Future forms in english

Future simple
WILL + VERB
SHALL+ VERB
Used for: immediate decisions, offers, promises, requests
I think I‘ll phone her right now.
Shall I open the window?
I‘ll help you.

Future continuous
WILL + BE DOING
I will be in the middle of doing sth.
This time next week I‘ll be lying on the beach.
Later on the programme, I‘ll be talking to the Minister of Education.

Present continuous
I‘M DOING STH.
Arrangements, plans already decided
What are you doing on Sunday?
Alex is getting married next month.
I‘m meeting Ann for lunch tomorrow.

Present simple
I DO STH.
Timetables, schedules, programmes, fixed plans
My train leaves at 10.30.
The film begins at 7pm.
I start my new job on Monday.

Going to
I‘M GOING TO DO STH.
STH. IS GOING TO HAPPEN
Plans already decided, intentions, preditions from evidence
He‘s going to fall down.
I‘m just going to make a quick phone call.

Future perfect simple
WILL HAVE DONE
Sth. will be completed before a time in the future
We‘re late. The film will already have started by the time we get to the cinema.
Next year, we will have been married for 10 years.

Future perfect continuous
WILL HAVE BEEN DOING STH
Sth. will be happening before a time in the future
I‘ve been working here for 24 years. Next year, I will have been working here for 25 years.

I might…
I MIGHT (NOT) DO STH.
Probability, possibility, option, not sure…
I might be late tonight. It depends on the traffic.
If I lost my job, I might start my own business.

I‘m about to…
TO BE ABOUT TO DO STH.
Informal construction, similar to going to, to be close to doing sth.
I was just about to ask you the same thing.
I‘ve never done any cooking and I‘m not about to start now!

To be + infinitive
TO BE + INFINITIVE
Formal, newspaper, instructions
He is to become the next Prime Minister.
Children are not to be left alone here.
A mother-to-be