Future Simple Tense
The future simple uses will to talk about predictions, spontaneous decisions, promises, and offers. It is the most direct way to talk about the future in English.
When to use the future simple (will)
- Predictions about the future: It will rain tomorrow. She will be a great doctor.
- Spontaneous decisions made at the moment of speaking: I'll have the pasta, please. I'll call you back in five minutes.
- Promises: I will always love you. I won't forget, I promise.
- Offers and offers of help: I'll carry that for you. Shall I open the window?
- Requests: Will you help me with this?
- Things that are certain or inevitable: The sun will rise tomorrow. Everyone will die someday.
How to form the future simple
I will go. She will go. They'll go.
I won't go. She won't go.
Will you go? Will she go?
Full conjugation: the verb "work"
| Subject | Positive | Contraction | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | I will work | I'll work | I won't work | Will I work? |
| You | You will work | You'll work | You won't work | Will you work? |
| He/She/It | She will work | She'll work | She won't work | Will she work? |
| We/They | They will work | They'll work | They won't work | Will they work? |
Will vs. going to
English has two main ways to talk about the future. Will and going to have different uses and are not always interchangeable.
| Will | Going to |
|---|---|
| Spontaneous decisions: I'll have the soup. | Pre-planned decisions: I'm going to have the soup (I already decided). |
| Predictions based on opinion: I think it will rain. | Predictions based on evidence: Look at those clouds — it's going to rain! |
| Promises, offers, requests: I'll help you. | Intentions: I'm going to learn French this year. |
A: The phone is ringing. B: I'll get it! (spontaneous — will)
I'm going to call him later — I need to discuss the project. (planned — going to)
I think she'll win the competition. (opinion/prediction — will)
She's been training every day — she's going to win. (evidence — going to)
Signal words
tomorrow, next week, next year, next Monday
soon, in a few minutes, in three days, in 2030
I think / I believe / I'm sure / probably
Will never changes form: Unlike other verbs, will is the same for all subjects — there is no -s in the third person: She will go (not: She wills go). The verb after will is always the base form: will be, will go, will have — never will goes or will went.
Tip: If you make a decision right now, in the moment, use will: "I'll have the coffee." If you decided before and are reporting that plan, use going to: "I'm going to have the coffee — I decided before we came in."