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Future Simple
Learn how to construct affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences with ease. We’ll also discuss common uses and give plenty of real-life examples to help you master this tense.
Grammar
Transcript
Introduction:
- Host: Hello and welcome to the English Magnet. Today’s video: The Future Simple Made Easy! By learning how to form and use the future simple tense, you can plan future activities, make predictions, and communicate more effectively in both spoken and written English. We’ll cover two structures, when to use them by highlighting their subtle differences, the related key time words, and common mistakes to be aware of . Ok, let’s get to work!
Part 1: StructureS of the Future Simple
Check this out, there are two ways to express a future event or action and they are arguably the easiest structures to memorize, look at that:
Subject + will + base form – One way to express the future is to use the modal verb ‘will’ and the base form of the verb. That’s it! 😀
Example:
I will be more knowledgeable at the end of the video.
You will write the invitations later.
All subjects follow the same format and so they make the same contractions.
Example:
He will forget to call. = He’ll forget to call.
We will eat in a minute. = We’ll eat in a minute.
Obviously, there’s a negative form; subject + will + not + base form or subject + won’t + base form if you feel like using a contraction, no worries, it’s free of charge 😉
Example:
She will not shuffle the cards. / She won’t shuffle the cards.
It will not close for another hour. / It won’t close for another hour.
You want to ask a question using the future just swap the subject and ‘will/won’t’, like this:
Example:
Will they answer the phone after working hours?
Won’t you finish your meal?
Will you not help us?
Now, there’s another way to express the future tense in English and it’s almost as straightforward as the 1st form (will + base form is displayed). The structure is subject + to be + going to + base form. So, we can substitute ‘will’ with ‘to be + going to’. Now, a key difference is that ‘to be’ has to be conjugated in the present simple so, it’s either am (for I), are (for you, we or they) or is (for he, she or it). The ‘going to’ part doesn’t change, ever. Let’s revisit the previous examples for comparison’s sake.
Example:
I am going to be more knowledgeable at the end of the video.
You are going to write the invitations later.
You can do the same contractions as in the present simple with the subject and am/are/is.
Example:
He is going to forget to call. = He’s going to forget to call.
We are going to eat in a minute. = We’re going to eat in a minute.
Negative statements might look trickier, but they’re pretty simple; the particle ‘not’ goes after the verb ‘to be’ like in the present simple so you get either am not, are not, aren’t, is not or isn’t + going to + base form. That’s pretty much it!
Example:
She is not going to shuffle the cards. / She isn’t going to shuffle the cards.
It is not going to close for another hour. / It isn’t going to close for another hour.
For questions, again the subject and the verb ‘to be’ must switch places. The negative contraction form is also part of the switch, but ‘not’ will stay behind if left as a single word.
Example:
Are they going to answer the phone after working hours?
Aren’t you going to finish your meal?
Are you not going to help us?
Part 2: Uses
Put simply, the future simple is used to talk about actions and events taking place in the future, so after the present. As we saw earlier, there are two ways to express the future, so let’s look at their uses side-by-side to better grasp their differences in meaning. But, keep in mind that in day-to-day conversations these forms are considered interchangeable in many scenarios at least. Still, understanding their precise uses is good practice and the way to go in your learning journey. You never know when you’ll have to write an important message or speak to someone in a formal context. So, without further ado…
1) Quick decisions vs Calculated decisions
The ‘will’ structure is used more often to convey a decision taken in the moment while the ‘going to’ format refers to a well-studied and thought-out decision.
Example:
I’m thirsty, I will get some water. – No need to mull over a basic human need, I’m thirsty? Boom, water will do it!
I am going to see my folks this weekend. – There’s probably a family gathering for a relative’s birthday so this has been decided beforehand.
2) Belief based prediction vs Evidence based prediction
‘will’ is used to convey a prediction based on one’s opinion while ‘going to’ requires some factual support.
Example:
I think it won’t snow tomorrow. – The speaker believes it won’t snow, maybe it will, maybe it won’t. No evidence to support such a claim.
