Future Simple – Formula, Examples & Practice

04.09.24 Tenses Time to read: 10min

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Tenses are fundamental to effective communication, as they allow us to convey when actions occur within the framework of language rules. Among these, the future simple tense plays a vital role in English, helping us articulate intentions, predictions, and events that are yet to happen. We will delve into the structure and application of this future tense by thorough explanations and helpful examples.

Future simple in a nutshell

This tense conveys actions or states that will begin and end in the future. Its formula is straightforward and essential for expressing facts or certainty.

Definition: Future simple

The future simple (also: simple future) tense is a verb tense used to describe actions or events that are expected to happen at a time later than right now. It is one of the basic tenses in English, along with present simple and past simple. It is often used to express intentions, predictions, promises, offers, or spontaneous decisions that are made at the moment of speaking. As with the present perfect, an auxiliary verb is needed with this tense.

Examples

  • She will call you when she arrives at home.
  • They will start the meeting at 10 AM tomorrow.
  • I will help you with your project this weekend.
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Formula of future simple active voice

The future simple is formed with the help of the auxiliary verb “will” followed by the base form (or infinitive) of the main verb. The structure is consistent across all subjects and pronouns, making its form quite simple since one doesn’t need to take subject-verb-agreement into account.

Structure

Subject + will + infinitive + rest of the sentence.

With the simple future, contractions can be used, especially in speech. We have provided a table depicting the shortened future simple forms for each pronoun, along with simple future’s one exception and the negative will-form.

Long version Contraction
I will study. I'll study.
You will study. You'll study.
He will study. He'll study.
She will study. She'll study.
We will study. We'll study.
You will study. You'll study.
They will study. They'll study.
Somaeone will not study. Somaeone won't study.

Note: “It will” should not be shortened in written English. However, it exists in informal speech.

To further your understanding, there are more examples of future simple in active voice below.

Examples

  • She will study for her exams tomorrow.
  • He won’t attend the meeting next week.
  • It will rain tomorrow.

Will or shall

In modern English, the usage of “will” in the future simple tense is preferred to the archaic “shall.” “Shall” is traditionally used with “I” and “we” or in litreary or poetic speeches or texts. In British English, “shall” is sometimes used for making offers, suggestions, or asking for advice. However, as with American English, its use is declining due to its formality and can be easily replaced with “should.” Below are numerous examples of the use of “shall” in proper sentences.

Examples

  • You shall not pass.
  • Shall we go for a walk?
  • You shall obey the rules.

Active question form of future simple

To form questions in the future simple tense, we adjust the sentence structure by moving the helper verb “will” to the front of the sentence, while the verb remains in its base form.

Structure

Will + subject + (not +) infinitive + rest of the sentence?

Or

Won’t + subject + infinitive + rest of the sentence?

Examples

Statement Question
They will travel to Europe. Will they travel to Europe?
I will attend the meeting tomorrow. Will you attend the meeting tomorrow?
She will finish the report by Friday. Will she finish the report by Friday?
He will call you tonight. Will he call you tonight?
They will visit us next weekend. Will they visit us next weekend?

Questions with question words

For questions with added question words in future simple, just add the fitting question word before “will.”

Examples

  • What will you do after the party?
  • When will they arrive at the airport?
  • Where will she stay during her trip?
  • Who will join us for dinner?
  • How will we get to the venue?

Negative questions with question words

Since this future tense is called “future simple,” the “simple” stays simple throughout all active forms, as seen in the examples below.

Examples

  • Why won’t you come to the event?
  • Where won’t they go on their holiday?
  • When won’t she be available for the meeting?
  • Who will not help with the project?
  • What will he not agree to in the negotiation?

Below, we have created an illustration depicting the structures of the future simple tense in active voice.

Future-simple-formula-active

Formula of future simple passive voice

Now that we have finished going through the active voice of future simple in the previous paragraphs, we can now delve into the form of its passive voice. It is formed by using “be” and the past participle (3rd past form) of the main verb. Similarly to other tenses, if people are involved in the passive future simple tense, we use the “by” agent to indicate the doer of the action. The object of an active future simple sentence turns into the subject of the passive sentence.

