Ultimate Future Forms in English Course

Mastering Future Forms: A Self-Study Course

The course includes five in-depth lessons, each focusing on a specific future form: simple present, present continuous, going to, will, and a final lesson to integrate all forms. Each lesson provides detailed explanations, positive and negative examples, practical tips, and robust practice exercises. The course concludes with a 20-question multiple-choice quiz on future forms.

We’ve incorporated Mexican cultural references, like festivals, family gatherings, and travel plans, to make learning engaging and relevant. Practice by repeating examples aloud, writing your own sentences, and applying the forms to your plans, like a weekend trip to Chichén Itzá or a posada with friends. Let’s dive in and master English future forms!

Lesson 1: Simple Present for Future

Overview

The simple present is used for future events that are fixed or scheduled, such as public transportation timetables, event schedules, or official calendars. These are events beyond your control, like the start time of a Día de Muertos parade or a flight departure. It conveys certainty and is common for official or recurring events, such as checking the schedule for a Feria del Mole.

Structure

  • Positive: Subject + verb (add -s for he/she/it).
  • Negative: Subject + do/does + not + base verb.

Key Uses

  • Schedules: Flights, buses, trains, or classes (e.g., “The bus leaves at 7 PM.”).
  • Public events: Festivals, concerts, or exhibitions (e.g., “The museum opens at 9 AM.”).
  • Fixed routines: Regular events or holidays (e.g., “The market closes at 10 PM.”).

Examples in Real-Life Situations

  • Positive: The flight to Mexico City departs at 9 AM tomorrow. (A scheduled flight for your vacation.)
  • Negative: The Frida Kahlo exhibit doesn’t open until next month. (A museum schedule in Coyoacán.)
  • Positive: My English course starts on Monday at 6 PM. (A fixed online class you’ve enrolled in.)
  • Negative: The Día de Muertos market doesn’t close until midnight. (A cultural event’s hours in Oaxaca.)
  • Positive: The zócalo concert begins at 7:30 PM. (A free public event in your city.)
  • Negative: The train to Guadalajara doesn’t run on Sundays. (A fixed transportation schedule.)

Practical Tips

  • Use the simple present for anything with a timetable or calendar, like a soccer match or festival.
  • Think of it as “set in stone” – you can’t change these events.
  • Common time expressions: tomorrow, next week, on Monday, at 8 PM.
  • Practice by checking real schedules (e.g., a local fiesta or bus timetable) and writing sentences.

Practice Exercises

  1. Complete the sentences with the correct simple present form (positive or negative).
    • The bus to Oaxaca ___ (depart) at 6 PM tonight.
    • The posada party ___ (not start) before 8 PM.
    • The concert in the zócalo ___ (begin) at 7:30 PM.
    • The museum in Mérida ___ (not open) on Mondays.
    • The Feria del Mole ___ (end) at 10 PM this Sunday.
  2. Write two positive and two negative sentences about real schedules in your life (e.g., a movie, a festival, a class, or public transport).
  3. Create a short paragraph (3–4 sentences) about a scheduled event in your town, like a festival or public transport, using the simple present.

Answers

Answers

  1. departs; doesn’t start; begins; doesn’t open; ends
  2. Examples: The soccer match starts at 8 PM. / The festival opens next Friday. / The store doesn’t open until 10 AM. / The bus doesn’t arrive before noon.
  3. Example: The Independence Day celebration starts at 9 PM in the zócalo. The fireworks display begins at 10 PM. The market doesn’t close until midnight.


Lesson 2: Present Continuous for Future

Overview

The present continuous is used for fixed personal plans in the near future, where arrangements have already been made. These are your personal commitments, like meeting friends for tacos or booking a trip to Cancún, not official schedules. Think of planning a quinceañera or a weekend getaway to Puerto Escondido. It emphasizes that the plan is confirmed and happening soon.

Structure

  • Positive: Subject + am/is/are + verb + -ing.
  • Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + verb + -ing.

