Future simple tense - will and shall

The future simple is a future verb tense. It is generally used to describe information about the future and to make predictions. In this lesson, you will find:

The form (affirmative, negative, question and contracted forms).
The difference between “will” and “shall”.
The uses and meaning of the future simple (with examples).
The difference between “going to” and the future simple tense.
A YouTube video.
Links to other related lessons.

Form

Future simple affirmative form

Full form: subject + will + base form of verb
Contracted form: subject + ‘ll + base form of verb

Full form	Contracted form
I will walk	I‘ll walk
you will walk	you‘ll walk
he / she / it will walk	he‘ll / she‘ll / it‘ll walk
we will walk	we‘ll walk
you will walk	you‘ll walk
they will walk	they‘ll walk

Shall or will?

We can also use “shall” instead of “will” as follows:

I shall walk to the park.

This means exactly the same as “I will walk to the park”. However, there are a few subtle differences between “shall” and “will”:

“shall” is more formal than “will”.
“will” is more common, particularly in modern English.
“shall” is more common in British English. It’s rarely used in American English.

subject + shall + base form of verb

Full form

I shall run

you shall run

he / she / it shall run

we shall run

you shall run

they shall run

(There is no contracted form for shall in the affirmative.)

Future simple negative form

Full form: subject + “will not” + base form of verb
Contracted form: subject + “won’t” + base form of verb

Full form	Contracted form
I will not work	I won’t work
you will not work	you won’t work
he / she / it will not work	he / she / it won’t work
we will not work	we won’t work
you will not work	you won’t work
they will not work	they won’t work

Full form: subject + “shall not” + base form of verb
Contracted form: subject + “shan’t” + base form of verb

Full form	Contracted form
I shall not swim	I shan’t swim
you shall not swim	you shan’t swim
he / she / it shall not swim	he / she / it shan’t swim
we shall not swim	we shan’t swim
you shall not swim	you shan’t swim
they shall not swim	they shan’t swim

(Notice the irregular contracted form of “shall not” is shan’t.)

Future simple question form

“will” + subject + base form of verb + “?”

(Don’t forget to write the question mark “?” at the end of the question. It is very important.)

Full form

will I buy?

will you buy?

will he / she / it buy?

will we buy?

will you buy?

will they buy?

“shall” + subject + base form of verb + “?”

Full form

shall I buy?

shall you buy?

shall he / she / it buy?

shall we buy?

shall you buy?

shall they buy?

Uses and meaning of the future simple

Giving information about the future

The future simple gives (or asks for) more information about a particular situation.

Examples:
I shall be there at 3 o’clock.
It will be winter soon.
The shop will close at 6 pm.

Predictions

We can make predictions with the future simple.

Examples:
I think that Liverpool will beat Manchester United.

I believe that prices will rise.

You’ll never pass your exams.

Conditionals

We use the future simple in first conditional sentences. – If a specific condition is true, something will happen.

Examples:
If you study hard, you will pass your exam.
If it rains, I will stay at home.

To offer to do something

We use the future simple to offer or propose to do something for someone.

Examples:
Jane: My bags are heavy.
Mark: I’ll carry them for you.

Jane: We need some milk.
Mark: I’ll buy some later.

To refuse to do something

We use the negative form of the future simple to refuse to do something.

Examples:
No, I won’t clean the bathroom!
No, Jane will not help you with your homework.

Requests and orders

The future simple can be used to ask someone for a favour.

Examples:
Will you help me carry my bags?
Will you take me to the airport?

“shall” to suggest something

We can use “shall” in a question to suggest something. We cannot do this with “will”.

Examples:
Shall we dance?
It’s cold in here. Shall I close the door?

The difference between “going to” and the future simple

We can use both “going to” and the future simple to make predictions. So what is the difference? The difference is in the context.

We use “going to” when we have external evidence or proof about a situation. Since we have external evidence, we are more certain. “going to” is therefore more objectively certain.

We use the future simple to make predictions based on internal thoughts or knowledge. We aren’t showing the listener something. We are asking the listener to believe something. It’s a subtle difference.

Example:

(Context: Jane is pregnant. She has had a scan and the doctor has told her it’s a boy.)
Jane: I had a scan today. I’m going to have a baby boy. (external evidence)

Sarah: Congratulations! I bet he will have blue eyes just like you. (Sarah’s internal opinion)

Video lesson

Watch this video for more examples and to to listen to the correct English accent. There are exercises at the end of the video. There are over 150 videos on our YouTube channel, so don’t forget to subscribe. 🙂