Future Tenses Practice Tests with B1 Grammar Rules & Examples

Future Tenses in English

How do you talk about things that have not happened yet? In English, we use future tenses to talk about plans, predictions, decisions, and scheduled events. At B1 level, it is important to know which future form to use and when.

There are four main ways to talk about the future in English:

• will – for predictions, offers, and instant decisions
• be going to – for plans and predictions based on evidence
• Present Continuous – for fixed arrangements in the near future
• Present Simple – for timetables and schedules

Let's look at each one carefully, starting with a simple situation.

Imagine you are talking to your friend Maria about the weekend. You say:

• "I will help you move house." (a spontaneous offer)
• "I am going to visit my grandmother." (a plan you already have)
• "We are meeting our friends at 7 pm." (a fixed arrangement)
• "The train leaves at 9 am." (a timetable fact)

Each sentence is about the future, but each one uses a different form. Let's find out why.

Future Tense 1: Will

Will is one of the most common ways to talk about the future. We use it in several important situations.

When Do We Use Will?

• For predictions – things we think or believe will happen in the future
• For spontaneous decisions – decisions made at the moment of speaking
• For offers and promises
• For facts about the future

How to Form Will

The structure is very simple:

Subject + will + base verb

The base verb is the infinitive form without "to" (e.g. go, eat, work, be).

Positive: Subject + will + base verb
Negative: Subject + will not (won't) + base verb
Question: Will + subject + base verb?

Subject	Positive	Negative	Question
I	I will go	I will not go / I won't go	Will I go?
You	You will go	You won't go	Will you go?
He / She / It	He will go	He won't go	Will he go?
We	We will go	We won't go	Will we go?
They	They will go	They won't go	Will they go?

Note: will not is contracted to won't in informal speech and writing.

Examples of Will in Use

Prediction:
"It will be cold tomorrow."
"I think she will pass her exam."

Spontaneous decision:
(The phone rings.) "I will answer it!"
(You are in a café and the waiter asks what you want.) "I will have the pasta, please."

Offer:
"You look tired. I will carry your bag."

Promise:
"I will always be your friend."

Future Tense 2: Be Going To

Be going to is used when we already have a plan or when something seems very likely to happen because of what we can see now.

When Do We Use Be Going To?

• For plans and intentions – things you have already decided to do
• For predictions based on evidence – when you can see or feel that something is about to happen

How to Form Be Going To

Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb

Positive: Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb
Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + going to + base verb
Question: Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base verb?

Subject	Positive	Negative	Question
I	I am going to study	I am not going to study	Am I going to study?
You	You are going to study	You aren't going to study	Are you going to study?
He / She / It	She is going to study	She isn't going to study	Is she going to study?
We	We are going to study	We aren't going to study	Are we going to study?
They	They are going to study	They aren't going to study	Are they going to study?

Examples of Be Going To in Use

Plan / intention:
"I am going to start a new job next month." (I already decided this.)
"We are going to travel to Italy in the summer." (We have already planned this.)

Prediction based on evidence:
(You look at the dark clouds in the sky.) "It is going to rain!"
(A footballer runs towards the goal.) "He is going to score!"

Future Tense 3: Present Continuous for the Future

You may already know the Present Continuous tense for talking about things happening right now. But we also use it to talk about fixed arrangements in the future – especially when a time and/or place has already been decided.

When Do We Use Present Continuous for the Future?

• For fixed arrangements – appointments, bookings, and confirmed plans with other people
• Usually used with a future time expression (e.g. tonight, tomorrow, next week, on Friday)

How to Form Present Continuous

Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing

Subject	Positive	Negative	Question
I	I am meeting Tom tonight.	I am not meeting Tom tonight.	Am I meeting Tom tonight?
You	You are flying to Paris tomorrow.	You aren't flying to Paris.	Are you flying to Paris?
He / She / It	She is seeing the doctor on Monday.	She isn't seeing the doctor.	Is she seeing the doctor?
We	We are having dinner at 8.	We aren't having dinner at 8.	Are we having dinner at 8?
They	They are arriving at noon.	They aren't arriving at noon.	Are they arriving at noon?

Examples of Present Continuous for the Future

"I am meeting my manager tomorrow morning." (The meeting is in the diary.)
"We are flying to Barcelona next Friday." (We have already booked the flights.)
"She is starting her new course on Monday." (It is confirmed and scheduled.)

Future Tense 4: Present Simple for Timetables and Schedules

We sometimes use the Present Simple tense to talk about future events that are part of a fixed timetable or schedule – things like transport, films, classes, and opening times.

When Do We Use Present Simple for the Future?

• For timetables – train times, flight times, bus times
• For scheduled events – lessons, shows, matches
• The event is fixed and official – it does not depend on a personal decision

Examples of Present Simple for the Future

"The train leaves at 6:45 am."
"The film starts at 8 pm."
"Our English class finishes at 4 o'clock."
"The museum opens at 10 am tomorrow."

Note: We only use this form for scheduled, official events – not for personal plans or decisions.

