Simple Future with Will – Grammar & Verb Tenses

Introduction

This tutorial will help you understand how to use the simple future tense with "will" in English. The simple future tense is essential for expressing actions that will happen at a later time. We will also cover common contracted forms used in everyday conversation, making your English sound more natural.

Step 1: Understanding the Simple Future Tense

The simple future tense is formed by using "will" followed by the base form of the verb.

• Structure:
  • Affirmative: Subject + will + base verb (e.g., I will eat.)
  • Negative: Subject + will not (won't) + base verb (e.g., I will not eat.)
  • Interrogative: Will + subject + base verb? (e.g., Will I eat?)

Practical Tips

• Use "will" for decisions made at the moment of speaking (e.g., "I will call you later.")
• It's also used for predictions (e.g., "It will rain tomorrow.")

Step 2: Using Contracted Forms

In spoken English, contractions make speech smoother and quicker. The most common contraction for "will" is "’ll."

• Affirmative Contraction:

  • I will → I’ll
  • You will → You’ll
  • He/She/It will → He’ll/She’ll/It’ll
  • We will → We’ll
  • They will → They’ll

• Negative Contraction:

  • I will not → I won’t
  • You will not → You won’t
  • He/She/It will not → He/She/It won’t
  • We will not → We won’t
  • They will not → They won’t

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Remember that "will" is not used for scheduled events (use the present simple instead).
• Don’t confuse "will" with "going to," which is used for planned actions or intentions.

Step 3: Practice Exercises

To solidify your understanding, practice forming sentences in the simple future tense.

1. Write five affirmative sentences using "will."
2. Write five negative sentences using "won't."
3. Turn the sentences into questions.

Conclusion

Understanding the simple future tense with "will" and its contracted forms is crucial for effective communication in English. Practice forming sentences and using contractions to improve your fluency. For further study, consider practicing with more complex future tenses, such as "going to," or explore other verb tenses. Happy studying!