Structure

Subject + will be + past participle (+ by agent) + object.

Examples

  • The project will be completed by next week.
  • The report will be submitted on time.
  • The house will be painted by them.

Structure

Subject + will (not) be + past participle (+ by agent) + object.

Or

Subject + won’t be + past participle (+ by agent) + object.

Examples

  • The project won’t be completed by next week.
  • The report will not be submitted on time.
  • The house won’t be painted by them.

Structure

Will + subject + be + past participle (+ by agent) + object?

Examples

  • Will the project be completed by next week?
  • Will the report be submitted on time?
  • Will the house be painted by them soon?

Structure

Will + subject + not be + past participle (+ by agent) + object?

Or

Won’t + subject + be + past participle (+ by agent) + object?

Examples

  • Will the project not be completed by next week?
  • Won’t the report be submitted on time?
  • Will the house not be painted by them?

A summary for future simple in passive voice can be found below.

Future-simple-formula-passive

Indicators and usage of future simple

The future simple tense is a fundamental aspect of English grammar that enables speakers to express future actions and predictions with ease. As with other tenses, time expressions make it easier for native English speakers and English learners to identify. Future simple’s situational uses and indicators can be found below.

Predictions

This tense is often used to make predictions based on evidence of opinions.

Examples

  • It will snow tomorrow night.
  • The company will expand its operations next year.
  • Experts believe that technology will advance rapidly.

Spontaneous decisions

Simple future is used for decisions made at the moment of speaking.

Examples

  • I’m hungry. I will order a pizza.
  • I will grab some coffee before the meeting starts.
  • They will check the schedule right after lunch.

Promises or offers

The tense is also used to make promises or offers.

Examples

  • I will make sure to call you tomorrow.
  • We will help you move into your new apartment.
  • He will take care of the arrangements later today.

Intentions

While less common, the future simple can be used to express intentions, although the “going to” form is more frequently used for this purpose.

Examples

  • I will call you later.
  • I’ll start leaning Spanish next month.
  • We’ll save money for a holiday this year.

Fixed events

It can be used to discuss events that are planned or scheduled in the future.

Examples

  • The train will depart at 6 PM.
  • The conference will take place on June 15th.
  • The concert will begin in one hour.

Time expressions

Common time expressions that often accompany the future simple tense include:

  • Tomorrow
  • Next week/month/year
  • In the future
  • Soon
  • Later

Examples

  • They will move to a new house in three months.
  • He will call you as soon as he arrives.
  • She’ll finish her report by the end of the day.
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Short answers in future simple

Short answers in the future simple tense are concise responses that either confirm or deny the occurrence of future action. They consist of a “yes” or “no” answer, followed by the subject and the auxiliary verb “will.”

Active voice

Structure

Affirmative: Yes, + subject + will.

Negative: No, + subject + won’t.

Examples

A: Will you attend the meeting?

  • Yes, I will.
  • No, I won’t.

A: Will she finish her dissertation?

  • Yes, she will.
  • No, she won’t.

Passive voice

Structure

Affirmative: Yes, + subject + will be.

Negative: No, + subject + won’t be.

Examples

A: Will the report be finished?

  • Yes, it will be.
  • No, it won’t be.

A: Will the documents be sent out?

  • Yes, they will be.
  • No, they won’t be.

“Will” future vs. “going to” future

Another way to indicate that something will happen and end in the future is by using the “going to” future. It is formed by using the following formula:

Structure

Subject + am/is/are + going to + infinitive + rest of the sentence.

Although both “will” and “going to” forms elabourate on the future, there is a distinction that is important to know for academic writing. While the “will” future is used for spontaneous decisions, predictions, promises, and offers, the “going to” future is specifically used for planned actions and predictions based on present evidence or logical deduction.

