B2 First GRAMMAR time
The FUTURE is in the limelight! To be more exact, today’s activities will help you get way better at ALL the grammar future tenses and future forms. See below which these tenses and future forms are:
Table of Contents
The activities we have prepared for B2 First learners follow the TST structure:
- TEST
- STUDY
- TEST
Roll up your sleeves! Ready, steady, go!
B2 First future tenses TEST
Let’s warm up a bit. Transform each of the sentences below. You must use the word in CAPITAL letters, and, you must keep the same meaning. We have provided you with the way you should start each sentence.
My sister says she is going to become/be a film star.
Explanation
BE GOING TO refers to WANT TO and expresses an intention or a plan.
We can leave as soon as Jane gets/arrives here.
Explanation
We use a present tense with AS SOON AS to talk about the future.
They won’t release the DVD before they show/have shown the film at the cinema.
Explanation
We use a present tense with BEFORE to talk about a future action.
By December, we will/’ll have been building our new house for eight months.
Explanation
We use Future Perfect Continuous for long actions before a future time.
At twenty past ten tomorrow, I will/`ll be taking my French exam.
Explanation
We use Future Continuous for actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.
We will decorate our house after we have/’ve bought it.
Explanation
We use the Present Perfect Simple with AFTER to emphasize that the first action is finished before the other one starts.
B2 Future tenses STUDY
Read the sentences below. Explain why this tense and no other must be used in each of these contexts.
Future simple
We use future simple for facts about the future.
We use future simple for predictions not based on present evidence.
We use future simple for decisions made at the moment of speaking.
We use future simple for offers and suggestions.
We use future simple for requests.
We use future simple in most first conditional sentences.
Note that there is sometimes little difference in meaning between will and be going to. Will is generally more formal than be going to. So, when we refer to facts about the future and predictions not based on present evidence (the first two examples above), we can also use be going to, which is more informal. So, it’s a matter of formality.
BE GOING TO
We use BE GOING TO for plans and intentions, which you already have when you speak.
We use BE GOING TO for predictions based on present evidence.
SHALL
We use shall for offers and suggestions in questions with I and we.
Future continuous
We use future continuous for actions in progress at a point in the future.
We use future continuous for habits or repeated actions at a point in the future.
Future perfect simple - Future before future
We use future perfect simple to refer to actions which are completed some time between now and a point in the future.
Future perfect continuous
We use future perfect continuous for actions in progress up to a point in the future.
Present simple
We use present simple for timetables, arrangements and fixed events, which we cannot change.
We use present simple after if in first conditionals and zero conditional sentences.
We use present simple immediately after time expressions:
- WHEN
- AS SOON AS
- BEFORE
- AFTER
- UNTIL/TILL
- WHILE
- ONCE
Note that we can also use present continuous or present perfect after these time words and phrases when we talk about the future.
Present perfect simple
We use present perfect simple to emphasize that only when one action finishes, another action can start.
Present continuous
We use present continuous for arrangements made before the moment of speaking.
We use present continuous for imminent future events.
B2 First future tenses TEST
Activity One: Typical errors
Do the two quizzes below. There are ten questions in each one.
The first one is a Mistakes Detector. Decide whether each of the sentences is grammatically correct. If you’ve found a mistake, make changes and use the right future tense.
The second quiz is a multiple choice one. Choose the correct future form of the verb. The context is going to help you make the right choice.
Quiz ONE
Typical errors
Quiz TWO
Typical errors
Activity Two: Key word sentence transformation
Do the B2 First Reading and Use of English Part 4 task. Its 6 questions are focused on future tenses.
Check your answers afterwards. Good luck!
For questions 1-6 complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
1. We’ll get to the hotel, and then we’ll look around for a restaurant. GOT
We’ll look around for a restaurant ________________________ the hotel.
2. When you visit us, we’ll have moved into our new house. BY
We’ll have moved into our new house ________________________ us.
3. Do some revision and then I’ll give you a test. DONE
I won’t give you a test ________________________ some revision.
4. I’ll reply to all the emails before lunchtime. HAVE
By lunchtime, ________________________ to all the emails.
5. The plane takes off at nine o’clock tonight, so, don’t call me until we land. FLYING
At half past nine tonight, we ________________________, so don’t call me until we land.
6. Oh, no! That car hasn’t stopped at the traffic lights in red! TO
Oh, no! That car driver ________________________ an accident!
- WHEN/AFTER WE HAVE GOT TO
- BY THE TIME YOU VISIT
- UNTIL YOU HAVE DONE
- I WILL HAVE REPLIED
- WILL BE FLYING
- IS GOING TO HAVE
Let’s call it a day! You’ve done a fair share of grammar practice, which, definitely, has been a hefty boost of your control of future tenses and all the other future forms at B2 level.
To find out more about what other grammar structures a B2 First candidate must be familiar with, check out the B2 First Grammar Checklist!
If you have found these activities easy, level up and see what new future forms are at the next level, C1 Advanced. Check this out, C1 Grammar News Time with Future Forms.
Stay tuned for more words of advice and handy material!
