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 future simple is straightforward in its formation and wide in its application.
The affirmative form consists of 'will' followed by the infinitive:
| Affirmative | Contracted Affirmative |
|---|---|
| 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 contracted form 'll is extremely common and is used almost without exception in speech. 'I'll' sounds considerably more natural than 'I will'.
The negative adds 'not' after 'will'. Note that 'will not' contracts to '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 |
Finally, consider the question form of the future simple.
The 'yes / no' question form is as follows:
| 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? |
To form a 'wh' question, place 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? |
Uses of the future simple
1. The future simple with 'will' predicts the future. It is the default way of referring to future time in English and is chosen whenever no other future form is called for. It covers both established future facts and less certain expectations.
- The sun will rise at 7am.
- I think the Conservatives will win the next election.
2. Promises, requests, refusals and offers. This is sometimes termed volitional 'will', since it concerns willingness or unwillingness to act in the future.
- I'll help you with your homework.
- Will you give me a hand?
- I won't go!
3. 'Will' likewise expresses a decision taken at the moment of speaking, typically an offer, a promise, or something the speaker has just resolved to do.
- A: I'm cold. B: I'll close the window.
4. The future simple with 'will' appears in the first conditional, and in other sentences carrying a conditional sense.
- If it doesn't rain, we'll go to the park.
- Let's arrive early. That will give us time to relax.
Shall
1. In British English, 'shall' survives mainly in the forms 'shall I?' and 'shall we?'. These are used to invite an opinion, particularly when making an offer or a suggestion.
- 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. 'Be going to' expresses future intentions and plans. The decision has normally been taken before the moment of speaking.
- A: We've run out of milk. B: I know, I'm going to buy some.
2. 'Be going to' also makes predictions. Either form is often possible, but 'be going to' is preferred when there is visible evidence in the present situation.
- 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.