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)
Free grammar software
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More English lessons
GOING TO – English future tense
Present continuous tense
Present simple tense
“can afford something” – English vocabulary
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. 🙂
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