Key Uses

  • Personal plans: Meetings, trips, or social events you’ve confirmed (e.g., “I’m visiting my family tomorrow.”).
  • Arrangements: Plans with bookings or agreements (e.g., “We’re staying at a hotel in Tulum.”).
  • Near future: Usually within days or weeks, not years.

Examples in Real-Life Situations

  • Positive: I’m meeting my friends for tacos tonight at La Taquería. (A dinner plan you’ve confirmed.)
  • Negative: We’re not going to Cancún this weekend; we canceled the trip. (A changed travel plan.)
  • Positive: She’s visiting her grandmother in Guadalajara next week. (A planned family visit.)
  • Negative: They’re not attending the Feria del Mole tomorrow; they’re busy. (Declining a cultural event.)
  • Positive: We’re decorating the Día de Muertos altar on Saturday. (A planned cultural activity.)
  • Negative: He’s not joining the posada party this year. (Opting out of a holiday event.)

Practical Tips

  • Use this for plans you’ve already arranged, like booking a restaurant or buying tickets.
  • It’s more personal than the simple present and involves your own decisions.
  • Common time expressions: tonight, this weekend, next week, on Saturday.
  • Practice by listing your upcoming plans (e.g., a family event or trip) and writing sentences.

Practice Exercises

  1. Complete the sentences with the correct present continuous form.
    • We ___ (visit) the pyramids in Teotihuacán on Saturday.
    • He ___ (not travel) to Puerto Vallarta this month.
    • They ___ (organize) a Día de Muertos altar next week.
    • I ___ (not meet) my cousins for dinner tomorrow.
    • She ___ (attend) a concert in the zócalo this evening.
  2. Write two positive and two negative sentences about personal plans you have (e.g., a trip, a party, a meeting, or a cultural event).
  3. Create a short paragraph (3–4 sentences) about your plans for a weekend or holiday, using the present continuous.

Answers

Answers

1. are visiting; isn’t traveling; are organizing; am not meeting; is attending; are staying

2. Examples: I’m meeting my friends for coffee tomorrow. / We’re visiting Oaxaca next month. / She’s attending the festival on Saturday. / I’m not going to the concert this weekend. / They’re not traveling to the beach this summer. / He’s not joining the party tonight.

3. Example: I’m meeting my family for a taquiza this Saturday. We’re decorating the house for Día de Muertos. I’m not going to the concert because I’m busy. We’re visiting the market on Sunday.


Lesson 3: Going to + Verb for Future

Overview

The be going to + verb structure is used for intentions (plans you’ve decided on) or predictions based on evidence (something you see coming). It’s ideal for talking about your goals, like preparing tamales for a fiesta, or predicting outcomes, like rain based on dark clouds. This form feels deliberate and is grounded in your decisions or observations.

Structure

  • Positive: Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb.
  • Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + going to + base verb.

Key Uses

  • Intentions: Plans you’ve decided to carry out (e.g., “I’m going to cook mole.”).
  • Predictions with evidence: Things likely to happen based on current signs (e.g., “It’s going to rain; look at the sky!”).
  • Personal decisions: Choices you’ve made about the future (e.g., “I’m going to study English every day.”).

Examples in Real-Life Situations

Positive: I’m going to make tamales for the family party. (An intention for a gathering.)

Negative: She’s not going to buy a new dress for the quinceañera. (A decision not to buy.)

Positive: It’s going to rain this afternoon; look at those dark clouds! (A prediction based on weather signs.)

Negative: They’re not going to win the soccer match; they’re exhausted. (A prediction based on performance.)

Positive: We’re going to visit Chichén Itzá next month. (A planned trip.)

Negative: I’m not going to join the posada this year; I’m too busy. (A personal decision.)

Positive: I’m going to learn to make pan de muerto for Día de Muertos. (A learning goal.)

Negative: He’s not going to attend the Feria del Mole because he’s working. (A decision based on schedule.)

Practical Tips

Use going to when you’ve made a decision or see clear evidence for a future event.

