Simple Future Tense
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?
Simple future tense for 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.
Simple future tense for 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?
Simple future tense with 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?
| english club.com Tip |
| 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. |
|
|
