Future simple future simple tense. Future Simple - simple future tense in English: uses, examples, formations

In addition to the ways of expressing the future tense in English, which can be viewed in the usual way, it is worth noting a few more that are not entirely standard. They were partly covered in other articles about, here all the ways of expressing the future tense are collected together.

The image provides a general summary of this article. Read more below.

Four types of future tense in English

The standard (that is, familiar from the tense table) four types of future tense are Future Simple, Future Continuous, Future Perfect, Future Perfect Continuous. Let's remember their main meanings. A detailed explanation of tenses, examples, diagrams, rules can be found at the links.

• – simple future tense. That is, in general terms, we are talking about something happening at some point in the future. This form is most often used, as well as the reverse to be going to(see below).

I will sell my old TV tomorrow. - Tomorrow I selling your old TV.

Bradley will buy a used TV from some guy tomorrow. – Bradley will buy Some guy's got a used TV tomorrow.

• – future continuous tense. Something will (or won't) happen in the future. Also quite a common form.

Bradley will be fixing his new TV this evening. – Bradley will repair your new TV tonight.

• - future perfect. An action will be completed in the future before another action begins. Due to the specific meaning, it is used infrequently, especially in colloquial speech.

Bradley will not have fixed the damn TV by the time we come to watch the game. – Bradley won't fix it damn TV by the time we come to watch the match.

• - a certain action will last in the future until some moment and will end at this moment or immediately before it. It is EXTREMELY rarely used even in written speech. In general, it is enough to know the Perfect Continuous tenses at the level of recognition.

We will have been waiting for two hours when the TV finally starts working. The game will be already over. “By the time the TV finally starts working, we’ll have been waiting for two hours.” The game is already over.

I will also add that if we are talking about an action in the future in the past, then the form is used (future in the past).

I told you I would get rid of that TV easily. - I told you that it’s easy I'll get rid of it from this TV.

Action planned for the future

To express an action that is planned for the future, there are three ways:

1. Turnover to be going to.
2. Present Continuous.
3. Present Simple.

1. Turnover to be going to

Typically used turnover to be going to. It means something between “I will do this” and “I am going to do that.” The phrase has an informal connotation; it is used very often in colloquial speech.

I'm going to see a doctor this afretroon. - I'm this afternoon I'll go(go to go) to the doctor.

We are going to play videogames tonight. - We are going to play(let's play) video games in the evening.

In colloquial speech going to often shortened to gonna.

Are you gonna help me or what? - You to me will you help or how?

He's gonna break up with me, I know it! - He going break up with me, I know!

Read more about when to use Future Simple, and when to be going to, you can read in .

2. Planned action in the Present Continuous

In addition to an action taking place at the moment, the Present Continuous can denote an action planned for the future. At the same time, as a rule, the sentence contains a clarification (tomorrow, next week, etc.), otherwise the interlocutor may not understand it correctly.

Nick is coming to us. – Nick coming to us (at the moment).

Nick is coming to us tonight. – Nick coming to us this evening (it is assumed that Nick will come in the evening).

3. Planned action in Present Simple

Simple Present Present Simple can also be used not only for its main purpose, but also to denote a planned action, usually with verbs like to arrive(arrive), to come(come), to depart(to go), etc.

The train departs at nine, we still have some time. - Train heading off(to leave) at nine, we still have some time.

Sorry, I can’t go to the party, I work tomorrow. - Sorry, I can’t come to the party, I Working(will work) tomorrow.

Future tense in English with verbs Can, May

Modal verbs do not have future tense forms, but they can be used to indicate something happening in the future. For this they are used. The meaning becomes clear from the context. Usually the verbs can, may, might are used in this role.

Read more about modal verbs and how they work without future tense forms.

In this case, the difference between may And might very small, almost insignificant. Both verbs indicate an uncertain assumption, but may is a little more certain.

You may pass the exam tomorrow. – You may pass the exam tomorrow (uncertain).

You might pass the exam tomorrow. – You may pass the exam tomorrow (even more uncertain).

The verb is used similarly can:

I can help you with your homework tomorrow. – I can help you with your homework tomorrow.

Jack can rent his father’s car this Friday. Jack can take his father's car on Friday.

You may also encounter similar offers with could:

You could help me with my homework tomorrow.