It’s more intentional than will (which is often spontaneous) and more personal than simple present.

Common time expressions: this afternoon, next month, soon, later.

Practice by thinking about your goals (e.g., cooking for a fiesta) or observing signs (e.g., weather) and writing sentences.

Say your sentences aloud to practice the flow of going to in conversation.

Practice Exercises

  1. Complete the sentences with the correct form of going to.
    • I ___ (cook) mole for the Día de Muertos celebration.
    • We ___ (not visit) the beach because of the storm.
    • Look at the traffic! We ___ (be) late for the fiesta.
    • They ___ (buy) decorations for the Independence Day party.
    • He ___ (not attend) the concert because he’s sick.
    • She ___ (prepare) a taquiza for her family next weekend.
  2. Write three positive and three negative sentences about an intention or prediction (e.g., a plan for a holiday, a family event, or something you expect to happen).
  3. Create a short paragraph (4–5 sentences) about your intentions or predictions for an upcoming event, using going to.

Answers

Answers

1. am going to cook; aren’t going to visit; are going to be; are going to buy; isn’t going to attend; is going to prepare

2. Examples: I’m going to visit my family in Monterrey next month. / We’re going to make pan de muerto for the altar. / She’s going to plan a quinceañera party. / It’s not going to rain this evening. / They’re not going to finish the project on time. / He’s not going to join the festival.

3. Example: I’m going to prepare tamales for the Día de Muertos party. It’s going to be a big celebration with my family. We’re not going to stay up too late because of work the next day. It’s going to be a memorable event!


Lesson 4: Will for Future

Overview

The will structure is used for spontaneous decisions, predictions without evidence, promises, or offers. Unlike going to, it’s often decided at the moment of speaking or used for general future beliefs, like offering to help at a posada or predicting future trends. It’s about possibilities or instant choices, not pre-planned actions.

Structure

  • Positive: Subject + will + base verb.
  • Negative: Subject + will not (won’t) + base verb.

Key Uses

  • Spontaneous decisions: Choices made now (e.g., “I’ll call you later.”).
  • Predictions without evidence: General beliefs about the future (e.g., “People will travel to Mars someday.”).
  • Promises/Offers: Commitments or help (e.g., “I’ll bring the pan de muerto.”).

Examples in Real-Life Situations

Positive: I’ll call you when I arrive in Cancún. (A spontaneous decision during a conversation.)

Negative: I won’t forget to bring the pan de muerto for the Día de Muertos altar. (A promise.)

Positive: People will travel more to space in the future. (A general prediction about technology.)

Negative: We won’t finish the project by tomorrow; it’s too big. (A prediction based on opinion.)

Positive: I’ll help you set up the taquiza this evening. (An offer to assist.)

Negative: She won’t join the Feria del Mole; she’s not feeling well. (A spontaneous decision.)

Positive: I’ll buy some flowers for the posada decorations. (An offer.)

Negative: They won’t attend the concert; they’re too tired. (A prediction.)

Practical Tips

Use will for decisions made on the spot or when you’re not basing predictions on immediate evidence.

It’s great for offering help or making promises, common in friendly Mexican gatherings.

Common time expressions: later, soon, in the future, tomorrow.

Practice by imagining spontaneous offers or predictions (e.g., helping at a fiesta) and writing sentences.

Say your sentences aloud to practice the natural rhythm of will and won’t.

Practice Exercises

  1. Complete the sentences with will or won’t.
    • I ___ (help) you decorate the Día de Muertos altar.
    • She ___ (not come) to the taquiza because she’s busy.
    • The team ___ (win) the championship, I think.
    • We ___ (visit) the museum if we have time.
    • He ___ (not buy) tickets for the concert.
    • I ___ (bring) extra candles for the posada.
  2. Write three positive and three negative sentences using will for a spontaneous decision, promise, offer, or prediction (e.g., helping a friend, a future trend, or a last-minute choice).
  3. Create a short paragraph (4–5 sentences) about spontaneous decisions or predictions for an upcoming event, using will.

