Simple Future Tense - Grammar Tenses, English Grammar Basics | Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC) - CAT PDF Download

Simple Future Tense

The simple future is a verb tense that’s used to talk about things that haven’t happened yet.

Example - This year, Jen will read War and Peace. It will be hard, but she’s determined to do it. 

Use the simple future to talk about an action or condition that will begin and end in the future.

Formation of Simple Future Tense 

The formula for the simple future is will + [root form of verb].

Example - I will learn a new language. Jen will read that book. My brothers will sleep till noon if no one wakes them up. You will see what I mean.

It doesn’t matter if the subject is singular or plural; the formula for the simple future doesn’t change.

There is another way to show that something will happen in the future. It follows the formula [am/is/are] + going to + [root form verb].

Example - I am going to learn a new language. Jen is going to read that book. My brothers are going to sleep till noon if no one wakes them up. You are going to see what I mean. 
The “going to” construction is common in speech and casual writing. Keep in mind though that it’s on the informal side, so it’s a good idea to stick to the will + [root form] construction in formal writing. 

How to Make the Simple Future Negative

To make the simple future negative, the formula is will + not + [root form]. 

Example -  Jen will not quit before she reaches her goal. Make sure you arrive on time tomorrow because the bus will not wait for you. He will not say anything bad about his boss. I will not finish my homework in time for class.

Using the “going to” construction, the formula is [am/is/are] + not + going to + [root form]. 

Example -  Jen is not going to quit before she reaches her goal. Make sure you arrive on time tomorrow because the bus is not going to wait for you. He is not going to say anything bad about his boss. I am not going to finish my homework in time for class.

How to Ask a Question

To ask a question in the simple future, the formula is will + [subject] + [root form]. 

Example -  Will Jen finish War and Peace over the summer? Will I have the discipline to study Spanish every day? What will you buy with the money you found? 

The formula for the “going to” construction is [am/is/are] + [subject] +going to + [root form]. 

Example -  Is Jen going to finish War and Peace over the summer? Am I going to have the discipline to study Spanish every day? What are you going to buy with the money you found?

Types of Sentences

The simple future tense is very easy to make and is very useful.

Here's the positive form (it's just 'will' + infinitive): 

• I will meet him later (I'll ..)
• You will come (you'll..)
• It will rain tomorrow (it'll)

The short form: 'll is very, very common, and is almost always used when speaking. It's really much more natural to say 'I'll' instead of 'I will'. Here's some help with the pronunciation: 

• I'll meet him later 
• You'll come 
• It'll rain tomorrow 

Here's an exercise about the positive future with 'will'

Here's the negative form (just add 'not' - remember will not = won't):

• I will not go (I won't ..)
• You will not be late (you won't ..)
• It will not snow tomorrow (it won't..)

Here's an exercise about the negative future simple 

Here's the question:

'yes / no' questions:

• Will I go?
• Will you come early?
• Will it be cold?

'wh' questions:

• Where will I go?
• Why will you come early?
• When will it be cold?