But this is a slightly different case. In this case could helps to express a suggestion or hint, a slight encouragement to action: “You could help me with my homework tomorrow” (that is, “Will you help me with my homework tomorrow?”).

Future tense with Shall

In old textbooks you can read that when forming future tense forms in the 1st person singular and plural, you need to use an auxiliary verb instead shall. Now such forms with shall are considered obsolete and are not used, but the verb shall can be used as a modal. If you use it in relation to a second or third person (that is, not to yourself), then a semantic connotation of threat, warning, promise is added.

Hello, hello, my dears.

Today we will talk about something quite simple - the Future Simple time. Surely this time can be called one of your favorites. That's why it's simple. We are waiting for rules and examples, exercises and a test, as well as a lot of interesting and useful information.

How is it formed

Future Simple is not at all picky in its education. But still, let's look at all the forms in detail. The general rule looks like this:

Subject + will\shall + predicate + object and adverbial.

We shall visit you next summer. - We will visit you next summer.

The negative form is formed using the particle not.

And to form an interrogative sentence, you will have to move will to the very beginning of the sentence.

Great, now we know the whole order of education. It's time to find out when we can use it.

When to use: beginner level

In English this is the easiest tense. Everything is quite clear, but there are many cases of use. And it is advisable to remember them all.

• When we talk about an ordinary action in the future, something that happened once.

I shall meet you at the main entrance. - I'll meet you at the main entrance.

• When an action will be repeated in the future.

We shall see each other every winter. - We will see each other every winter.

• When during a conversation we make decisions about the future.

Ok, I shall vote for your idea at the meeting. - Okay, I'll vote for your idea at the meeting.

When to use: Professional level

But there are still special options for using Future Simple.

• When it comes to future facts.

The shop will open in August. - The store will open in August.

• When it comes to proposals.

I shall help you with this project presentation. - I will help you with the presentation of this project.

• Promises, requests and refusals.

I promise you will get this job. - I promise you will get this job.

Will you bring the book you told me about? -Will you bring me the book you were talking about?

Sorry, I shall not help you. I have to work with my department statement. - Sorry, I won't help you. I have to work on my department's report.

! It is very important to remember that usually after if (if) in 99% of cases will is not placed. For example:

If you go, I will go with you. - If you go, then I will go with you.

But let's look at another proposal:

Mother asks me if I shall go to the prom. - Mom asks me if I will go to the ball.

You may have already noticed that if (and sometimes whether) is translated here as “ whether", not "if". An indirect question does not require a change in word order or a question mark at the end. Therefore, all the words in this sentence are correct and very necessary.

Let's look at some more examples:

Tom is wondering whether I shall help him with his homework. - Tom is worried whether I will help him with his homework.

If you help me with my project, we will go to the theater. - If you help me with my project, we will go to the theater.

I hope you feel the difference. Now let's figure out how else we can talk about the future.

Some more ways to talk about the future

• To be going to.

Sometimes we decide to use to be going to instead of the standard future tense. This occurs when we are talking about assumptions and intentions based on current events.

Look, Sarah is going to jump from the cliff to the sea. - Look, Sarah is going to jump off a cliff into the sea.

I am going to study at the University of Michigan. - I'm going to study at the University of Michigan.

• Present continuous.

You can use the present tense instead of the future tense when you are talking about plans and intentions.

I am seeing Laney tomorrow morning. - Tomorrow morning I meet in Laney.

She is asking for a pay rise tomorrow. - Tomorrow she will ask for a salary increase.

Without practice, no future - and time, and not even you - shines. Therefore, I have ahead that will help you consolidate your new English grammar skill. And also a small test that will interestingly test your knowledge.

In the meantime, I’m going to prepare new interesting materials for you.

See you soon, my dears.

P.S. And in order not to miss these newest materials, subscribe to the blog newsletter. I promise - there will be a lot of interesting and useful things.

Future Simple (Future Indefinite)— future simple tense of English. It is generally used to refer to an event that may occur in the indefinite future or in the very distant future. For more detailed rules for forming the Future Simple in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences, auxiliary words and examples of using the future tense, see below.

