses.)
A big problem in English is that we don't really have a future tense! Instead, we use modal verbs (especially will), be going to, present continuous and present simple to talk about the future most of the time.
The biggest mistake that learners make is to use "will" for plans. Now if you only remember one thing from this email, remember this: we DON’T use "will" for plans!
Now test what you know about future forms with this quiz. You’ll find the answers at the bottom.
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb: will, shall, be going to, present continuous or present simple.
1. I think more and more people ________ (study) online in the future.
a will study
b shall study
c are studying
2. Look at those clouds! It ________ (rain).
a will rain
b shall rain
c is going to rain
3. They ________ (get) married sometime next year but they haven’t picked a date yet.
a shall get
b are going to get
c get
4. She doesn’t know yet? Don’t worry. I ________ (tell) her.
a will tell
b am going to tell
c am telling
5. Those books look heavy. I ________ (help) you.
a will help
b am helping
c help
6. ____ we ____ (go) to the cinema tomorrow?
a Will we go
b Shall we go
c Do we go
7. I ________ (not tell) anyone. I promise.
a won’t tell
b am not telling
c don’t tell
8. I ________ (meet) Jane for lunch at 12.30 tomorrow.
a will meet
b am meeting
c am going to meet
9. My flight ________ (be) at 9.30 tomorrow morning.
a will be
b is being
c is
10. He ________ (be) 10 years old next month.
a will be
b shall be
c is being
The answers and explanations are at the end.
If you would like to learn more about these future forms, read this blog post.
You might also like to try these quizzes:
And if you are ready for more help with tenses, remember you can sign up for a paid membership and access all my past verb tense lessons here.
See you next time!
Katie 💙
Answers:
1 a
I think more and more people WILL STUDY online in the future.
(We usually use “will” for predictions ...)
2 c
Look at those clouds! It IS GOING TO RAIN.
(... but we use “going to” when we can see the clues)
3 b
They ARE GOING TO GET married sometime next year but they haven’t picked a date yet.
(Use “going to” for plans and intentions, previously decided ...)
4 a
She doesn’t know yet? Don’t worry. I’LL TELL her. (or I WILL TELL)
(... but “will” when you decide and speak at the same moment.)
5 a
Those books look heavy. I’LL HELP you. (or I WILL HELP)
(Use “will” for an offer of help.)
6 b
SHALL we GO to the cinema tomorrow?
(Use “shall” to make a suggestion.)
7 a
I WON’T TELL anyone. I promise. (or WILL NOT TELL)
(Use “will” for promises. Won’t = will not)
8 b
I’M MEETING Jane for lunch at 12.30 tomorrow. (or I AM MEETING)
(We usually use the present continuous for arrangements and appointments but “I’m going to meet” is also possible.)
9 c
My flight IS at 9.30 tomorrow morning.
(We usually use present simple for things on a fixed schedule or timetable.)
10 a
He’LL BE 10 years old next month. (or HE WILL BE)
(Use “will” for future facts.)