Simple Future Tense: A Short Guide

You have been attending an intensive English language course for a while, and now it’s time to learn how to talk about future plans and arrangements. You’ve noticed that many verb forms convey future meanings, so you probably start wondering if you’ll ever be able to use them correctly in your sentences.

Well, don’t worry too much. Your favorite teachers surely have the right approach, and they’ll introduce you to the tenses in a logical order. In the previous blog post, we touched on all future tenses to give you a short introduction to this complex topic. In this article, we’ll provide more details on the Simple Future Tense. Keep reading to learn more!

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‍WHAT ARE THE RULES OF THE SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE?

Here is a short guide on how to form the Simple Future Tense.

• Positive form: will + bare infinitive (infinitive without to): I will go to the dentist’s tomorrow.  
• Negative form: will not/ won’t + bare infinitive (infinitive without to): She won’t tell you the truth.
• Interrogative form: will + subject + bare infinitive (infinitive without to): Will you join me tonight?

Note: The formula is the same for all persons: They will go with us tomorrow.

‍HOW DO YOU USE THE SIMPLE FUTURE IN A SENTENCE?

Now that you know how to form this tense, here is how you can use it correctly in your sentences:

• You can use it to predict a future event (unlike the be going to form, this prediction is usually based on some personal beliefs).

I am sure she will pass the exam.

• You can also use it to express a spontaneous decision.

Don’t worry, I will pay for everything if you don’t have any money.

• This tense is used for unplanned or unavoidable future events.

Winter will come soon.

• You can make an offer, a promise, a request, an order, or a threat with this tense too.

Offer: I will help you with the dishes.

Promise: I won’t do it again, I promise!

Request: Will you come and help me in the garden? I have to pick some fruit.

Order:  You will do as I say!

Threat: If you do it again, I won't speak with you again!

• You have to use this tense with time clauses.

When I come back home (time clause), I will give you a call.

• This tense is used to express the willingness or unwillingness of the subject to do something.

She simply won’t tell the truth!

OK, I will help you with your math problems.

• You can use shall and the first person singular to make an offer.

Shall I open the window?

• When used with we and shall in the interrogative form, this construction expresses a suggestion.

Shall we go for a walk tonight?

• With you in the interrogative form, it is used to make an invitation:

Will you come to the dance with me?

NB: In the past, shall was used instead of will for the first person singular and the first person plural (I shall study tonight. We shall go to see her.). But today, shall is outdated, and it has restricted use. We normally use it to make an offer or a suggestion: Shall we go out tonight?

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Instead, you’ll approach each tense systematically in our hi-tech classrooms in San Diego, Santa Monica, and Pacific Beach, and get a chance to apply what you’ve learned in various fun-packed activities. And then, after classes, you can even pluck up the courage and converse with your new friends while taking a stroll by Mission Beach and enjoying the view. Visit us, and let your language learning journey begin today!