Simple Future Tense

The Simple Future is formed with will + the base form of the verb.

affirmative short form

I will > I'll >
You will > You'll >
He will > He'll >
She will > She'll > stay.
It will > It'll >
We will > We'll >
You will > You'll >
They will > They'll >

negative short forms

I will not > I'll not > I won't >
You will not > You'll not > You won't >
He will not > He'll not > He won't >
She will not > She'll not > She won't > stay.
It will not > It'll not > It won't >
We will not > We'll not > We won't >
You will not > You'll not > You won't >
They will not > They'll not > They won't >



Notes on the form of the Simple Future Tense



1. Shall and will

Will is used with all persons, but shall can be used as an alternative with I and we in pure future reference.

Shall is usually avoided with you and I:

*

You and I will work in the same office.

2. Contractions

Shall weakens to /S@l/ in speech, but does not contract to 'll in writing. Will contracts to 'll in writing and in fluent, rapid speech after vowels (I'll, we'll, you'll, etc.) but 'll can occur after consonants. So we might find 'll used: e.g.

- after names: Tom'll be here soon.

- after common nouns: The concert'll start in a minute.

- after question-words: When'll they arrive?

3. Negatives

Will not contracts to 'll not or won't; shall not contracts to shan't:

*

We won't or shan't go. (I/We will not or shall not go).

In American English shan't is rare and shall with a future reference is unusual.

4. Future Tense

When we use will/shall for simple prediction, they combine with verbs to form tenses in the ordinary way:

*

Simple Future: I will see
*

Future Progressive: I will be seeing
*

Future Perfect: I will have seen
*

Future Perfect Progressive: I will have been seeing



Uses of the 'will/shall' future



1. 'Will/shall' for prediction briefly compared with other uses

Will and shall can be used to predict events, for example, to say what we think will happen, or to invite prediction:

*

Tottenham will win on Saturday.
*

It will rain tomorrow. Will house prices rise again next year?
*

I don't know if I shall see you next week.



This is sometimes called 'the pure future', and it should be distinguished from many other uses of will and shall: e.g.

*

I'll buy you a bicycle for your birthday. [promise]
*

Will you hold the door open for me please? [request]
*

Shall I get your coat for you? [offer]
*

Shall we go for a swim tomorrow? [suggestion]
*

Just wait - you'll regret this! [threat]



Though all the above examples point to future time, they are not 'predicting'; they are 'coloured' by notions of willingness, etc. Will/shall have so many uses as modal verbs that some grammarians insist that English does not have a pure future tense.

2. 'Will' in formal style for scheduled events

Will is used in preference to be going to when a formal style is required, particularly in the written language:

*

The wedding will take place at St Andrew's on June 27th. The reception will be at the Anchor Hotel.

3. 'Will/shall' to express hopes, expectations, etc.

The future is often used after verbs and verb phrases like assume, be afraid, be sure, believe, doubt, expect, hope, suppose, think:

*

I hope she'll get the job she's applied for.



The Present with a future reference is possible after hope:

*

I hope she gets the job she's applied for.



Lack of certainty, etc. can be conveyed by using will with adverbs like perhaps, possibly, probably, surely:

*

Ask him again. Perhaps he'll change his mind.



Time adverbials with the 'will/shall' future tense



Some adverbials like tomorrow are used exclusively with future reference; others like at 4 o'clock, before Friday, etc. are used with other tenses as well as the Future:

*

I'll meet you at 4 o'clock.



Now and just can also have a future reference:

*

This shop will now be open on June 23rd. (a change of date)
*

I'm nearly ready. I'll just put my coat on.


I will sing

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?


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Note that when we have a plan or intention to do something in the future, we usually use other tenses or expressions, such as the present continuous tense or going to.