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:
- 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:
- 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:
- 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. |
