Simple Future Tense

What is Simple Future Tense?

We use the simple future tense for actions that will happen in the future. It is very useful and easy to make. The simple future tense is expressed by adding will or shall to the sentence in front of the base form of the verb. The other way to express future is the use of a present form of ‘be’ plus ‘going to’.

How do we make the simple future tense?

This page will explain the rules for forming the simple future tense. Already we have seen the general structure but in future there is a little change. English does not have a verb form specifically used to express future tense so the simple future tense is often called will, because we make the simple future tense with the auxiliary will , shall or be plus going to.
First, let us see the structure of simple future tense.
General Structure

• 1. Affirmative (Positive) Sentence

Subject	Auxiliary	Verb	Rest of the sentence.
I, We, You, They, He, She, It	will	Present	Rest of the sentence.
I, We	shall	Present	Rest of the sentence.

• 2. Negative Sentence

Subject	Auxiliary +Not	Verb	Rest of the sentence.
I, We, You, They, He, She, It	will + not	Present	Rest of the sentence.
I, We	shall + not	Present	Rest of the sentence.

• 3. Yes/No type Question

Auxiliary	Subject	Verb	Rest of the sentence?
Will	I, We, You, They, He, She, It	Present	Rest of the sentence?
Shall	I, We	Present	Rest of the sentence?

• 4.Information Question?

QW	Auxiliary	Subject	Verb	Rest of the sentence?
QW	will	I, We, You, They, He, She, It	Verb	Rest of the sentence?
QW	shall	I, We	Verb	Rest of the sentence?

Important Note:

• Verb– Will/Shall +Present
• Auxiliary verb – Will or Shall
• ‘Will‘ is used with all persons. ‘Shall‘ can be used instead of ‘will’ with I/we.
• In modern English, particularly in American English, ‘shall’ with a future reference is rarely used.
• I, We, You, They, He, She, It – Will  I,We- Shall
• QW – Question Word

1. Affirmative (Positive) Sentences

Subject	Auxiliary	Verb	Rest of the sentence
I	will/shall	work	on my website tomorrow.
You	will	learn	English at home.
We	will/shall	see	a movie tomorrow.
He	will	go	to Chennai next week.
She	will	cook	dinner.
It	will	destroy	you.
They	will	help	us later.

Rules:

• For positive sentences, we must use the auxiliary will or shall.

2. Negative Sentences

Subject	Auxiliary + Not	Verb (Present Tense)	Rest of the sentence
I	will/shall not	work	on my website tomorrow.
You	will not	learn	English at home.
We	will/shall not	see	a movie tomorrow.
He	will not	go	to Chennai next week.
She	will not	cook	dinner.
It	will not	destroy	you
They	will not	help	us later.

Rules:

• Auxiliary verb “will not (won’t) or shall not (shan’t)” and simple form of the verb is used.
• I, We , You, They, He, She, It – shall or will

3. Yes/No type Question

Auxiliary	Subject	Verb (Present Tense)	Rest of the sentence?
Will/Shall	I	work	on my website tomorrow?
Will	you	learn	English at home?
Will/Shall	we	see	a movie tomorrow?
Will	he	go	to Chennai next week?
Will	She	cook	dinner?
Will	it	destroy	me?
Will	they	help	us later?
Will	Naren	wait	for me?

Rules:

• The Auxiliary verb Will or shall is used in the beginning of the sentences.
• I, We , You, They, He, She, It – Will I, We – Shall
• The verb is used in its simple form. It ends with question mark (?).

4. Information Questions

Question Word	Auxiliary	Subject	Verb(Present)	Rest of the sentence?
When	will/Shall	I	work	on my website?
Where	will	you	learn	English?
When	will/shall	we	see	a movie?
How	will	he	go	to Chennai?
What	will	she	cook	dinner?
How	will	it	destroy	me?
How	will	they	help	us later?
How long	will	Naren	wait	for me?

Rules:

• Question words are used in the beginning of the sentences.
• I, We , You, They, He, She, It  - will I/We – Shall.
• The verb is used in its simple form. It ends with question mark (?).

When should we use the simple future tense?

Use 1 spontaneous decision

We use the simple future tense when there is no plan or decision to do something before we speak. We make the decision spontaneously at the time of speaking.
Look at these examples:
Wait, I will help you.
Hold on. I’ll get a order.
Maybe we’ll stay in and watch a movie tonight.
The decision is made at the time of speaking.
We often use the simple future tense with the verb to think before it:
I think I’ll go to the college tomorrow.
I think I will buy a computer soon.

Use 2 prediction, hope, uncertainty or assumption

We often use the simple future tense to make a prediction hope, uncertainty or assumption about the future. Again, there is no firm plan.
I’ll be in Delhi tomorrow
It will rain tomorrow.