The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar with Exercises

Future simple

Form: future simple

Future simple for intentions (offers, promises and decisions)

Future simple for predictions

Future simple in complex sentences

Form: future simple

WILL + VERB

The future simple is formed with the modal will + simple infinitive without to in all persons.

Affirmative

Subject

Auxiliary

Verb (simple infinitive)

I

will

help.

You

He/She/It

We

You

They

The following contracted forms are often used in spoken and in informal written language:

I will

»

I'll

you will

»

you'll

he/she/it will

»

he'll/she'll/it'll

we will

»

we'll

you will

»

you'll

they will

»

they'll

Negative

Subject

Auxiliary

not

Verb (simple infinitive)

I

will

not

help.

You

He/She/It

We

You

They

The contracted form won't is often used instead of will not in spoken and in informal written language.

Interrogative

(Question word)

Auxiliary

Subject

Verb (simple infinitive)

(When)

will

I

help?

you

he/she/it

we

you

they

In British English, shall is often used instead of will in the first person in affirmative sentences with no change of meaning. Shall is more formal than will:

Well, we

shall see

tomorrow.

In first person interrogatives, shall expresses offers:

Shall

I

open

the window?

Related topics:

Types of modals

The forms of the infinitive

Subject-auxiliary inversion in questions

Future simple for intentions (offers, promises and decisions)

The future simple tense is used to express future intentions that are decided at the time of speaking (spontaneous offers, promises and decisions):

Come on, I'

ll help

you with those bags.

(offer)

I

will

always

love

you.

(promise)

I'

ll have

a wiener schnitzel.

(decision)

In the first person, shall can be used instead of will to announce intentions. Shall is more formal than will:

I

shall

definitely

give up

smoking this year.

Related topics:

BE GOING TO for intentions

Future simple for predictions

The future simple is used to make predictions that are based on personal judgement, opinion or intuition, and not on present evidence. Whether or not the event will happen is not certain. Such predictions are often introduced by I think / I don't think:

I don't think he'

ll come

tonight.

I predict that Congress

will pass

an anti-piracy law soon.

If you ask him, he'

ll

probably

give

you a lift.

In the first person, shall can be used instead of will in formal styles:

Whatever happens, we

shall

always

be

best friends.

The future simple is also used to make general predictions about facts that are always true or events that always happen:

Salty water

will freeze

at a lower temperature than pure water.

A gentleman

will hold

the door for a lady.

Quotes:

You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it. - Charles Buxton

Some days there won't be a song in your heart. Sing anyway. - Emory Austin

You will never win if you never begin. - Helen Rowland

If you do not sow in the spring, you will not reap in the autumn. - Irish proverb

If you're in a bad situation, don't worry it'll change. If you're in a good situation, don't worry it'll change. - John A. Simone, Sr.

Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you. - Spanish proverb

Action will remove the doubts that theory cannot solve. - Tehyi Hsieh

Related topics:

Modals to express assumption: WILL, SHOULD, OUGHT TO

BE GOING TO for predictions

Future simple in complex sentences

The future simple tense is often used in the main clause of complex sentences that refer to future time and contain clauses of condition, time or purpose. In the subordinate clause (starting with if, when, as soon as, after, before, the moment etc.), we usually use a present tense:

If you have completed the course, you

will receive

a certificate.

(condition)

As soon as I hear anything, I

will let

you know.

(time)

I'm taking a book with me so that I'

ll have

something to read on the train.

(purpose)

Quotes:

Live as you will wish to have lived when you are dying. - Christian Furchtegott Gellert

You will never win if you never begin. - Helen Rowland

If you do not sow in the spring, you will not reap in the autumn. - Irish proverb

Related topics:

Future time clauses