SIMPLE FUTURE

The simple future tense is often called will, because we make the simple future tense with the modal auxiliary will.

 








How do we make the Simple Future Tense?
The structure of the simple future tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb WILL	+	main verb
		invariable		base
		will		V1

For negative sentences in the simple future tense, we insert not between the auxiliary verb and main verb. For question sentences, we exchange the subject and auxiliary verb. Look at these example sentences with the simple future tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I	will		open	the door.
+	You	will		finish	before me.
-	She	will	not	be	at school tomorrow.
-	We	will	not	leave	yet.
?	Will	you		arrive	on time?
?	Will	they		want	dinner?

When we use the simple future tense in speaking, we often contract the subject and auxiliary verb:

I will	I'll
you will	you'll
he will she will it will	he'll she'll it'll
we will	we'll
they will	they'll

For negative sentences in the simple future tense, we contract with won't, like this:

I will not	I won't
you will not	you won't
he will not she will not it will not	he won't she won't it won't
we will not	we won't
they will not	they won't

How do we use the Simple Future Tense?

>No Plan
We use the simple future tense when there is no plan or decision to do something before we speak. We make the decision spontaneously at the time of speaking. Look at these examples:

• Hold on. I'll get a pen.
• We will see what we can do to help you.
• Maybe we'll stay in and watch television tonight.

In these examples, we had no firm plan before speaking. The decision is made at the time of speaking.

We often use the simple future tense with the verb to think before it:

• I think I'll go to the gym tomorrow.
• I think I will have a holiday next year.
• I don't think I'll buy that car.

>Prediction
We often use the simple future tense to make a prediction about the future. Again, there is no firm plan. We are saying what we think will happen. Here are some examples:

• It will rain tomorrow.
• People won't go to Jupiter before the 22nd century.
• Who do you think will get the job?

>Be
When the main verb is be, we can use the simple future tense even if we have a firm plan or decision before speaking. Examples:

• I'll be in London tomorrow.
• I'm going shopping. I won't be very long.
• Will you be at work tomorrow?

Going to
You can also use going to to express future. We use it to express predictions based on observing the present situation:

Example: It's going to rain. Look at the clouds!

Declarative sentences:

Subject	+	Auxiliary verb	+	Auxiliary verb	+	Verb
I/a dog etc.		is/are		going to		go/take etc.

• This team is definitely going to win the competition.
• I'm going to visit my grandma next week.
• Sheila is going to give birth in a couple of weeks.

Questions:

Auxiliary verb	+	Subject	+	Auxiliary verb	+	Verb
is/are		I/a dog etc.		going to		go/take etc.

• Is he going to apologise to Mary for his behavior?
• Is the USA going to close down military bases in Western Europe?
• I can see dark clouds in the sky. Is it going to rain?

Negative sentences:

Subject	+	Auxiliary verb	+	Auxiliary verb	+	Verb
I/a dog etc.		isn't/aren't		going to		go/take

• The Government is not going to lower the taxes.
• "Record is not going to change me," says Mark.
• I'm not going to take my driving test this year.

Shall
You can also use shall to express future in Future Simple. It is more formal than will, and usually appears in formal speeches, agreements or guarantees.

Examples:

• The guarantee shall be provided on the following conditions: (...)
• We shall never surrender!

Remember
We often use "will" with:

probably, most likely	I'll probably drop in on uncle.
I think	This gift is great. I think we'll love it.
I'm sure	It's not going to be boring there. I'm sure there will be a lot of boys at your age
I wonder (if, what, when, etc.)	It's a bit late. I wonder if he'll come.
I expect	I haven't seen Matthew today. I expect he'll call today.