It’s going to snow tomorrow, that’s what the weather forecast said. – The speaker’s prediction is based more on evidence since the weather channel predicted it.
3) Certain event vs Planned event
‘will’ is used to express intentions or formal announcements while ‘going to’ focuses on plans in progress. The former focuses more on one’s personal conviction while the latter might involve more parties in the planning process.
Example:
I will sign the contract. – This states an intention backed by a sense of personal certainty.
We’re going to stay in a bed and breakfast. – This is a planned event, steps were taken like booking a room.
4) Promises, Threats, Offers and Refusals (with ‘will’) – These types of statements all hold a high level of certainty and when expressing one of these declarations, the ‘will’ form is preferred.
Example:
I will water your plants daily while you’re away. – That’s a promise, your plants are in good hands!
If you keep pranking me, I will retaliate ten times harder! – That’s a threat, a strong warning about possible retribution.
I’ll give you a lift to the airport if you need one. – That’s an offer, this future action can be helpful to you, you take it or leave it.
I won’t go skydiving, it freaks me out! – That’s a refusal, using ‘won’t’ or ‘will not’ helps convey that an action is not happening in the future.
Part 3: Key time words
In the future simple, whether you use the ‘will’ or ‘going to’ form, the same time words apply. There’s a wide variety of them but they all have one thing in common; they refer to a future time! What a coincidence! 😉
- in + specific time period (a minute, two weeks, half a year, a century)
Example: She’ll finish the repairs in a week. The repair will be over in about 7 days!
They’re going to meet their lawyers in 48 hours. There’s an appointment scheduled in 2 days from now.
- this / next + time word (time, morning, hour, day, month)
Example: We’ll go to the store next Friday. The following Friday marks the time we will go to the store.
Steve’s going to start a new career this month. The new career start is taking place at some point in the future but during the current month.
- time words referring to the future (soon – after a short time; later – in the future; eventually – after some time, tomorrow – the day after today, one day* – at an unclear time in the future). There are many more, but these are rather common.
(* can also refer to an unspecified time in the past)
Example: You’ll get in the mood, soon! Getting in the mood is happening in a short time from now.
Eventually, she’s going to come around to the idea. It’s going to take some time, but after a while she will warm up to the idea.
Part 4: Common Mistakes
1) Will / going to + can
The modal verb ‘can’ just doesn’t fit in the future simple, go for ‘be able to’ instead. This will allow you to express a future possibility or capability. You just have to remove ‘I will can’ from your vocabulary they’re not compatible, like mixing oil and water, it just doesn’t work.
Example: I’ll can bake the éclairs once Bob’s back with the ingredients. = I’ll be able to bake the éclairs once Bob’s back with the ingredients.
You’re going to can see the rings of Saturn with this brand new telescope. = You’re going to be able to see the rings of Saturn with this brand new telescope.
2) won’t / gonna (/guh-nuh/) + to
Won’t is a totally acceptable contraction in all situations, but remember it is followed by the base form of the verb and not the preposition T-O ‘to’.
You can totally use ‘gonna’ as an informal contraction of ‘going to’ when you talk in an informal situation (for informal writing as well). But, remember as well the preposition ‘to’ is already in ‘gonna’ so no need to repeat it.
Example: He won’t to talk to her anymore. = He won’t talk to her anymore.
We’re gonna to move to Boston in August. = We’re gonna move to Boston in August.
Ideally you should write ‘going to’, but it’s very commonly used and besides the irony of us actually writing it down isn’t lost on us. So, go ahead and use it when it fits! It’s important to acknowledge the dynamic part of a language. 🙂
Wrap up
- Host: There you have it, the future simple in all its simplicity! Hopefully, you will use it soon! If you’re in the mood, be sure to watch more of our videos! Also, a link to some free material to practice by yourselves can be found in the description below. Keep practicing, and you’ll get the hang of it. Thank you for watching. Until next time!