What will you do tomorrow? Talking about the future is an exciting part of learning any language, and the English future tense is how we do it. The future tense for kids refers to verb forms used to talk about things that haven't happened yet, but will happen later. Understanding it helps children make plans, express hopes, and talk about their dreams for tomorrow, next week, or even next year. For the 3,500+ families learning with us, mastering this concept opens up a whole new world of expression, moving beyond just talking about the here and now. It’s a key step in building a strong foundation with the most common English vocabulary words.
What Is the Future Tense?
The future tense is a way of talking about actions or events that are going to happen. It’s the opposite of the past simple tense, which is for things that are already finished, and different from the present continuous tense, which is for things happening right now. For kids, the easiest way to think about it is as the “tomorrow” tense. We use special words, mainly 'will' and 'be going to', to show that we are not talking about today.
How we explain this depends on the child's age:
- For ages 4-7: Keep it simple. Use 'will' for promises or simple predictions. For example, “I will help you with your toys.” You can also use timelines with pictures of 'yesterday', 'today', and 'tomorrow' to make it visual.
- For ages 8-12: Introduce 'be going to' for plans. “We are going to visit Grandma on Saturday.” At this stage, they can start to understand the subtle differences between making a plan and making a spontaneous decision.
- For ages 13-15: Students can explore more complex future forms, like the future continuous (“This time next week, I will be sitting on a beach”) and the future perfect (“By next year, I will have finished this book”).
When to Use the Future Tense
Knowing when to use 'will' versus 'be going to' can be tricky, but a few simple rules make it much clearer. These two forms cover most of the situations your child will encounter when talking about the future. It's all about understanding the context of the conversation and what you want to express. Learning how to connect ideas with conjunctions helps make future sentences even more descriptive.
Here’s a simple breakdown to help distinguish between them. The most important difference is whether you are talking about a pre-decided plan or a spontaneous decision made at the moment of speaking. Our guide on will vs going to for kids explores this in more detail.
| Form | Example | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| will + verb | I will have a glass of water. | Spontaneous decisions, offers, promises, or predictions based on opinion. |
| be + going to + verb | She is going to study for her test tonight. | Plans and intentions made before speaking, or predictions based on evidence. |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
As with any new grammar rule, kids are bound to make a few mistakes with the future tense. This is a normal part of learning! Parents and teachers often see the same errors crop up. The most frequent one is mixing up the structure for 'will' and 'going to'. Another common issue is forgetting the verb 'to be' (am, is, are) when using 'going to'. Correcting these early helps build a solid foundation for more complex sentences later on.
Understanding sentence structure is also key to mastering how to ask questions about the future. Here are some typical mistakes and how to fix them:
| Incorrect ❌ | Correct ✅ |
|---|---|
| He going to play soccer. | He is going to play soccer. |
| I will to go to the park. | I will go to the park. |
| They are will eat pizza. | They will eat pizza. |
| She go to be a doctor. | She is going to be a doctor. |
Practice Exercises for the Future Tense
Nothing beats practice to make grammar rules stick. The key is to make it fun and engaging, not feel like a test. Using games and real-life scenarios helps children see how the future tense is used every day. Combine grammar practice with learning new action verbs for kids to make lessons even more dynamic. You can also supplement with some of the best cartoons for learning English, listening for examples of characters talking about their plans.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences using 'will' or the correct form of 'be going to'.
- Look at those dark clouds! It _______________ rain soon.
- I am thirsty. I think I _______________ have some juice.
- They have tickets for the concert. They _______________ see their favorite band on Friday.
- My brother _______________ be 10 years old next month.
- We _______________ visit the museum tomorrow morning.
Answers: is going to, will, are going to, will, are going to
Exercise 2: What Will Happen Next?
Look at the picture below (or imagine this scene): A boy is holding a kite on a very windy day. A girl is putting on her raincoat. A family is packing a picnic basket.
Describe what you think is going to happen next for each person. Use full sentences.
Exercise 3: Your Future!
Answer these questions about yourself using the future tense.
- What will you do after you finish your homework today?
- What are you going to do this weekend?
- Where will you go on your next holiday?
- What is one thing you will learn this year?
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the easiest way to teach the future tense to a 5-year-old?
For young children, focus on one form at a time. Start with 'will' for simple predictions or promises, as it has a simpler structure (will + verb). Use it in daily conversations like, “We will read a story before bed.” Associate the word 'tomorrow' with the future tense to make the concept of time more concrete.
2. What's the main difference between 'will' and 'going to' for kids?
The simplest distinction for kids is that 'going to' is for a plan you have already made. For example, “I am going to my friend’s party on Saturday” (you were invited and decided to go). 'Will' is often for a decision you make at the moment of speaking. For example, if the phone rings, you say, “I’ll get it!” You didn't plan to answer the phone; you decided right then.
3. How can I make practicing the future tense fun?
Turn it into a game! Play 'Future Me,' where you take turns describing what you will be when you grow up (“I will be an astronaut!”). You can also create a 'weekend plan' jar with fun activities written on slips of paper. Have your child pick one and say, “On Saturday, we are going to…” This makes practice feel less like a lesson and more like play. Using some of the best apps to learn English for kids can also provide interactive games.
4. Should my child learn other future tenses besides 'will' and 'going to'?
For beginners and intermediate learners (up to about age 12), mastering 'will' and 'be going to' is the most important goal. These two forms cover over 90% of future situations. More advanced forms like the future continuous ('will be doing') and future perfect ('will have done') can be introduced to older, more confident students (ages 13-15) once they have a strong grasp of the basics.
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