Future Simple – Advanced (B2)

Mastering Sophisticated Uses

At B2 level, you'll explore the subtle ways different future forms are used in formal writing, journalism, academic contexts, and nuanced communication. Understanding these distinctions will give your English a sophisticated, native-like quality.

1. Future Simple Passive

The passive form emphasizes the action or result rather than who will do it.

Structure

Formula: Subject + will be + past participle

Active vs. Passive:

• Active: They will build a new bridge.
• Passive: A new bridge will be built.
• Active: The company will launch the product.
• Passive: The product will be launched.
• Active: Someone will announce the decision.
• Passive: The decision will be announced.

When to Use Future Passive

Formal announcements and plans:

• The results will be announced tomorrow.
• New regulations will be introduced next month.
• The building will be demolished in the spring.
• All applicants will be notified by email.

Focus on the action when the doer is obvious, unknown, or unimportant:

• Your application will be reviewed within 48 hours. (by the team - obvious)
• The road will be closed for repairs. (doesn't matter who)
• Tickets will be sold online. (general statement)

Official communications:

• A decision will be made by the committee.
• Changes will be implemented gradually.
• Further updates will be provided as needed.

2. Formal and Academic Future Forms

Sophisticated ways to express future in professional contexts.

"Be to" for Official Plans

Very formal, used in official documents, news, and regulations:

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + to + base verb

• The President is to visit Japan next month. (official schedule)
• New measures are to be introduced in January. (official plan)
• The conference is to be held in Berlin. (formal arrangement)
• All staff are to attend the meeting. (requirement/order)

Meaning: Official plan, requirement, or destiny

Compare formality levels:

• Informal: The company's going to launch a new product.
• Neutral: The company will launch a new product.
• Formal: The company is to launch a new product.

"Be due to" for Scheduled Events

Formal way to describe scheduled or expected events:

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + due to + base verb

• The train is due to arrive at 10:30. (scheduled)
• The results are due to be published tomorrow. (expected/scheduled)
• The new policy is due to take effect in March. (scheduled to begin)
• He is due to retire next year. (expected/scheduled)

"Be set to" for Expected Future Events

Journalistic/formal style for likely future events:

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + set to + base verb

• The company is set to announce record profits. (expected to, likely to)
• Unemployment is set to rise. (predicted to)
• The team is set to win the championship. (on track to, likely to)

Common in journalism and business writing.

3. Will for Characteristic Behavior and Tendencies

Using "will" to describe typical or habitual future behavior.

Describing Habitual Actions

"Will" can describe what typically happens:

• He**'ll** sit there for hours without saying a word. (typical behavior)
• The phone will ring just when you're leaving. (typical - annoying habit)
• Children will be children. (that's how they are)
• Accidents will happen. (it's inevitable)

Compare:

• He will sit there for hours. (typical behavior - any time)
• He**'ll** sit there tomorrow. (specific future time)

Context makes the meaning clear.

Stating Natural Laws and Certainties

• Water will boil at 100°C. (scientific certainty)
• The sun will rise tomorrow. (natural certainty)
• If you heat ice, it will melt. (natural consequence)

4. Predictions: Degrees of Certainty (Advanced)

Sophisticated ways to express how sure you are about the future.

Absolute Certainty

Will definitely / certainly / surely:

• The sun will definitely rise tomorrow.
• This approach will certainly fail.
• She will surely accept the offer.

Very High Probability

Is/Are bound to (= certain to happen):

• He**'s bound to** be late. (he's always late)
• The plan is bound to succeed. (very likely)
• They**'re bound to** find out. (inevitable)

Is/Are likely to (= probable):

• It**'s likely to** rain tomorrow.
• The economy is likely to improve.
• She**'s likely to** get the job.

Moderate Probability

Could / Might / May (= possible):

• It could rain. (possibility)
• She might come. (possibility)
• They may agree. (possibility)

Unlikely but possible:

• It**'s unlikely** that they**'ll** accept.
• There**'s a slight chance** we**'ll** finish on time.

Expressing Doubt

I doubt (that) + will:

• I doubt (that) he**'ll** come.
• I doubt (that) it**'ll** work.

Probably won't:

• She probably won't agree.
• It probably won't rain.

5. Will in Formal Requests and Polite Language

Using "will" for politeness in formal contexts.

Formal Requests

Will you...? (more formal than "can you"):

• Will you please submit the report by Friday?
• Will you be so kind as to forward this to the team?
• Will you kindly confirm receipt?

Would for Even Greater Politeness

Would you...? (more polite than "will you"):

• Would you mind sending me the details?
• Would you be able to attend the meeting?
• Would it be possible to reschedule?

Future Implications in Polite Questions

• Will that be all? (in shops/restaurants)
• Will you be needing anything else?
• Will you be joining us for dinner? (formal invitation)

6. Shall in Formal and Legal Contexts

"Shall" has specialized uses in formal English, especially legal documents.

Legal and Contractual Language

In contracts and regulations, "shall" means "must" or "is required to":

• The tenant shall pay rent by the first of each month. (requirement)
• Both parties shall comply with the terms. (obligation)
• The company shall provide insurance. (legal requirement)
• No person shall enter without permission. (prohibition)

Very formal and legalistic - not used in everyday English.

