Simple Future

Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two
forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings.
These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the
differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.

FORM Will

[will + verb]

Examples:

 You will help him later.

 Will you help him later?
 You will not help him later.

FORM Be Going To

[am/is/are + going to + verb]

Examples:

 You are going to meet Jane tonight.

 Are you going to meet Jane tonight?
 You are not going to meet Jane tonight.

USE 1 "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action

"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the
speaker offers to do for someone else. Often, we use "will" to respond to someone else's
complaint or request for help. We also use "will" when we request that someone help us or
volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to
voluntarily do something.

Examples:

 I will send you the information when I get it.

 I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.
 Will you help me move this heavy table?
 Will you make dinner?
 I will not do your homework for you.
 I won't do all the housework myself!
 A: I'm really hungry.
B: I'll make some sandwiches.
 A: I'm so tired. I'm about to fall asleep.
B: I'll get you some coffee.
 A: The phone is ringing.
B: I'll get it.
USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise

"Will" is usually used in promises.

Examples:

 I will call you when I arrive.

 If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to
inexpensive health insurance.
 I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.
 Don't worry, I'll be careful.
 I won't tell anyone your secret.

USE 3 "Be going to" to Express a Plan

"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do
something in the future. It does not matter whether the plan is realistic or not.

Examples:

 He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.

 She is not going to spend her vacation in Hawaii.
 A: When are we going to meet each other tonight?
B: We are going to meet at 6 PM.
 I'm going to be an actor when I grow up.
 Michelle is going to begin medical school next year.
 They are going to drive all the way to Alaska.
 Who are you going to invite to the party?
 A: Who is going to make John's birthday cake?
B: Sue is going to make John's birthday cake.

USE 4 "Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction

Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about the future.
Predictions are guesses about what might happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the
subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the
following examples, there is no difference in meaning.

Examples:

 The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.

 The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting year.

 John Smith will be the next President.

 John Smith is going to be the next President.

 The movie "Zenith" will win several Academy Awards.

 The movie "Zenith" is going to win several Academy Awards.
IMPORTANT

In the Simple Future, it is not always clear which USE the speaker has in mind. Often, there is
more than one way to interpret a sentence's meaning.

No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with time
expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of
Simple Future, Simple Present is used.

Examples:

 When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Not Correct
 When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never,
ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

 You will never help him.

 Will you ever help him?

 You are never going to meet Jane.

 Are you ever going to meet Jane?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

 John will finish the work by 5:00 PM. Active

 The work will be finished by 5:00 PM. Passive

 Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. Active

 A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight. Passive
EXERCISES

1. Put the verbs into the correct form (simple future)

James, 18 years old, asked an ugly fortune teller about his future. Here is what she told
him:

1. You (be) very happy.

2. You (get) a lot of money.
3. You (buy) a beautiful house.
4. Your friends (envy) you.
5. You (meet) a beautiful girl.
6. You (marry) her.
7. You and your wife (travel) around the world.
8. People (serve) you.
9. They (not/refuse) to make you happy.
10. But all this (happen / only) when you are 70 years old.

ANSWER KEY

1. You (be) will be/'ll be very happy.

2. You (get) will get/'ll get a lot of money.
3. You (buy) will buy/'ll buy a beautiful house.
4. Your friends (envy) will envy/'ll envy you.
5. You (meet) will meet/'ll meet a beautiful woman.
6. You (marry) will marry/'ll marry her.
7. You and your wife (travel) will travel/'ll travel around the world.
8. People (serve) will serve/'ll serve you.
9. They (not/refuse) will not refuse/won't refuse to make you happy.
10. But all this (happen / only) will only happen/'ll only happen when you are 70 years
old.
2. Write positive sentences in will Future.

1. We (help) you.
2. I (get) you a drink.
3. I think our team (win) the match.
4. Maybe she (do) a language course in Malta.
5. I (buy) the tickets.
6. Perhaps she (do) this for you.
7. Maybe we (stay) at home.
8. She hopes that he (cook) dinner tonight.
9. I’m sure they (understand) your problem.
10. They (go / probably) to the party.

