Future Simple
The Future Simple is used for spontaneous decisions, predictions, and promises. It is formed with 'will' + base verb and can also be replaced with 'shall' for formal suggestions.
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The Future Simple
The simple future tense is very easy to make and is very useful.
Here's the positive form (it's just 'will' + infinitive):
| Positive | Contracted Positive |
|---|---|
| I will meet him later | I'll meet him later |
| You will come | You'll come |
| He will help us later | He'll help us later |
| She will be late | She'll be late |
| It will rain tomorrow | It'll rain tomorrow |
| We will get married in September | We'll get married in September |
| They will cook dinner | They'll cook dinner |
The short form: 'll is very, very common, and is almost always used when speaking. It's really much more natural to say 'I'll' instead of 'I will'.
Next, here's the negative. It's very easy, just add 'not' - remember will not = won't:
| Negative | Contracted Negative |
|---|---|
| I will not go | I won't go |
| You will not be late | You won't be late |
| He will not pass the exam | He won't pass the exam |
| She will not get the job | She won't get the job |
| It will not snow tomorrow | It won't snow tomorrow |
| We will not come | We won't come |
| They will not stop | They won't stop |
And finally let's talk about the question form of the future simple.
Here's the 'yes / no' question form:
| Yes/No Questions |
|---|
| Will I go? |
| Will you come early? |
| Will he arrive soon? |
| Will she dance? |
| Will it be cold? |
| Will we cook? |
| Will they leave? |
If you'd like to make a 'wh' question, you just put the question word at the front:
| Wh Questions | |
|---|---|
| Where will I go? | |
| Why will you come early? | |
| What time will he arrive? | |
| Who will she dance with? | |
| When will it be cold? | |
| What will we cook? | |
| When will they leave? |
When Should I Use The Future Simple Tense?
1. We use the future simple with 'will' to predict the future. It is the basic way we talk about the future in English, and we often use it if there is no reason to use another future tense. We can use it for future facts and for things that are less certain..
- The sun will rise at 7am.
- I think the Conservatives will win the next election.
2. Promises / requests / refusals / offers. This is sometimes called 'volitional' will. It's about wanting to do something or not wanting to do something in the future.
- I'll help you with your homework.
- Will you give me a hand?
- I won't go!
3. In a similar way, we often use 'will' when we're talking about a decision at the moment of speaking. We are usually making an offer or promise or talking about something that we want to do.
- A: I'm cold. B: I'll close the window.
4. We use the simple future with 'will' in the first conditional, and in other sentences that have a conditional feeling.
- If it doesn't rain, we'll go to the park.
- Let's arrive early. That will give us time to relax.
Shall
1. 'Shall' is used mainly in the forms 'shall I?' and 'shall we?' in British English. These forms are used when you want to get someone's opinion, especially for offers and suggestions.
- Shall I open the window? (= Do you want me to open the window?)
- Where shall we go tonight? (= What's your opinion?)
Be going to
1. We often use 'be going to' to talk about our future intentions and plans. We have usually made our plans before the moment of speaking.
- A: We've run out of milk. B: I know, I'm going to buy some.
2. We can also use 'be going to' to make a prediction about the future. Often it's possible to use both 'be going to' and 'will' but it's more common to use 'be going to' if we can see evidence in the present.
- Look at those boys playing football! They're going to break the window.
- The sky is getting darker and darker. It's going to rain.