Formal Offers (British English)

• Shall I send you the documents? (formal offer)
• Shall we proceed with the proposal? (formal suggestion)

7. Future Perfect and Future Continuous (Preview)

Brief introduction to more advanced future forms:

Future Perfect (will have + past participle)

Describes actions that will be completed before a future time:

• By next year, I**'ll have graduated**. (completion before that future point)
• By 2030, they**'ll have finished** the project.

We'll explore this fully in the next lesson.

Future Continuous (will be + -ing)

Describes actions in progress at a future time:

• This time tomorrow, I**'ll be flying** to Paris.
• At 8 PM tonight, we**'ll be having** dinner.

We'll explore this fully in the next lesson.

8. Future in Academic and Scientific Writing

Specific conventions in formal academic contexts.

Describing Research Plans

• This study will examine the relationship between...
• We will investigate the effects of...
• The research will focus on...
• Data will be collected over a six-month period.

Making Predictions Based on Findings

• This approach will likely improve outcomes.
• The results will contribute to the field.
• These findings will have important implications.

Describing Future Research Needs

• Further research will be needed to confirm...
• Future studies should explore...
• More work will be required to understand...

9. Reported Speech with Future Forms

How future forms change in reported speech.

Will → Would

Direct: "I will call you." Reported: She said she would call me.

Direct: "It will rain tomorrow." Reported: He said it would rain the next day.

Going to → Was/Were going to

Direct: "I'm going to study medicine." Reported: She said she was going to study medicine.

Direct: "We're going to move." Reported: They said they were going to move.

Time Changes in Reported Speech

• tomorrow → the next day / the following day
• next week → the following week
• tonight → that night

Example:

• Direct: "I'll call you tomorrow."
• Reported: He said he would call me the next day.

10. Sophisticated Conditional Structures

Advanced uses of future in conditional sentences.

First Conditional Variations

Standard: If + Present Simple, will + base verb

With likely/probably:

• If it rains, we**'ll probably** stay home.
• If she asks, I**'ll likely** say yes.

With different modals:

• If you need help, I**'ll be able to** assist. (ability)
• If this continues, we**'ll have to** reconsider. (necessity)
• If they agree, we**'ll be allowed to** proceed. (permission)

Unless = If not

• Unless you hurry, you**'ll** be late. (= If you don't hurry...)
• We won't go unless the weather improves. (= if the weather doesn't improve)

In case (= because something might happen)

• I**'ll take** an umbrella in case it rains. (preparing for possibility)
• Call me in case you need help. (if you happen to need help)

Different from "if":

• If it rains, I'll take an umbrella. (condition → action)
• I'll take an umbrella in case it rains. (precaution - I'm taking it now because rain is possible)

Common B2-Level Errors

Error 1: Confusing formal future forms

• ❌ The meeting is to probably start at 10. (mixing forms)
• ✅ The meeting is to start at 10. (formal - "be to")
• ✅ The meeting will probably start at 10. (neutral with probability)

Error 2: Using "will" in time clauses

• ❌ I'll call you when I will arrive.
• ✅ I'll call you when I arrive.

Error 3: Overusing formal structures

• ❌ I am to go shopping. (too formal for everyday action)
• ✅ I'm going shopping. (appropriate level)

Error 4: Wrong reported speech transformation

• ❌ She said she will call. (should change to would)
• ✅ She said she would call.

Error 5: Confusing "in case" and "if"

• ❌ If it rains, I'll take an umbrella. (should be "in case" if you mean precaution)
• ✅ I'll take an umbrella in case it rains. (precaution)
• ✅ If it rains, I'll stay home. (condition)

Advanced Practice

Convert to passive:

1. They will announce the results tomorrow. → The results _______ tomorrow.
2. Someone will notify all applicants. → All applicants _______.

Choose the most appropriate formal future form (will / is to / is due to / is set to):

3. The train _______ arrive at 10:30. [scheduled]
4. The President _______ visit Germany next month. [official plan]
5. The company _______ announce record profits. [expected/likely]

Express different levels of certainty:

6. It _______ rain. [certain]
7. She _______ get the job. [very probable - use "bound to"]
8. They _______ come. [possible - use "might"]

Transform to reported speech:

9. Direct: "I will finish tomorrow." Reported: He said _______.
10. Direct: "I'm going to travel next year." Reported: She said _______.

Choose "if" or "in case":

11. I'll bring extra food _______ more people come. [precaution]
12. _______ it rains, we'll cancel the picnic. [condition]

Identify the function (habitual behavior / formal announcement / legal requirement / polite request):

13. "Water will boil at 100°C." → _______
14. "The results will be announced tomorrow." → _______
15. "The tenant shall pay rent on time." → _______
16. "Will you please submit the report?" → _______

Answers: 1. will be announced, 2. will be notified, 3. is due to, 4. is to, 5. is set to, 6. will definitely/certainly (or is bound to), 7. is bound to get (or is likely to get), 8. might/may/could, 9. he would finish the next day, 10. she was going to travel the following year, 11. in case, 12. If, 13. habitual behavior / natural law, 14. formal announcement, 15. legal requirement, 16. polite request

---

Continue Learning: Future Simple

🟢 Foundation (A2) - Master the basics
🟡 Development (B1) - Time clauses and certainty
🟠 Advanced (B2) ← You are here

Ready to test your mastery?
Take the Future Simple - Advanced Quiz →

---

Part of the LearnFast.life Grammar Series

Practice Quiz

Click here to take the interactive quiz