Simple Future Tense

Forming the simple future

The simple future tense is composed of two parts: will / shall + the infinitive without to
Affirmative
Subject + Will / Shall + V1 (Infinitive)
I will wait for you I’ll wait for you
I shall be 25 next week I’ll be 25 next week
Singular

You will see what I mean You’ll see what I mean

He will quit smoking He’ll quit smoking
She will read that book She’ll read that book
It will be hard It’ll be hard*
We will leave tomorrow We’ll leave tomorrow
We shall know the result next week We’ll know the result next week
Plural

You will have it next month You’ll have it next month

They will sell the house They’ll sell the house
I’ll, you’ll, etc. are called contraction. *The form it will is not normally shortened or contracted,
although some people still do.

Negative
Subject + Will / Shall + Not + V1 (Infinitive)
I will not wait for you I’ll not wait for you I won’t wait for you
I shall not be 25 next week I’ll not be 25 next week I shan’t be 25 next week
Singular

You will not see what I mean You’ll not see what I mean You won't see what I mean
He will not quit smoking He’ll not quit smoking He won’t quit smoking
She will not read that book She’ll not read that book She won’t read that book
It will not be hard It’ll not be hard It won’t be hard
We will not leave tomorrow We’ll not leave tomorrow We won’t leave tomorrow
We shall not know the result We’ll not know the result We shan’t know the result
next week next week next week
Plural

You will not have it next You’ll not have it next You won’t have it next
month month month
They will not sell the house They’ll not sell the house They won’t sell the house
There are two ways of forming contractions of will / shall in negative sentences. Pronoun + will /
shall (e.g. I will = I’ll, I shall = I’ll), will / shall + not (e.g. will not = won’t, shall not = shan’t). The
use of shan’t in American English is very rare.

Interrogative
Will / Shall + Subject + V1 (Infinitive)
Will I go with you?
Shall I go with you?
Singular

Will you find him?

Will he come back?
Will she make the plans?
Will it rain?
Will we buy it?
Shall we buy it?
Plural

Will you build the house?

Will they need our help?
Shall is dated, but it is still commonly used instead of "will" with the affirmative or interrogative
forms of I and we in certain cases.
 Negative Interrogative
Will / Shall + Subject + Not + V1 (Infinitive)
Will I not go with you? Won’t I go with you?
Shall I not go with you? Shan’t I go with you?
Singular

Will you not find him? Won’t you find him?

Will he not come back? Won’t he come back?
Will she not make the plans? Won’t she make the plans?
Will it not rain? Won’t it rain?
Will we not buy it? Won’t we buy it?
Shall we not buy it? Shan’t we buy it?
Plural

Will you not build the house? Won’t you build the house?
Will they not need our help? Won’t they need our help?
The contraction form of negative interrogative can not be changed into (will not you wait? incorrect)
or (shall not we wait ? incorrect).

What’s the difference between ‘will’ and ‘shall’?

There are certain ‘rules’ in standard British English grammar regarding the distinction between will
and shall which you should be aware of, even if the current consensus is that these two verbs are
generally interchangeable in most, but not all, situations. The situation is slightly different in
American English, too.
When I have enough money I will buy a new car
When I have enough money I shall buy a new car
Which one is the correct sentence? Both are correct.
In traditional British English grammar, the rule is that will should only be used with second and third
person pronouns (you; he, she, it, they). With first person pronouns (I and we), the ‘correct’ verb to talk
about the future is shall.
Originally shall was used with the meaning of obligation and will with the meaning of desire or
intention.
These days most people will use will and not shall, as in I will be there tomorrow, especially when
speaking. If you contract the sentence I’ll be there tomorrow, we don’t know if will or shall is being
used, but both are correct.
There is one advanced point, and this is only for traditional rules, if you want to say that something
must definitely happen then the rules of shall and will are switched. Will is used for the first person
(I and we), and shall for the second and third person (you; he, she, it, they). This use is rare and usually
limited to formal situations and legal documents (formal written English). To talk about obligation,
example: The authority shall be responsible for the safety of the equipment, and also to talk about
giving commands, example: You shall not kill.

Functions of the simple future tense

The simple future refers to a time later than now, and expresses facts or certainty.
The simple future is used:
• To predict a future event:
It will rain tomorrow.
• With I or We, to express a spontaneous decision:
I'll pay for the tickets by credit card.
• To express willingness:
I'll do the washing-up.
He'll carry your bag for you.
• In the negative form, to express unwillingness:
The baby won't eat his soup.
I won't leave until I've seen the manager!
• With I in the interrogative form using "shall", to make an offer:
Shall I open the window?
Shall I shut the door?
You must be thirsty, shall I get you a drink?
 You’re busy, shall I call back tomorrow?
Shall I play you a song?
(Shall here can not be substituted with will)
• With we in the interrogative form using "shall", to make a suggestion:
Shall we go to the cinema tonight? Yes, let’s.
Shall we go for a drink? No, let’s not.
Shall we speak English? Yes, let’s.
Shall we take the train? Yes, lets.
Shall we stay at this hotel? No, let’s not.
(Shall here can not be substituted with will)
• With I in the interrogative form using "shall", to ask for advice, instructions, or confirmations:
What shall I tell the boss about this money?
Where shall we go today?
What shall I get Jill for her birthday?
Who shall I call?
When shall we arrive?
(Shall here can not be substituted with will)
Remember you must use shall here, if you use will, it completely changes the meaning.
When shall we arrive? means When do you think is the best time to arrive?
When will we arrive? is the question that asks information about the future and means What
time do we arrive at our destination?
• With you, to give orders:
You will do exactly as I say.
• With you in the interrogative form, to give an invitation:
Will you come to the dance with me?
Will you marry me?
Note: In modern English will is preferred to shall. Shall is mainly used with I and we to make an
offer or suggestion, or to ask for advice (see examples above). With the other persons (you, he, she,
they) shall is only used in literary or poetic situations, e.g. "With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
She shall have music wherever she goes."