Education Future Simple

The Future Simple is formed by adding the auxiliary verbs shall / will and the first form of the verb. Formula for forming an affirmative (narrative) sentence:

Noun + shall / will + verb

As a rule, shall is used with the 1st person singular, but this is not a rule. Will can be used with all pronouns (I, You, He / She, We, They, It). Also shall and will can merge with a pronoun and then only the ending ll remains. Examples:

I will play football. - I will play football.

I'll do my work someday. “I’ll do my job someday.”

To form a negative sentence in the Future Simple, it is necessary to place the fraction not after shall / will. Formula for forming a negative sentence:

Noun + shall / will + not + verb

In this case, shall not can merge into shall not, and will not into will not. Examples of using a negative sentence:

I shall not let you down. - I won't let you down.

Tomorrow he will not go to the school. — Tomorrow he won’t go to school.

The Future Simple interrogative sentence is formed in the following way:

Shall / Will + noun + verb

Examples of using an interrogative sentence:

Shall we go to the cinema tomorrow? - Shall we go to the cinema tomorrow?

Will you go with us? -Will you come with us?

Future Simple Indicator Words

As in the Past Simple and Present Simple, the future tense has its own auxiliary words that help determine whether the Future Simple is used or not. There are 4 most commonly used marker words and phrases:

Cases in which the Future Simple is used

Below are some uses of the Future Simple that will help you navigate your conversation when choosing the tense at which you want to express your opinion.

Future simple

Use case I: promise to do something

The Future Simple is often used when a person promises to do something in the future:

I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party. “I promise I won’t tell him about the surprise party.”

Don't worry, I'll be careful. - Don't worry, I'll be careful.

I will call you when I arrive. - I'll call you back when I arrive.

Use case II: predicting future events

The Future Simple can be used when trying to predict something in the future. In this case, the phrase to be going to can also be used. examples:

The year 2222 will be a very interesting year. — The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.

John Smith will be the next President. — John Smith will be the next president.

The movie "Zenith" will win several Academy Awards. — The film “Zenith” will win several Academy Awards.

Use case III: instant reaction to something

In this case, the Future Simple is used to answer a request or react to some action that has taken place. examples:

Will you help me to move this heavy table? —Will you help me move this heavy table?

A: I'm really hungry. - I'm really hungry.
B: I’ll make some sandwiches. — I'll make some sandwiches.

I will not do all the housework myself! — I won’t do all the housework alone!

Use case IV: listing sequential actions or repeating actions

Another use of the Future Simple is to list sequential and repeating actions that will occur in the future. Eg:

I cannot wait for my vacation. I shall go to the river, swim and fish every day. - I can't wait for the holidays. I will go to the river, swim and fish every day.

Like all languages, English has a future tense. FutureTense, which will be discussed now. This time is not particularly complex in its structure, but some aspects are still worth paying attention to. It’s worth starting with the fact that the future tense is divided into several types, four to be precise:

1. Future Simple Tense - simple future tense

2. Future Continuous Tense - continuous future tense

3. Future Perfect Tense - future completed tense.

4. Future Perfect Continuous - future perfect continuous tense.

5. Future in the past - future tense in the past.

First type of future tense FutureSimple conveys the most important meaning, that is, it describes actions that will occur at a certain time in the future. These actions may be of a regular nature. Apart from this, if we decide to do something during a conversation, the Future Simple is also used. As a rule, words such as tomorrow, next month/year…, in a few days are used to characterize this time. There are also verbs after which this form is often used: believe, think, expect, be sure, probably, and so on.

The structure of a narrative sentence is quite simple:

Subject+will+Verb+Object

Tomorrow at8 a.m he will come back home.

Tomorrow at eight in the morning he will return home.

Interrogative sentence:

Will+Subject+Verb+Object

Will he come back home at 8 tomorrow?

Will he be home tomorrow at eight in the morning?

In a negative sentence, no special changes occur, but a negative particle is added not:

Subject+will+not+Verb+Object

He will not come back home at 8 tomorrow.

Tomorrow he won't be home at eight in the morning.

FutureContinuousTense we use it when we want to emphasize the duration of an action taking place in the future, that is, the action will begin in the future and will last for some time. Usually this time is characterized by time intervals: at this time tomorrow, at 10 o’clock tomorrow…

The structure of the sentence structure is similar to the present tense, but in this case it is added will+ be, which points to the future:

Subject+will+be+Verb+ing+Object

At this time tomorrow I will be swimming in the river with my friends.