ANSWER KEY

1. We will help you.

2. I will get you a drink.
3. I think our team will win the match.
4. Maybe she will do a language course in Malta.
5. I will buy the tickets.
6. Perhaps she will do this for you.
7. Maybe we will stay at home.
8. She hopes that he will cook dinner tonight.
9. I’m sure they will understand your problem.
10. They will probably go to the party.

3. Write negative sentences in will future.

1. (I / answer / the question)

2. (she / read / the book)
3. (they / drink / beer)
4. (we / send / the postcard)
5. (Vanessa / catch / the ball)
6. (James / open / the door)
7. (we / listen / to the radio)
8. (they / eat / fish)
9. (she / give / him / the apple)
10. (the computer / crash)
 ANSWER KEY

1. I will not answer the question.

2. She will not read the book.
3. They will not drink beer.
4. We will not send the postcard.
5. Vanessa will not catch the ball.
6. James will not open the door.
7. We will not listen to the radio.
8. They will not eat fish.
9. She will not give him the apple.
10. The computer will not crash.

4. Write questions in will future.

1. (you / ask / him)

2. (Jenny / lock / the door)
3. (it / rain)
4. (the teacher / test / our English)
5. (what / they / eat)
6. (when / she / be / back)
7. (who / drive / us / into town)
8. (where / we / meet)
9. (when / I / be / famous)
10. (what / you / do)

ANSWER KEY
1. Will you ask him?
2. Will Jenny lock the door?
3. Will it rain?
4. Will the teacher test our English?
5. What will they eat?
6. When will she be back?
7. Who will drive us into town?
8. Where will we meet?
9. When will I be famous?
10. What will you do?
5. Use the verbs in brackets in the correct future tenses – will-future, going to-future, Simple
Present or Present Progressive.

1. The train at 11:45. (to leave)

2. We dinner at a nice restaurant on Saturday. (to have)
3. It in the mountains tomorrow evening. (to snow)
4. On Sunday at 8 o'clock I my friend. (to meet)
5. They to London on Friday evening. (to fly)
6. Wait! I you to the station. (to drive)
7. The English lesson at 8:45. (to start)
8. I my sister in April. (to see)
9. Look at the clouds - it in a few minutes. (to rain)
10. Listen! There's someone at the door. I the door for you. (to op

ANSWER KEY

1. The train leaves at 11:45.

2. We are going to have dinner at a nice restaurant on Saturday.
3. It will snow in the mountains tomorrow evening.
4. On Sunday at 8 o'clock I am meeting my friend.
5. They are flying to London on Friday evening.
6. Wait! I will drive you to the station.
7. The English lesson starts at 8:45.
8. I am going to see my sister in April.
9. Look at the clouds - it is going to rain in a few minutes.
10. Listen! There's someone at the door. I will open the door for you.
Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. Today after I (get) out of class, I (go) to a movie with some

friends.

2. When you (arrive) in Stockholm, call my friend Gustav. He (show)

you around the city and help you get situated.

3. A: Do you know what you want to do after you (graduate) ?

B: After I (receive) my Master's from Georgetown University, I (go)
to graduate school at UCSD in San Diego. I (plan) to complete a
Ph.D. in cognitive science.

4. If it (snow) this weekend, we (go) skiing near Lake Tahoe.

5. Your father (plan) to pick you up after school today at 3:00 o'clock. He (meet)
you across the street near the ice cream shop. If something happens and he cannot
be there, I (pick) you up instead.

6. If the people of the world (stop, not) cutting down huge stretches of rain forest,
we (experience) huge changes in the environment during the twenty-first
century.

7. If Vera (keep) drinking, she (lose, eventually) her job.

8. I promise you that I (tell, not) your secret to anybody. Even if somebody (ask)
me about what happened that day, I (reveal, not) the truth to a single
person.

9. She (make) some major changes in her life. She (quit) her job
and go back to school. After she (finish) studying, she (get) a better-
paying job and buy a house. She is going to improve her life!

10. Tom (call) when he (arrive) in Madrid. He (stay)

with you for two or three days until his new apartment (be) available.