Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.
The simple future tense is often called will, because we make the simple future tense with the modal auxiliary will. For example : I will sing.
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?
