Where English Is Life
The simple future
The Simple Future
The simple future tense:
This page will present the simple future tense:
- its form
- and its use.
The forms of the simple future:
The simple future is formed as follows:
will / 'll + verb will = 'll
The affirmative form of the simple future:
I, you, he, she, it, we, they will / ''ll go. Examples:
- I think I'll buy a new computer.
- I will open the door. Someone is ringing the bell.
The interrogative form of the simple future:
Will I, you, he, she, it, we, they go? Examples:
- Will you buy a computer?
- Will you go to the party?
The negative form of the simple future:
I, you, he, she, it, we, they will not go. won't will not = won't
Examples:
- I will not stay at home if I finish the homework.
- I won't visit Big Ben if I go to London.
The use of the simple future:
- We use the simple future for instant decisions.
Example: "I've left the door open; I'll close it."
- We use the simple future , when we predict a future situation:
Example: "She'll pass the exam. She's hardworking"
- We use the simple future with: "I (don't) think...", "I expect...", "I'm sure...", "I wonder...", "probably".
Example: "It will probably rain tonight" , "I wonder what will happen?
- We use the simple future in conditional sentences type one. (More on conditional sentences here):
Example: "If I have enough time, I'll watch the film."
Things to remember:
1. We don't use the simple future to say what somebody has already decided or arranged to do in the future. We use instead either the present continuous or "going to + verb" (Future plan) :
- Ann is traveling to New York next week. (NOT, "Ann
will travel")- Are you going to watch television? (NOT "
will you watch").2. You can use shall instead of will for I and we:
- I shall play football.(Or, I will play ...)
- We shall play football. (Or, we will play ...)
3. 'll is the short form of will. You can say either:
- I will go, or
- I 'll go.
4. Won't is the short form of will not. You can say either:
- I will not go, or
- I won't go.