Tomorrow at this time I will be swimming with friends in the river.

For an interrogative sentence, you should make Will to the first place and also add be after the pronoun:

Will+Subject+be+Verb+ing+Object

Will you be swimming in the river with your friends at this time tomorrow?

Will you be swimming with your friends in the river at this time tomorrow?

For negation, add a particle not:

Subject+will+not+be+Verb+ing+Object

I will not be swimming in the river with my friends at this time tomorrow.

I won't be swimming with my friends in the river at this time tomorrow.

FuturePerfect used to describe an action that will be completed by a certain point in the future (a point in time is indicated). For this temporary form the words are used: by some time, until, till…

To make proposals, just follow the form below:

Subject+will+have+Verb(3/ed)+Object

I am not sure, that I will have finished this work by 7 o’clock.

I'm not sure I'll finish this work by seven o'clock.

When asked, the first place is taken will:

Will+Subject+have+Verb(3/ed)+Object

Will you have finished this work by 7 o’clock?

Will you finish this work by seven o'clock?

When negated, it is added not before have:

Subject+will+not+have+Verb(3/ed)+Object

I am sure, I will not have finished this work by 7 o’clock.

I'm sure I won't finish this work by seven o'clock.

FuturePerfectContinuousTense used when talking about an action in progress, that is, when the action occurs at some time in the future. Often used phrases: by next month/year..

Structure of a narrative sentence:

Subject+will+have+been+Verb+ing+Object

By next autumn I will have been working here for three years.

By next fall I will have been working here for three years.

Interrogative sentence:

Will+Subject+have+been+Verb+ing+Object

Will you have been working here for three years by next autumn?

Will you have been working here for three years by next fall?

Negative sentence:

Subject+will+not+have+been+Verb+ing+Object

By next autumn I will not have been working here for three years

By next fall I won't have worked here for three years.

And finally, Futureinthepast describes an action that was the future in the past, that is, when in the past tense they talk about something that will happen or could happen in the future, this form is used. For example: She said, she would be there at 6 p.m.

She said she would be there at six o'clock in the evening.

In this case will changes to would.

In my childhood I decided that I would be a doctor.

As a child, I decided that I would be a doctor.

There are many more tenses in English than in Russian, so at first when learning a foreign language it may seem very difficult to understand them. However, most of them, including the simple future tense, are not difficult if you remember a few simple rules. After reading the article, you will understand that there is actually nothing complicated about how the Future Simple is formed.

What is Future Simple

Future Simple in English is a simple future tense. This is the easiest to learn and most common of the future tenses in the language. It is worth mastering it first, immediately after studying the simple present and past tenses, this will allow you to get a good basis for more complex grammatical structures. Moreover, it is very simple to understand how the Future Simple is formed.

When to use

There are several common uses of the Future Simple tense.

• When talking about an action that will happen in the future, once or repeatedly. The speaker does not express his attitude to the action; the sentence is reduced to a simple statement of fact without a subjective point of view. Often a sentence contains a word that denotes time. For example: tomorrow - tomorrow, next week - next week.
• When a sentence communicates the natural course of things, events that will inevitably happen. For example: Winter will come soon - Winter will come soon.
• When a sentence talks about actions that will happen in the future if certain conditions are met, there is often a subordinate clause that states that condition. You can find the words if - if, when - when and others.
• When a sentence contains an adverb, modal word or expression that means doubt, hope, assumption, thoughts about the future. These are the words possibly - possible, probably - maybe, probably - probably, as well as the verbs to think - to think, to hope - to hope and others.
• When a verb that is not used in continuous tenses is preceded by the verb to be in one of its forms. For example: I "ll be back - I will return.
• In a business, official style of speech, when communicating someone’s plans and intentions. For example: He will make an announcement tomorrow - He will make an announcement tomorrow.

In general, it is not necessary to memorize these rules separately, since the simple past, present and future tenses apply in the same cases, so you can be guided by your knowledge of the most common, present simple tense.

There are also less common rules, but they are worth considering in order to fully understand how the Future Simple Tense is formed.

