Advanced Future Tenses: B2 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. Look at those clouds over the ridge — it ___ before we reach the car. → is going to rain

A prediction based on evidence you can point to takes going to rather than will.

2. Don't worry about the invoice — I ___ it this afternoon. → will sort

A decision taken at the moment of speaking, in response to what was just said, takes will.

3. I can't make Thursday — I ___ the auditors at nine. → am meeting

A fixed arrangement already agreed with other people takes the present continuous.

4. The financial year ___ on the thirty-first of March, whatever anyone would prefer. → ends

A timetabled event outside anyone's control takes the present simple.

5. By the end of the third quarter we ___ every account onto the new platform. → will have migrated

By plus a future point with a completed action is the future perfect.

6. This time next week I ___ on a beach with no laptop anywhere near me. → will be lying

An action in progress at a stated future moment takes the future continuous.

7. In November she ___ for the same department for twenty-five years. → will have been working

Duration measured up to a future point takes the future perfect continuous.

8. The Secretary of State ___ visit the plant on Monday morning. → is to

Is to plus the infinitive is the formal register used for official arrangements.

9. Which question is the more diplomatic way to ask about someone's plans? → Will you be using the meeting room this afternoon?

The future continuous asks about an expected fact rather than making a request of the listener.

10. We ___ appoint internally. I think it ___ be Petra. → are going to / will

The settled plan takes going to; the personal guess with no evidence takes will.

11. Which sentence is INCORRECT? → When you will arrive, call me.

Time clauses after when, as soon as and until take a present form, never will.

12. Hold the line — I ___ whether the parcel has been dispatched. → will check

An offer made spontaneously during the conversation takes will.

13. By the time you read this, I ___ the country. → will have left

The action finishes before the future moment of reading, which is the future perfect.

14. The difference between 'I'm meeting him at six' and 'I'll meet him at six' is that ___. → the first is an arrangement already made, the second a decision just taken

The present continuous reports an existing arrangement; will announces a decision made now.

15. The exhibition ___ open until the conservation work is complete. → will not

A confident prediction about a future state, with no present evidence cited, takes will not.

16. Which sentence describes a plan formed before the moment of speaking? → I'm going to take the earlier train.

Going to always implies the intention already existed before you said it aloud.

17. The report ___ published next month, according to the department's press office. → is to be

The passive of is to plus infinitive is is to be plus the past participle.

18. Don't call between two and four — the panel ___ candidates all afternoon. → will be interviewing

An activity filling a future period rather than finishing at a point takes the future continuous.

19. How long ___ the scaffolding been up by the time they finally take it down? → will have

The future perfect continuous question is will plus have plus been plus the -ing form.

20. Which pair correctly separates a prediction from a scheduled event? → The talks will collapse. The summit opens on Tuesday.

An opinion about the future takes will; a fixed date on a published programme takes the present simple.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. By this time tomorrow the results ___ have been announced to the press. → will

The future perfect passive is will plus have been plus the past participle.

2. I'm afraid I can't help on Friday — I ___ flying to Copenhagen first thing. → am

A booked arrangement takes the present continuous, so the auxiliary is am.

3. Give me the file and I ___ take a look at it over the weekend. → will

An offer made in response to the moment takes will rather than a planned form.

4. She's ___ to hand in her notice; she told me last week she had already written it. → going

Going to reports an intention that was formed before the conversation.

5. The ferry ___ at seven forty every morning except in bad weather. → leaves

A published timetable takes the present simple, however far ahead it is.

6. At eleven o'clock tomorrow I ___ be sitting an exam, so please don't ring. → will

The future continuous is will plus be plus the -ing form.

7. We ___ have finished the accounts by the time the auditors get here. → will

A future action completed before another future event takes the future perfect.

8. The minister ___ to address the conference on Thursday afternoon. → is

Is to plus the infinitive announces an official arrangement in a formal register.