Answers

Answers

1. will help; won’t come; will win; will visit; won’t buy; will bring

2. Examples: I’ll bring extra candles for the party. / We’ll watch the fireworks together. / I’ll help with the taquiza setup. / I won’t forget to call you tomorrow. / They won’t travel abroad this year. / She won’t join the festival this time.

3. Example: I’ll help my family set up the Día de Muertos altar this weekend. I won’t forget to bring flowers for the decorations. If we need more supplies, I’ll go to the market. It’ll be a great celebration!


Lesson 5: Bringing It All Together

Overview

Now that you’ve learned the four main future forms, let’s review their uses and practice choosing the right one. Each form has a distinct purpose, and understanding the context will help you use them naturally in conversations about fiestas, travel, or daily plans. Here’s a recap:

  • Simple Present: Fixed schedules or official events (e.g., flights, Día de Muertos parades).
  • Present Continuous: Fixed personal plans with arrangements (e.g., meeting friends for a taquiza).
  • Going to: Intentions or predictions with evidence (e.g., cooking for a fiesta or expecting rain).
  • Will: Spontaneous decisions, promises, offers, or general predictions (e.g., offering to help or predicting future trends).

Choosing the Right Form

Context matters: Is it a fixed schedule (simple present), a personal plan (present continuous), an intention/evidence-based prediction (going to), or a spontaneous choice/promise (will)?

Time clues: Words like tomorrow, next week, or soon can work with multiple forms, so focus on the situation.

Practice tip: Write sentences about your own life to internalize the differences, like planning a Semana Santa trip or a family event.

Combine forms in a single conversation to sound natural, like planning a fiesta with both scheduled and personal elements.

Examples in a Real-Life Scenario

Imagine you’re planning a Día de Muertos celebration:

Simple Present: The Día de Muertos parade starts at 6 PM in the zócalo. (A fixed event on the town’s calendar.)

Present Continuous: We’re visiting the cemetery tomorrow to decorate graves. (A confirmed plan with family.)

Going to: I’m going to bake pan de muerto for the altar. (An intention you’ve decided on.)

Will: I’ll bring extra candles if we need them. (A spontaneous offer during the planning.)

Combined: The festival begins at 7 PM, so we’re meeting friends there. I’m going to bring some snacks, and I’ll help clean up afterward.

Practice Exercises

  1. Complete the sentences with the correct future form.
    • The flight to Puerto Vallarta ___ (leave) at 10 AM tomorrow. (Simple Present)
    • We ___ (meet) at the zócalo for the Independence Day festival. (Present Continuous)
    • I ___ (make) churros for the family party. (Going to)
    • I ___ (call) you if I’m late for the taquiza. (Will)
    • The museum ___ (not open) until next week. (Simple Present)
    • They ___ (not attend) the concert this weekend. (Present Continuous)
    • We ___ (not finish) the decorations on time; we need help. (Will)
    • It ___ (be) hot tomorrow; look at the weather forecast! (Going to)
  2. Write four sentences about planning a Mexican holiday (e.g., Semana Santa, Independence Day, or Día de Muertos), one for each future form. Include one positive and one negative sentence for any form.
  3. Create a short paragraph (5–6 sentences) about your plans for a weekend, using at least three different future forms.

Answers

Answers

1. leaves; are meeting; am going to make; will call; doesn’t open; aren’t attending; won’t finish; is going to be

2. Examples: The Semana Santa procession starts at 7 PM. / I’m visiting my family in Puebla next weekend. / I’m going to cook pozole for the Independence Day party. / I won’t forget to bring decorations for the event.

3. Example: This weekend, I’m going to visit my family in Oaxaca to prepare for Día de Muertos. The market opens at 8 AM, so we’ll buy flowers early. I’m meeting my cousins for tacos on Saturday evening. If we need more candles for the altar, I’ll buy some at the store. We’re not going to stay up late because of work on Monday.