Future Simple | Future Progressive
A comparison between the Future Simple and the Future Progressive
- The Future Simple and the Future Progressive represent contrasted themes in English grammar. While the Future Simple is used to describe dry information that is true in general in the future, the Future Progressive describes actions\activities\changes\processes that are pre-planned that will be happening temporarily in a defined time frame.
Below you will find sentences of similar content but contrasting meanings. This will help you improve your understanding of the differences between the two structures.
Future Simple
Future Progressive
Did you take the trash out? No, I’ll do it now. (promise\decided at the time of speaking) | I’m cleaning the house today! Later on I’ll be very busy… I’ll be vacuuming the carpets, washing the floors and taking all the trash out. (part of a normal course of events in the future) |
a) Can you lend me a hand? b) O.K. I’ll watch the kids this Saturday, no prob. (offer\decided at the time of speaking) | I’ll be watching the kids this Saturday, so you can take a rest then. (Pre-arranged activity) |
| “This trip will require you to speak English very often.” I see. I reckon I’ll register for an English course and prepare myself for it.” (decided at time of speaking) | Well, I’ve registered for a course. This time next month I’ll be studying English and getting myself ready for my trip. (a future process from an arrangement). |
| We don’t have much time today so things need to be efficient. The players will finish the game, talk to reporters for 2-3 minutes then go back to their dressing rooms and prepare to leave to our next destination. (chronological actions in the future) | At the end of the game, as usual, the players will be sitting on the bench, talking to each other, making jokes. (simultaneous actions in the future) |
| Moving to a new country is not easy. Where are you going to live? I will live with my friend. We are going to be roommates. (permanent situation in the future) | Wait, where will you live when you’re there? I’ll be living with a friend until I find my own place. (Temporary situation in the future) |
| Next year, we’ll have better weather. (projection based on opinion) | I watched the weather forecast yesterday. Next week, we’ll be having much better weather. (projection based on information) |
- In Summary:
Future Simple
Future Progressive
Negotiating doing acvtions (promises\offers\agreement)
chronological actions in the future \ future chain of events
something that will be true permanently in the future
General\impersonal (in the context of schedules)
Pre-arranged in a time frame in the future
Simultaneous actions in the future \ painting a picture
Will be happening temporarily
specific\personal (in the context of schedules)
