FUTURE SIMPLE

Among all future tenses, the Future Simple is the most common. It is used in many situations such as when making promises or predictions.

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Here goes a list to make it more readable.

Use

1. Promises (Use 1)
2. Unplanned actions (spontaneous decisions) (Use 2)
3. Predictions based on experience or intuition * (Use 3)
4. Habits (obstinate insistence, usually habitual) (Use 4)

* Use " going to form" to express predictions based on observing the present situation.

** You probably have encountered the word "gonna", which is an informal contraction of "going to".

Keep in mind: Because "gonna" is informal you should avoid it in grammar tests, etc.!

• My teacher's gonna be mad when he sees my composition!

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Form

Contracted forms

WILL = 'LL

Example: She'll dance = she will dance

WILL + NOT = WON'T

Example: She won't dance = she will not dance

Important: The Future Simple appears in two forms: "will" form and "going to" form but there are not always interchangable. Therefore, a separate article about "going to" form has been written.

Declarative sentences:

Subject	+	Auxiliary verb	+	Verb
I/a dog etc.		will		go/take etc.

CAUTION

Remember, you should never use will to say what somebody has already arrange or decided to do in the future:

– Mike is moving to New Jersey next month (not "Mike will move")

More

• I think he will regret his choice. (Use 3)
• I will come back at 10 p.m. (Use 1)
• If you will keep your watch half an hour slow it is hardly surprising that you are late for your appointments. (Use 4)
• John will keep dropping his towel on the floor after a bath. (Use 4)

When I'm 60 years old, I will be completely bald. (Use 3)

• I will visit my grandma at hospital. (Use 1 or Use 2)
  
• Let's buy the snacks at the supermarket – they will be cheaper. (Use 3)

Questions (interrogative sentences):

Auxiliary verb	+	Subject	+	Verb
will		I/a dog etc.		go/take etc.

Remember

We often use "will" with:

probably, most likely	I'll probably drop in on uncle.
I think	This gift is great. I think we'll love it.
I'm sure	It's not going to be boring there. I'm sure there will be a lot of boys at your age
I wonder (if, what, when, etc.)	It's a bit late. I wonder if he'll come.
I expect	I haven't seen Matthew today. I expect he'll call today.

• Will he be surprised when he sees me? (Use 3)
• Will Mark be able to do the shopping before 10 a.m.? (Use 3)
• Will there be plenty of people in church? (Use 3)
• Will you study harder? (Use 1)
  

Negative sentences:

Subject	+	Auxiliary verb + not	+	Verb
I/a dog etc.		will not/won't		go/take etc.

• I won't take any heavy equipment with me. (Use 2)
• I'm sorry I won't be able to help you with your English today. (Use 2)
• I expect that Sally will not clean up her room, unless you help her. (Use 3)