• When it comes to spontaneous, momentary decisions. That is, the decision is made by the speaker directly at the moment of speaking. For example: What will you order? - What will you order? I will take coke and cheese sandwich. - I'll take a cola and a cheese sandwich.
• Promises. You can add the expression I promise - I promise. For example: I promise, I will pay next week. - I promise I'll pay next week.
• With threats and warnings. For example: I will kill you. - I'll kill you. It will burn you. - You'll get burned.
• Requests for help. A simple question with the auxiliary verb will at the beginning is often perceived as a request for help.

How is a statement formed?

How is the Future Simple formed in the case of a simple affirmative sentence? Everything is very simple, you just need to follow this simple formula: the auxiliary verb will is placed before the semantic verb in the first form (infinitive without the particle to). The rest of the proposal structure remains unchanged.

For example:

• I will pay tomorrow - I will pay tomorrow.
• He will come next week - He will come next week

In spoken or written speech, when using less standardized styles, the auxiliary verb is often combined with a personal pronoun into a shortened form. For example: I will - I"ll.

How a question is formed

With questions when forming the simple future tense, everything is somewhat more complicated. In a simple question without a special question word, simple inversion is used, the auxiliary verb will is moved to the beginning of the sentence, followed by the subject and the semantic verb in the first form.

For example:

• Will you pay tomorrow? - Will you pay tomorrow?

There may be some difficulties at first with how the Future Simple tense is formed, when in an interrogative sentence there is a special word where to put it. In this case, a question word is placed at the beginning of the sentence, followed by an auxiliary verb, and only then followed by the subject. For example:

• Who will pay tomorrow? - Who will pay tomorrow?
• Why will he come next week? - Why will he come next week?

How is negation formed?

Having mastered the rules for constructing affirmative and interrogative sentences, you can easily learn to understand how negation is formed in Future Simpe. The particle not is placed between the auxiliary and the mere.

In a negative sentence, as in an affirmative one, there is also room for contraction. It is permissible to use the form won"t instead of the phrase will not. Again, you should resort to such abbreviations only in colloquial speech.

Passive voice

Often sentences in the future tense are used in the passive (or passive) voice. Here is an example from the Russian language: the complaint will be considered; the car will be sold.

Here are the cases in which you should use it:

• When the speaker does not know who will perform the action in the future.
• When the speaker does not essentially care who will perform the action, the very fact of its completion is important.
• When an action is inevitable, but the speaker finds it unpleasant and does not want to talk about it.

Here is a simple formula that can help you understand how the Future Simple Passive is formed. At the beginning of the sentence, the object or person on whom the action will be performed is placed, followed by the auxiliary verb will and the particle be. In third place is the semantic verb in the past tense; its external form depends on whether the verb is regular or irregular.

Sometimes the sentence also indicates who will perform the action, then at the end of the sentence you need to put the particle by and the person’s name. If the action is performed with the help of any tool, machine, then instead of the particle by there is a preposition with.

In the negative form of the passive voice of the simple future tense, the sentence is constructed according to the same formula, only not is placed between will and be. In interrogative sentences, simple inversion is often used, when the auxiliary verb will is placed at the beginning of the sentence.

Difference between will and going to be

There are also some pitfalls in how the Future Simple is formed. Be going to is a phrase that is often not used when talking about future actions, since it is more difficult to use than the auxiliary verb will. Here are several cases when it is worth using this particular turn of phrase in speech.

• If will means that the decision was made spontaneously, at the moment of speaking, then be going to means that the decision was made deliberately, was planned in advance. For example: I am going to be a lawyer. - I'll be a lawyer.
• Will is used when a future action will not happen exactly, but the speaker hopes, expects, thinks that it will happen. If there are specific reasons, facts for the action to happen, then it is worth using be going to.

Should I use shall

According to the official rules of the English language, the auxiliary verb shall is used with first person personal pronouns in the singular and plural. In all other cases will is used. However, in the last few decades shall has been gradually disappearing from the spoken language, it can only be found in older texts, in a deliberately formal style, sometimes used in threats and interrogative sentences offering help. For example:

• You shall never come here again. - You better never come here again.
• Shall we help you? - Can we help you?

Conclusion

When learning English, almost the first thing you need to learn is how Present Simple, Future Simple and Past Simple are formed. These are the three tenses on which knowledge of grammar is based, since the remaining, more complex tenses are formed partially according to the rules for using the three basic tenses.