The simple future tense

The Simple Future

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The simple future tense:

This page will present the simple future tense:

• its form
• and its use.

The forms of the simple future:

The simple future is formed as follows:

will / 'll + verb

will = 'll

The affirmative form of the simple future:

I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will / ''ll	go.

Examples:

• I think I'll buy a new computer.
• I will open the door. Someone is ringing the bell.

The interrogative form of the simple future:

Will	I, you, he, she, it, we, they	go?

Examples:

• Will you buy a computer?
• Will you go to the party?

The negative form of the simple future:

I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will not	go.
	won't

will not = won't
Examples:

• I will not stay at home if I finish the homework.
• I won't visit Big Ben if I go to London.

The use of the simple future:

• We use the simple future for instant decisions.
  Example: "I've left the door open; I'll close it."
  
  
• We use the simple future , when we predict a future situation:
  Example: "She'll pass the exam. She's hardworking"
  
  
• We use the simple future with: "I (don't) think...", "I expect...", "I'm sure...", "I wonder...", "probably".
  Example: "It will probably rain tonight" , "I wonder what will happen?
  
  
• We use the simple future in conditional sentences type one. (More on conditional sentences here):
  Example: "If I have enough time, I'll watch the film."

Things to remember:

1. We don't use the simple future to say what somebody has already decided or arranged to do in the future. We use instead either the present continuous or "going to + verb" (Future plan) :

• Ann is traveling to New York next week. (NOT, "Ann will travel ")
• Are you going to watch television? (NOT "will you watch").

2. You can use shall instead of will for I and we:

• I shall play football.(Or, I will play ...)
• We shall play football. (Or, we will play ...)

3. 'll is the short form of will. You can say either:

• I will go, or
• I 'll go.

4. Won't is the short form of will not. You can say either:

• I will not go, or
• I won't go.