Simple Future Tense – Explanation / Examples

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Simple Future Tense

Let’s study The Simple Future Tense Now. Here, in this post, we have provided you a simple but complete and easy explanation about Simple Future Tense.

The simple future tense expresses the actions that happen at one particular time in the future.

Example:

  • It will snow tomorrow.
  • I shall watch TV tonight.
  • The Simple Future tense

The Form:

Subject + WILL / SHALL +VERB (infinitive)

NOTE:
The use of “shall” with I or we to express future time is possible uncommon in American English. Shall is used more frequently in British English than in American English.

Examples:

  • Keth will have a look at this one tonight.
  • I will come to your house.

Simple Future tense: WILL and BE GOING TO

WILL or BE GOING TO is used to express future time. In spoken English, going to is often pronounced “gonna.”

  • Lim will finish his work tomorrow.
  • Lim is going to finish his work tomorrow.
  • Mei will not be here tomorrow.
  • Mei won’t be tomorrow.

NOTE: WILL NOT = WON’T

WILL vs. BE GOING TO

To express a prediction use either “WILL” or “Be GOING TO”:

  • According to the weather report, it will be cloudy tomorrow.
  • According to the weather report, it is going to be cloudy tomorrow.
  • Be careful! You‘ll hurt yourself!

Watch out! You‘re going to hurt yourself. when the speaker is making a prediction (a statement about something s/he thinks will be true or will occur in the future), either will or be going to is possible.

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NOTE:

There is no difference in meaning between NO (1) and (2), there is no difference in meaning between NO (3) and (4).

To express a PRIOR Plan: use only BE GOING TO

1.

  • A: Why did you buy this paint?
  • B: I’m going to paint my bedroom tomorrow.

2.

  • I talked to Bob yesterday. He is tired of taking the bus to work. He’s going to buy a car. That’s what he told me.

When the speaker is expressing a prior plan ( something the speaker intends to do in the future because in the past s/he has made a plan or decision to do it ), only be going to is used.

NOTE:

In these case, Will is not appropriate.
To express WILLINGNESS: use only WILL

  1. A: The phone’s ringing.
    B: I’ll get it.

  2. A: I don’t understand this problem.
    B: Ask your teacher about it. She’ll help you.

NOTE:

In example (1): speaker “B” is saying “I’m willing. I am happy to get the phone.” He is not making a prediction. He has made no prior plan to answer the phone. He is, instead, volunteering to answer the phone and uses will to show his willingness.

Example (2) :
Speaker “B” feels sure about the teacher’s willingness to help. “Be going to” is not appropriate in those two examples.