Important Differences Between Future Tenses

The four future forms can sometimes seem very similar. Here is a clear guide to help you choose the right one.

Will vs Be Going To

This is one of the most common areas of confusion. Study the differences carefully:

Situation	Use	Example
Prediction – personal opinion or belief	will	"I think it will snow tomorrow."
Prediction – based on something you can see now	be going to	"Look at the sky! It's going to snow."
Spontaneous decision (decided right now)	will	"The bag looks heavy. I'll carry it for you."
Plan already decided before speaking	be going to	"I'm going to join a gym next week." (already decided)
Offer or promise	will	"I will call you later, I promise."

Be Going To vs Present Continuous

Both of these can describe future plans, but there is a small but important difference:

Form	Meaning	Example
Be going to	A general intention or plan – the details may not be fully fixed	"I'm going to visit my parents sometime next month."
Present Continuous	A specific, confirmed arrangement – time, place, and people are fixed	"I'm visiting my parents this Saturday at 3 pm."

Time Expressions That Signal Future Tenses

Certain words and phrases often appear with future tenses. Learning these will help you recognise and choose the correct form.

Time Expression	Example
tomorrow	"She will call you tomorrow."
next week / month / year	"They are going to move next month."
tonight	"We are having dinner with friends tonight."
soon	"The results will be ready soon."
in the future	"I think robots will do many jobs in the future."
on Friday / Monday	"The concert starts on Friday at 7 pm."
at + time	"The bus leaves at 9:15."
this Saturday / Sunday	"I'm playing tennis this Saturday."

Contractions With Future Tenses

In spoken English and informal writing, we often use contractions – shortened forms of words joined together. Here are the most important contractions for future tenses:

Full Form	Contraction	Example
I will	I'll	"I'll see you tomorrow."
You will	You'll	"You'll love this film!"
He will	He'll	"He'll be here at 8."
She will	She'll	"She'll call you back."
We will	We'll	"We'll be there soon."
They will	They'll	"They'll arrive at noon."
will not	won't	"I won't be late."
I am going to	I'm going to	"I'm going to study tonight."
She is going to	She's going to	"She's going to start a new job."
They are going to	They're going to	"They're going to get married."

In informal speech, going to is often pronounced and sometimes written as gonna. For example: "I'm gonna call her later." However, avoid using gonna in formal or written English.

Common Mistakes With Future Tenses

Here are the most common mistakes that B1 learners make with future tenses. Study them carefully so you can avoid them.

Mistake 1: Using Will for a Pre-Planned Event

❌ "I will go to the dentist on Thursday. I booked it last week."
✅ "I am going to go / I am going to the dentist on Thursday." (It was already planned or arranged.)

Mistake 2: Using Be Going To for a Spontaneous Decision

❌ (The phone rings.) "I am going to answer it!"
✅ "I will answer it!" (This is a decision made right now, in the moment.)

Mistake 3: Forgetting the Base Verb After Will

❌ "She will goes to work tomorrow."
✅ "She will go to work tomorrow." (After will, always use the base verb – no -s, no -ing, no -ed.)

Mistake 4: Using a Future Tense After Time Conjunctions

❌ "I will call you when I will arrive."
✅ "I will call you when I arrive." (After words like when, after, before, as soon as, until, use the Present Simple – not a future tense.)

Mistake 5: Confusing Present Continuous With Going To for Arrangements

❌ "I am going to see the doctor at 3 pm tomorrow." (This is possible but less natural when a specific time is confirmed.)
✅ "I am seeing the doctor at 3 pm tomorrow." (Use Present Continuous for confirmed, specific arrangements.)

Mistake 6: Using Will for Timetable Events

❌ "The train will leave at 8:30."
✅ "The train leaves at 8:30." (For official timetables and schedules, use the Present Simple.)

Mistake 7: Wrong Form of Be With Going To

❌ "He going to call you later." / "She are going to travel next week."
✅ "He is going to call you later." / "She is going to travel next week." (Always match am/is/are to the subject.)

Future Tenses: Quick Summary

Here is a complete overview of all four future tenses at a glance:

Future Form	Use It For	Example
Will	Predictions (opinion), spontaneous decisions, offers, promises	"I think it will rain." / "I'll get the door!"
Be Going To	Plans and intentions already decided, predictions based on evidence	"I'm going to start a new course." / "It's going to fall!"
Present Continuous	Confirmed, fixed arrangements (with specific time/place)	"We're having lunch with Ana at 1 pm."
Present Simple	Official timetables and schedules	"The flight departs at 6 am."

Key things to remember about future tenses:

• Use will + base verb for predictions and spontaneous decisions.
• Use am/is/are going to + base verb for plans you made before speaking.
• Use Present Continuous for confirmed arrangements with a set time or place.
• Use Present Simple for timetables and scheduled events.
• After time conjunctions like when, before, after, as soon as, do not use a future tense – use Present Simple instead.
• Will not contracts to won't. Never forget the base verb after will.
• Always use the correct form of be (am/is/are) with going to.

Now practise future tenses in the exercises below.