Both future tenses can be used to predict something or make a guess. This can be anything from a weather forecast to a prophecy.

Examples

It will rain on Monday.

It is going to rain on Monday.

When talking about a fixed arrangement that definitely won’t be changed, we use “going to” instead of “will,” as this future form emphasizes the decision.

Examples

I will feed my cat before we go outside.

I’m going to feed my cat before we go outside.

When you are making a decision on the spot, future simple is the way to go.

Examples

I’m going to help you with your tasks when I get home.

I will help you with your tasks when I get home.

In informal situations, “going to” can be used to give an order. However, this can sound rude and bossy, so be careful when using it.

Examples

You will do your homework immediately.

You are going to do your homework immediately.

When making a request, we use the interrogative future simple form because using “going to” would sound incredibly rude in most cases.

Examples

Are you going to close the door?

Will you close the door?

“Going to” implies that an event is about to happen in the near future or has just begun.

Examples

I will have a baby.

I’m going to have a baby.

Note: Essentially, one can say, if you are extremely certain that something is going to happen, use “going to,” unless it is a request or a spontaneous decision.

Practice exercise

The practice sentences below cover various aspects of the future simple tense, including both active and passive forms, as well as interrogative and negative structures. On the second tab, you will find the correct conjugations of the English verbs. Have fun!

  1. She _____ the report by tomorrow. (To finish, active)
  2. The documents _____ by the manager. (To review, passive)
  3. He _____ the conference next week. (To attend, negative, active)
  4. The project _____ by the deadline. (To complete, negative, passive)
  5. _____ you _____ to New York next month? (To travel, interrogative, active)
  6. _____ the meeting _____ for next Monday? (To schedule, interrogative, passive)
  7. They _____ the new product in January. (To launch, active)
  8. We _____ the renovation this year. (To start, negative, active)
  9. _____ she _____ you later today? (To call, interrogative, active)
  10. The presentation _____ by tomorrow. (To prepare, negative, passive)
  1. She will finish the report by tomorrow. (To finish, active)
  2. The documents will be reviewed by the manager. (To review, passive)
  3. He won’t attend the conference next week. (To attend, negative, active)
  4. The project won’t be completed by the deadline. (To complete, negative, passive)
  5. Will you travel to New York next month? (To travel, interrogative, active)
  6. Will the meeting be scheduled for next Monday? (To schedule, interrogative, passive)
  7. They will launch the new product in January. (To launch, active)
  8. We won’t start the renovation this year. (To start, negative, active)
  9. Will she call you later today? (To call, interrogative, active)
  10. The presentation won’t be prepared by tomorrow. (To prepare, negative, passive)

FAQs

The future simple is a tense form that describes actions or events that will occur in the future. It is used to express predictions, spontaneous decisions, promises, offers, and intentions related to future events.

An example for future simple is the following sentence:

  • She will visit her grandma next weekend.
  1. He will start a new job next month.
  2. They will travel to Paris this summer.
  3. I will call you later tonight.
  4. She will finish the project by tomorrow.
  5. We will have a meeting on Friday.
  6. The movie will begin at 8 PM.
  7. You will receive your package soon.
  8. They will announce the winner tomorrow.
  9. He will buy a new car next year.
  10. The company will launch a new product next quarter.

You should use the future simple tense when you want to:

  1. Make predictions
  2. Express spontaneous decisions
  3. Make promises or offers
  4. State intentions
  5. Describe fixed events

From

Melissa Gertschnig

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About the author

Melissa Gertschnig works as a Junior Content Manager for the English market at BachelorPrint. A love for languages and other cultures has led her to become a foreign language correspondence clerk, with a primary focus on English and Spanish. This gained her a high proficiency English level in listening, writing, and reading. During her training, Melissa had been awarded a Level 2 Pearson LCCI Certificate for Business English. While working full-time, she earned her certificate in Online Marketing, which ultimately led her to BachelorPrint, where she delivers professionally written and educational content for students all around the world.

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