9. Call me as soon as you ___, whatever time it is. → land

A time clause after as soon as takes a present form even though it refers to the future.

10. By next spring they ___ have been building that bypass for four years. → will

Duration up to a future point takes will have been plus the -ing form.

11. That case looks far too heavy — I ___ give you a hand with it. → will

A spontaneous offer prompted by what you can see takes will.

12. Nothing ___ change until somebody in the department admits there is a problem. → will

A confident prediction about the future takes will with a negative-sounding subject.

13. ___ you be needing the projector after four, or can I take it? → Will

The future continuous makes an enquiry about someone's plans sound less like a demand.

14. They ___ not going to renew the lease, so we have six months to find somewhere. → are

A decision already taken takes going to, and a plural subject needs are.

15. The train ___ due to arrive at platform four in about ten minutes. → is

Be due to is a fixed expression for a scheduled arrival and takes the verb be.

16. I ___ probably be late, so start the meeting without me. → will

A prediction about your own future with an adverb of likelihood takes will.

17. Once the survey ___ complete, we can put the house on the market. → is

A time clause after once takes the present simple, not a future form.

18. In three weeks' time she ___ have been in post for exactly a decade. → will

A state measured up to a future date takes the future perfect.

19. We ___ meeting the architects on site next Wednesday at nine. → are

A confirmed appointment with other people takes the present continuous.

20. I doubt the committee ___ reach a decision before the summer recess. → will

A prediction introduced by a verb of doubt still takes will in the that clause.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Close an action before a future deadline. → By then we will have finalised the budget.

Close an action before a future deadline.

2. Say what you will be in the middle of at a future hour. → I will be presenting at ten on Thursday.

Say what you will be in the middle of at a future hour.

3. Report a decision that has already been taken. → They are going to restructure the whole department.

Report a decision that has already been taken.

4. State a fixed date nobody can move. → The quarter ends on Friday regardless of the backlog.

State a fixed date nobody can move.

5. Measure a stretch of time ending at a future point. → By May I will have been here five years.

Measure a stretch of time ending at a future point.

6. Announce an official arrangement in a news register. → The minister is to visit the site on Monday.

Announce an official arrangement in a news register.

7. Describe an appointment already in the diary. → I am seeing the consultant on Tuesday morning.

Describe an appointment already in the diary.

8. Ask about someone's plans without sounding like you want a favour. → Will you be using the car this evening?

Ask about someone's plans without sounding like you want a favour.

9. Offer a personal prediction with no evidence in front of you. → I think it will snow before the weekend.

Offer a personal prediction with no evidence in front of you.

10. Predict from evidence you can see right now. → Look out — that shelf is going to fall.

Predict from evidence you can see right now.

11. Say when information becomes available, using a time clause. → We will not know the outcome until Thursday.

Say when information becomes available, using a time clause.

12. Use the formal announcement structure in the passive. → The results are to be published next month.

Use the formal announcement structure in the passive.

13. Describe a future situation in progress at a named moment. → This time next year she will be living in Seoul.

Describe a future situation in progress at a named moment.

14. Promise to pass on news, keeping the time clause in the present. → I will let you know as soon as I hear.

Promise to pass on news, keeping the time clause in the present.

15. Give a date from a published programme. → The conference opens on the twelfth of June.

Give a date from a published programme.

16. Use the fixed expression for something scheduled. → He is due to give evidence on Wednesday.

Use the fixed expression for something scheduled.

17. Combine a future time clause with the future perfect. → By the time you arrive, the shops will have closed.

Combine a future time clause with the future perfect.

18. State a conclusion you have already reached about what is required. → We are going to need a far bigger venue.

State a conclusion you have already reached about what is required.

19. Reach a milestone of duration at a future date. → I will have been commuting for a decade in March.

Reach a milestone of duration at a future date.

20. Describe what will not be going on across a future period. → Nobody will be answering the phones over the holiday.

Describe what will not be going on across a future period.