Will vs. Going to

A very confusing concept is when to use WILL and when to use BE GOING TO when we refer the
future. Both refer to the future and there is a slight difference between the two though in most cases
they can be used interchangeably with no difference in meaning. Even if you misuse them, a native
speaker is going to understand you without any problems.

When to use GOING TO

The structure BE GOING TO is normally used to indicate the future but with some type of
connection to the present. We use it in the following situations:
1. When we have already decided or we INTEND to do something in the future. (Prior Plan)
The decision has been made before the moment of speaking.
• I'm going to India next year.
• We talked about it yesterday and I'm going to quit my job tomorrow.
• They're going to retire to the beach - in fact they have already bought a little beach house.
• I'm going to accept the job offer.
2. When there are definite signs that something is going to happen. (Evidence)
Something is likely to happen based on the evidence or experience you have.
• It's so cold! I think it is going to snow
• I think it is going to rain - I just felt a drop.
• I don't feel well. I think I'm going to throw up. (throw up = vomit)
3. When something is about to happen:
• Get back! The bomb is going to explode.
When to use WILL
In other cases, where there is no implicit or explicit connection to the present, use WILL:
1. For things that we decide to do now. (Rapid Decisions)
This is when you make a decision at that moment, in a spontaneous way.
• I'll call a taxi for you.
• I think we'll go right now. (I just decided this right now)
• Which one? Um, I will have the chicken sandwich please.
• I'll buy one for you too.
• I think I'll try one of those. (I just decided this right now)
2. When we think or believe something about the future. (Prediction)
This can be based on personal judgement or opinion.
• The President will not be re-elected at the next election.
• I think it will rain later so take an umbrella with you.
• I think you will find the movie interesting.
Notice how you often use "I think..." before the subject + will.
• My team will not win the league this season.
Note: You can use both Will and Going to for making future predictions.
3. To make an offer, a promise or a threat.
• You look tired. I'll finish the dishes for you.
• I will do my best to help you.
• If you say anything I will kill you!
• I will have it ready by tomorrow.
• I'll drive you to work if you want.
• Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. (won't = will not)
• I'll give you a discount if you buy it right now.
• I promise I will behave next time.
• I'll take you to the movies if you'd like.
4. For a habit that is a predictable behaviour
• My daughter will fall asleep as soon as she is put into bed.
• He will give up if he starts losing. He always does that.
5. You use WON'T when someone refuses to do something.
• I told him to clean his room but he won't do it.
• She won't listen to anything I say.
• I told him to take out the trash but he won't do it.
• My kids won't listen to anything I say.
• My car won't start.

Future Time
There are several different ways in English that you can talk about the future. This is an introduction
to the most important ones:
1. Predictions/statements of fact
The auxiliary verb will is used in making predictions or simple statements of fact about the future.
• The sun will rise at 6.30 tomorrow.
• Lunch break today will be 10 minutes longer than usual.
• In the year 2050 all students will have their own computers in school.
• If you help me, I will help you.
• Do you think she will come soon?
• You won't pass your exams if you don't start working harder.
• I know my parents won't let me go to the party.
• Will it snow for Christmas?
• I know she's sick, but will she be back in school tomorrow?
2. Intentions
The be going to is used in talking about intentions. (An intention is a plan for the future that you
have already thought about.)
• We're going to buy a new car next month.
 • I'm going to work in a bank when I leave school.
• In the new year I'm going to stop eating so much junk.
• He's not going to go to the dance. He's got too much work.
• I'm not going to watch TV until my science project is finished.
• Are you going to play basketball after school?
• What are you going to have for lunch today?
Note: be going to is often used in the past continuous tense to talk about an unfulfilled intention.
Examples: I was going to study for my grammar test, but I had no time. / He was going to call you, but he
couldn't find his mobile phone. / My grandmother was going to visit us, but she fell and broke her arm.
3. Arrangements
The present continuous tense is used in talking about arrangements. (An arrangement is is a plan for
the future that you have already thought about and discussed with someone else.)
• I'm meeting my mother at the airport tomorrow.
• Our grandparents are visiting us this Christmas.
• Sorry, I can't stay after school today; I'm playing tennis with Jun-Sik.
• My sister's going to the dentist tomorrow.
• I'm not returning home for the holidays, so I can come to your party after all!
• Are you doing anything on Sunday morning?
• Do you know if he is going to the dance with Maiko next week?
4. Scheduled events
The present simple tense is usually used to refer to future events that are scheduled (and outside of our
control).
• Hurry up! The train departs in 10 minutes.
• I leave Frankfurt at 5 o'clock in the morning and arrive in New York
at midnight the next day.
• She has an appointment with the headmaster after school today.
• There's no need to hurry. The train doesn't leave for another 30 minutes.
• When does the meeting begin?

This is a very difficult aspect of English grammar. Learners who want a deeper understanding should
consult a good grammar reference.